Forsyth County, Georgia Demographics and Economy

Forsyth County is one of 159 counties in Georgia. The county is in the Atlanta metro area.

The estimated population in 2004 was 131,865. This was an increase of 34.00% from the 2000 census.

Income snapshot

Median household income

Local
   $68,890

National
   $41,994

Source: 2000 census, U.S. Census Bureau

For more census details and comparisons, see our Forsyth County demographic reports

In 2002, the per capita personal income in Forsyth County was $33,108. This was an increase of 6.0% from 1997. The 2002 figure was 107% of the national per capita income, which was $30,906.

Census 2000 highlights: Ranked No. 2 among nation's counties for the rate of population growth in the 1990s (123%)

According to the 2000 Census, in Forsyth County, 95.0% of the residents were white and 0.7% were black. Hispanics, who can be identified as either white or black in the Census data, made up 5.6% of the county's population. Statewide, 65.1% of residents were white, 28.7% were black and 5.3% were Hispanic.
In Forsyth County, 27.9% of the county’s residents were age 18 or younger, while 7.1% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 26.5% were age 18 or younger and 9.6% were age 65 or older.
The 2000 Census reports 3.7% of Forsyth County's households were headed by females with children under 18 years of age, compared with 9.0% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 41.7% of all households in the county and 35.0% of those in the state.

Between 1996 and 2000, Forsyth County school system reported an average high school dropout rate of 5.7%, for students in grades 9 to 12. Statewide, this rate is 6.8% for the same period of time.
Forsyth County spent an average of $5,414 per student for public education each year between 1996 and 2000. This expenditure was greater than the state wide average of $5,285
Based on the 2000 graduating class for Forsyth County school system, 67.1% of the students were eligible for the HOPE Scholarship Program. The scholarship is available to eligible students to attend a post-secondary school in Georgia. Statewide, 57.9% of the graduating students were eligible for the HOPE scholarship.
Between 1995 and 1998, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 5.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 9.2 during the same period.
In 2000, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 0.7, compared with the 1.9 state average. Forsyth County had 0.4 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 2000, which was less than the statewide average of 3.1 beds per 1,000 population.
The 2000 index crime rate (crimes per 1,000) for Forsyth County was 2.2. Statewide, in 2000, the rate was 3.4. Of the total index crimes reported, 5.5% were violent crimes, while 94.5% were property crimes.
In 2000, 70.4% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered voters, 74.2% voted in the 2000 general election. Statewide, in 2000, 64.1% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 69.6% voted in the general election that year.

Community	Population			Growth (%)
	1980	1990	2000	1980-1990	1990-2000
Forsyth County	27,958	44,083	98,407	57.7	123.2
Cumming	2,094	2,828	4,220	35.1	49.2

Top Employers - 1999

Greko LLC

Scientific Games Operating Corp

Siemans Energy & Automation Inc

TRC Staffing Services Inc

Tyson Foods Inc

In alphabetical order.

In the year 2000, the average weekly wage for all the employment sectors in the county was $600. This amount was less than the statewide average of $622.
In Forsyth County, Services is the largest employment sector providing 25.7% of the jobs. The other predominant employment sectors are Manufacturing and Retail trade. Statewide, the service industry is the largest employment sector, contributing 25.6% of the state's jobs.
Between 1996 and 2000, Forsyth County's annual unemployment rate was less than the state's rate, averaging 1.9% compared with the state's average of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate for the same period averaged 4.8%.
The county per capita personal income in 1999 was $31,576, as compared with $27,324 for Georgia and $28,546 for the United States.
Forsyth County's median household income in 1997 was $60,250. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $36,372 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1999 was $37,005.
During 1997, 5.1% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with Georgia's rate of 14.7% and the national rate of 13.3%. In addition, 8.2% of the children under the age of 18 lived below the poverty level in Forsyth County. Nationally, 19.9% of the population under the age of 18 years lived below the level of poverty.
Residents of Forsyth County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,165 per capita in 1999, compared with $3,302 per capita statewide. Transfer payments include retirement and disability insurance benefit payments, medical benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, and veteran's benefits payments.
According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Forsyth County's assessed property value amounted to $3.4 billion in 1999, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $39,295. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1999 equaled $24,462.

