Population here 27,771 and growing fast
Pickens getting bigger and richer in latest NGRDC statistics

Pickens County's population has reached 27,771, a booming
20.8 percent increase from 2000 to 2004 according to the latest
information from the North Georgia Regional Development Center.
The population increase makes Pickens County the fastest
growing in the north Georgia region, based on information in the 2005
North Georgia Area Data Profile,
growth rates were significantly lower in all other counties
in the North Georgia RDC (NGRDC), although Whitfield County
maintained a much larger population.
Other counties included in the NGRDC comparisons were Gilmer
- 26,755 people with 14.1 percent growth; Murray - 40,556 with 11.1
percent growth; Fannin - 21,613 with 9.2 percent growth; and
Whitfield - 89,461 with 7.1 percent growth.
Scott Evans, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said when
looking at the rapid influx of growth alone, it is alarming. You
usually associate rapid growth with problems, he said.
"You can't take these population numbers out of context. You
have to look at them with the other numbers," said Evans. "Population
growth is good if we're prepared, and so far we are because the
numbers are balanced."
Among positive economic indicators, Pickens has the lowest
number of persons living in poverty: 2,796 people, or 10.5 percent of
the population as of 2002.
All other counties compared by the NGRDC have higher rates of
poverty: Gilmer- 3,634 or 14.1 percent; Fannin - 2,989 or 14.1
percent; Murray - 4,987 or 12.7 percent; and Whitfield - 9,936 or
11.3 percent.
Our low poverty numbers correlate with data showing Pickens
with the highest median household income among other NGRDC counties.
In Pickens, median household income as of 2002 was $43,154,
which is about $1,000 higher than median household earnings in
Georgia overall. Other median incomes in NGRDC counties: Whitfield -
$38,916; Murray - $36,022; Gilmer - $34,173; and Fannin - $31,054.
Employment has increased faster in Pickens than any other
county. 2001-2003 saw a 9.9 percent increase while Georgia overall
saw a 2.3 percent decrease.
According to the NGRDC, Pickens' 2004 unemployment rate stood
at 3.6 percent, the lowest in the NGRDC territory. 498 people were
unemployed in 2004 while 13,453 were employed.
According to the NGRDC, Pickens' 1997 retail sales were
second only to Whitfield County, and according to the Georgia County
Guide, the same was true for 2003.
But a NGRDC staff member noted in one important retail
sector, automotive, Pickens has lost ground to its neighbors.
Ken Kessler, Data Services coordinator for the NGRDC, said
one of the most surprising things in Pickens' retail sales was the
difference in our auto sales from year to year. Although there is no
decline in Pickens, neighboring counties have seen much larger
increases in auto sales.
For example, in 1997 Pickens did $156,040,000 in motor
vehicle and parts and dealer sales, while Whitfield did $197,003,000
-- about a $41 million difference. According to the Georgia County
Guide, in 2003, Pickens did $163,994,000 in motor vehicle and parts
and dealer sales, while Whitfield did a whopping $291,253,000 in
sales -- about a $126,250,000 difference.
As public officials repeatedly state, experts predict there
is more population growth to come.
The NGRDC projects both Gilmer and Pickens' populations to
exceed 70,000 by the year 2030.
Kessler noted a recent trend which may push Gilmer's
population ahead of Pickens in the near future.
The recent trend involves people becoming full time residents
at their former "seasonal" or vacation houses. According to the 2005
Data Profile, Pickens has 979 seasonal residences while Gilmer has
1,846.
Kessler said more people are choosing to live full-time at
these second homes, which would raise Gilmer's census figures
regardless of new construction.
Every year, the North Georgia Regional Development Center
gathers and publishes statistics pertaining to Fannin,
Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties.
The statistics are available online at www.NGRDC.org or at
the Pickens County Library.