Quick Facts

2000 Population
98,407

2002 Job Tax Credit Tier
4

2001 Tax Millage Rate
18.312

Legal Organ
Forsyth County News

Form of Government
Commission-Administrator

Service Delivery Region
Region 2 - Gainesville

Forsyth County collected $34 million in total revenues in 1996. In 2000, the county received $59.5 million, an increase of 75.2%. Total revenue in 2000 equaled $605 per capita. The statewide revenue per capita for this same year was $679.
From 1996 to 2000, own source revenues for Forsyth County rose from $32.3 million to $57.6 million, an increase of 78.0%. Own source revenues include revenues from property taxes, sales taxes, excise and special use taxes, and service charges and fees. Per capita own source revenues amounted to $585 in 2000. This compares to a statewide per capita amount of $611.
The county collected an average of $130 per capita in property taxes during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $164 per capita collected by similarly-sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $190. On average, property taxes accounted for 25.0% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1996 to 2000.
General operating expenditures for Forsyth County in 1996 equaled $17.9 million, or $258 per capita. In 2000, general operating expenditures rose by 77.0% to $31.8 million, which was $323 per capita. General operating expenditures per capita for similarly-sized counties was $393 in 2000. The statewide average was $404 per capita during the same period.
Historically, the top three expenditure categories for counties are public safety, administration, and health and human services. In 2000, Forsyth County spent $13.4 million or 29.7% of total county spending on public safety which includes spending for law enforcement, fire services and jails. Spending for administration totaled $8.2 million, amounting to 18.1% of total expenditures. The county spent $1.2 million or 2.6% of total spending on health and human services.
From 1996 to 2000, Forsyth County had no long-term debt outstanding each year. Similarily-sized counties held an average of $401.57 per capita during the period.

Community Profiles

Contents

Community Profiles 1

Demographics 2

Economy 3

Government 4

Definitions 5

FORSYTH COUNTYCumming2036936930653920400400371306141192320859858553999

County Formed December 3, 1832

County Seat Cumming

Incorporated Cities Cumming

Total Area 225.8 square miles

History • Forsyth County was created in 1832 from parts of the original Cherokee Country. It was named for John Forsyth, Governor of Georgia from 1827-1829 and Secretary of State under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.

Cumming was established in 1834. The city is named for Colonel William Cumming of Augusta, a prominent lawyer.
Several Indian archaeological sites are located within Forsyth County. An Indian mound and village are located on Settendown Creek near the mouth of the Etowah River. Another Indian village is located near Sawnee Mountain on Big Creek.
Two places of historic note in Forsyth County are Pool's Mill Covered Bridge and the Settles Home. One of the few remaining covered bridges in the country, Pool's Mill is on the National Register of Historic Places. The Settles Home is considered to be the oldest home in the county and is under consideration to be listed as a historic landmark.

Points of Interest • Much of the eastern side of the county lies on the shores of Lake Sidney Lanier, one of the busiest recreational bodies of water in the nation with 200 miles of shoreline. Created in the 1950s with the impoundment of the Chattahoochee River at Buford Dam, the lake has accelerated the growth of the county, as well as provided recreational enjoyment for many throughout north Georgia. The lake is home to Southern Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons, both endangered species.

Forsyth County has been ranked by the U.S. Census as the fastest growing county in Georgia.

Notable Citizens Famous residents of Forsyth County include Hiram P. Bell, a Confederate Officer and U.S. Congressman, and William Rogers, Johnson Rogers, and George Welch, signers of the Treaty of New Echota which established the terms of removal for the Cherokee Indians.

Sailing on Lake Lanier

Fourth of July Celebration, Cumming

Demographics

FORSYTH COUNTY

According to the 2000 Census, in Forsyth County, 95.0% of the residents were white and 0.7% were black. Hispanics, who can be identified as either white or black in the Census data, made up 5.6% of the county's population. Statewide, 65.1% of residents were white, 28.7% were black and 5.3% were Hispanic.
In Forsyth County, 27.9% of the county's residents were age 18 or younger, while 7.1% were age 65 or older. Statewide, 26.5% were age 18 or younger and 9.6% were age 65 or older.
The 2000 Census reports 3.7% of Forsyth County's households were headed by females with children under 18 years of age, compared with 9.0% statewide. Total households with children under 18 comprised 41.7% of all households in the county and 35.0% of those in the state.
Between 1996 and 2000, Forsyth County school system reported an average high school dropout rate of 5.7%, for students in grades 9 to 12. Statewide, this rate is 6.8% for the same period of time.
Forsyth County spent an average of $5,414 per student for public education each year between 1996 and 2000. This average expenditure per student was greater than the statewide average of $5,285.
Based on the 2000 graduating class for Forsyth County school system, 67.1% of the students were eligible for the HOPE Scholarship Program. The scholarship is available to eligible students to attend a post-secondary school in Georgia. Statewide, 57.9% of the graduating students were eligible for the HOPE scholarship.
Between 1995 and 1998, the infant mortality rate (infant deaths per 1,000 live births) was 5.4 for the county. The statewide rate was 9.2 during the same period.
In 2000, the number of physicians in the county per 1,000 population was 0.7, compared with the 1.9 state average. Forsyth County had 0.4 hospital beds per 1,000 population in 2000, which was less than the statewide average of 3.1 beds per 1,000 population.
The 1999 index crime rate (crimes per 1,000) for Forsyth County was 2.2. Statewide, in 1999, the rate was 3.4. Of the total index crimes reported, 5.5% were violent crimes, while 94.5% were property crimes.
In 2000, 70.4% of the adult population in the county was registered to vote. Of those registered voters, 74.2% voted in the 2000 general election. Statewide, in 2000, 64.1% of eligible Georgians were registered to vote. Of those registered, 69.6% voted in the general election that year.

Population Growth (%)

Community 1980 1990 2000 1980-90 1990-00

Forsyth County 27,958 44,083 98,407 57.7% 123.2%

Cumming 2,094 2,828 4,220 35.1% 49.2%

Georgia Snapshots 2002

Economy

FORSYTH COUNTY

Top Employers - 1999

In the year 2000, the average weekly wage for all the employment sectors in the county was $600. This amount was less than the statewide average of $622.

In Forsyth County, services is the largest employment sector providing 25.7% of the jobs. The other predominant employment sectors are manufacturing and retail trade. Statewide, the service industry is the largest employment sector, contributing 25.6% of the state's jobs.

Between 1996 and 2000, Forsyth County's annual unemployment rate was less than the state's rate, averaging 1.9% compared with the state's average of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate for the same period averaged 4.8%.

The county per capita personal income in 1999 was $31,576, as compared with $27,324 for Georgia and $28,546 for the United States.

Forsyth County's median household income in 1997 was $60,250. This amount was greater than the state's median household income of $36,372 in that same year. Nationally, the median household income in 1999 was $37,005.

During 1997, 5.1% of the county's population lived below the poverty level, compared with Georgia's rate of 14.7% and the national rate of 13.3%. In addition, 8.2% of the children under the age of 18 lived below the poverty level in Forsyth County. Nationally, 19.9% of the population under the age of 18 years lived below the level of poverty.

Residents of Forsyth County received total government transfer payments amounting to $1,165 per capita in 1999, compared with $3,302 per capita statewide. Transfer payments include retirement and disability insurance benefit payments, medical benefits, unemployment insurance benefits, and veteran's benefits payments.

According to the Georgia Department of Revenue's Net Property and Utility Digest, Forsyth County's assessed property value amounted to $3.4 billion in 1999, resulting in a per capita assessed property value of $39,295. At the state level, per capita assessed property value in 1999 equaled $24,462.

Greko LLC

Scientific Games Operating Corp

Siemans Energy & Automation Inc

TRC Staffing Services Inc

Tyson Foods Inc

In aphabetical order.

Georgia Snapshots 2002

Government

FORSYTH COUNTY

Quick Facts

Forsyth County collected $34 million in total revenues in 1996. In 2000, the county received $59.5 million, an increase of 75.2%. Total revenue in 2000 equaled $604 per capita. The statewide revenue per capita for this same year was $679.

From 1996 to 2000, own source revenues for Forsyth County rose from $32.3 million to $57.6 million, an increase of 78.0%. Own source revenues include revenues from property taxes, excise and special use taxes, sales taxes, and service charges and fees. Per capita own source revenues amounted to $584 in 2000. This compares to a statewide per capita amount of $611.

The county collected an average of $130 per capita in property taxes during the past five years. This amount was less than the average of $163 per capita collected by similarly-sized counties. For the same period, the average per capita amount of county property tax collected in Georgia was $190. On average, property taxes accounted for 25.0% of the county's own source revenue during the period of 1996 to 2000.

General operating expenditures for Forsyth County in 1996 equaled $17.9 million, or $258 per capita. In 2000, general operating expenditures rose by 77.0% to $31.8 million, which was $322 per capita. General operating expenditures per capita for similarly-sized counties was $393 in 2000. The statewide average was $404 per capita during the same period.

Historically, the top three expenditure categories for counties are public safety, administration, and health and human services. In 2000, Forsyth County spent $13.4 million or 29.7% of total county spending on public safety which includes spending for law enforcement, fire services and jails. Spending for administration totaled $8.2 million, amounting to 18.1% of total expenditures. The county spent $1.2 million or 2.6% of total spending on health and human services.

From 1996 to 2000, Forsyth County had an average of $35.4 million in long-term debt outstanding each year, resulting in an average per capita debt burden of $415. This amount was greater than the $401 per capita average held among similarly-sized counties with outstanding debt during the period.

2000 Population98,407

2002 Job Tax Credit Tier - 4

2001 Tax Millage Rate18.312

Legal OrganForsyth County News

Form of GovernmentCommission-Administrator
Service Delivery Region 2, GainesvillePickensDawsonCherokeeForsythHallFultonGwinnett
Georgia Snapshots 2002

Definitions

DEFINITIONS

Assessed Property Value

In Georgia property is required to be assessed at 40% of the fair market values unless otherwise specified by law. The Board of Tax Assessors assesses property at the county level. Data source: GA Department of Revenue.

Average Expenditure per Student (public education)

Total general fund expenditures used to teach and support a student in a school system. This four-year average includes expenditures for instruction, media, pupil services, capital project, school food, and debt services. Data source: GA Department of Education, Georgia Public Education Report Cards.

Average Weekly Wage

Total dollars paid (including bonuses, incentive pay, etc.) to all employees (both hourly and salaried) during the year divided by the average number of employees. This figure is then divided by 52 weeks to obtain a weekly estimate. Data source: GA Department of Labor.

Dropout Rate

The number of students in grades 9-12, who dropped out of the school system during the school year. Calculated by dividing the number of dropouts by the full-time total enrollment. Students are reported as dropouts if they leave for one of the following reasons: Marriage, expelled, financial hardship/job, incarcerated/under jurisdiction of juvenile or criminal justice authority, low grades/school failure, military, adult education/postsecondary, pregnant/parent, removed for lack of attendance, serious illness/accident, and unknown. Data source: GA Department of Education, Georgia Public Education Report Cards.

Index Crime Rate

The number of index crimes reported per 100,000 persons. Total index crimes include violent crimes (murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) and property crimes (burglary, larceny, auto theft). The crime data is collected by Georgia law enforcement agencies and reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in its annual Uniform Crime Report (UCR). Data source: GA Crime Information Center, GA Bureau of Investigation.

Infant Mortality Rate

The total number of infant deaths occurring in a specific time period (usually one year) per 1,000 total live births during the same time period. Data are reported by place of residence, not place of death. Data source: Division of Public Health, GA Department of Human Resources.

Job Tax Credit Tier (JTC)

Relative ranking of Georgia counties into tiers based on certain economic factors as required by the Georgia Job Tax Credit Law. The Job Tax Credit (JTC) program provides a tax credit on Georgia income taxes for eligible businesses that create new jobs in counties or "less-developed" census tract areas. Job creation requirements and the credit amount are determined by a county's annual ranking based on a combination of economic indicators: unemployment rate, per capita income, poverty rate, and average manufacturing wage. Data source: GA Department of Community Affairs.

Legal organ

A journal or newspaper that serves as the county's official organ for reporting public notices and meetings. The judge of the probate court is required annually to notify the Secretary of State of this information. Data source: GA Secretary of State.

Long-term debt outstanding

Amount of long-term debt outstanding at end of the fiscal year (includes lease purchase agreements). Data source: GA Department of Community Affairs, Report of Local Finances.

Millage Rate
The tax rate expressed in mills for property. One mill produces $1.00 tax for every $1,000 worth of property value. The rates for each county is set annually by the board of county commissioners, or other governing authority of the taxing jurisdiction, and by the Board of Education. We calculated the millage rate by totaling the rates of the following taxing jurisdictions: State (.25 mills), county school and county unincorporated (except for Athens-Clarke and Columbus-Muscogee consolidated governments where the incorporated mill rate was used). Data is taken from the 2001 Georgia County Ad Valorem Tax Digest.

Data source: GA Department of Revenue.

Median Household Income

Median income is the amount which divides the income distribution into two equal groups, half having incomes above the median, half having incomes below the median. Income estimates are based on income before taxes and do not include non-cash benefits, such as food stamps. A household consists of all persons--related family members and all unrelated persons--who occupy a housing unit and have no other usual address.Data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Per Capita Personal Income

Total personal income (including wages, dividends, interest, rent, and government payments) divided by the total population. Data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Physician Rate (physician)

Total number of licensed physicians per 10,000 population. Information is from the State Composite Board of Medical Examiners. Data source: Georgia Board of Physician Workforce, GA Department of Community Health.

Poverty

This is based on pre-tax money income only, excluding capital gains, and does not include the value of non-cash benefits, such as food stamps. Poverty thresholds are updated every year to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Data source: Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Total area

The total size, in square units of all areas designated as land in the Census Bureau's national geographic (TIGER®) database.

Unemployment rate

Percentage of the civilian labor force that is unemployed. Data source: GA Department of Labor.