BANKS
COUNTY
BACKGROUND
Banks County is located in the foothills of the mountains of
Northeast Georgia. It is 70 miles northeast of Atlanta and 80
miles south of Greenville, South Carolina. Interstate 85 goes
through the southern part of the county and U. S. 441 bisects
the county north and south. Banks Crossing, located at the intersection
of I-85 and U.S. 441, has become a mecca for shoppers because
of the intense retail development and outlet stores located there.
The population of Banks County has grown steadily in recent years
and is now approximately 14,000. The county has a rich historical
heritage and the county seat town of Homer offers its old courthouse
and jail as museums.
MEDIA
The Banks County News, the official legal organ of
Banks County, has a paid circulation of just over 3,500. The
News office is located in the county seat of Homer, Ga. The
newspaper, founded in 1968, has just celebrated its 32nd anniversary.
It is the only local newspaper in the county and carries a variety
of local news including politics, schools, churches, clubs and
social events. It has several local correspondents and columnists
who add color and insight into local events in Banks County.
The newspaper covers the municipalities of Homer, Alto, Maysville,
Baldwin, and Lula.
|
ECONOMICS
|
Median Income: |
$33,061 |
(2000) |
|
Per Capita Income: |
$19,408 |
(1999) |
|
Retail Sales Per Capita: |
$6,064 |
(1999) |
|
Total Retail Sales : |
$117,125,000 |
(2000) |
|
Pct. Manufacturing, Construction: |
42% |
(1999) |
|
Pct. Service Industry: |
22% |
(1999) |
|
Deposits In Financial Institutions: |
$65,665,000 |
(2000) |
HOUSING
|
Total Housing Units: |
5,808 |
(2000) |
|
Total Occupied: |
5,364 |
(2000) |
|
Persons Per Household: |
2.69 |
(2000) |
LABOR
|
Labor Force: |
6,463 |
(2000) |
|
Unemployment Percentage: |
3.2% |
(2000) |
NATURAL RESOURCES
|
Area in Square Miles: |
234 |
|
|
Area in Acres: |
149,613 |
|
POPULATION
|
Total Population: |
14,422 |
(2000) |
|
Population Increase from 1990: |
4,114 |
|
|
Percent Population Increase from 1990-2000: |
39.9% |
|
|
Population Projections for Year 2005: |
16,482 |
|
|
Municipality Growth: |
Homer..................28%
Baldwin (pt).........68%
Alto (pt)................34%
Gillsville (pt)..........72%
Maysville (pt)........71%
Lula (pt).................41%
Total County..........39% |
(Percent Change 1990-2000) |
TRANSPORTATION
|
Total Paved City, County Rd. Mileage: |
340 Miles |
(2000) |
|
Total Interstate Mileage: |
7 Miles (I-85) |
|
|
Total State Route Mileage: |
105 Miles |
(2000) |
|
Motor Vehicle Registrations: |
16,568 |
(2001) |
VITAL STATISTICS
|
Births: |
172 |
(1999) |
|
Deaths: |
97 |
(1999) |
|
Median Age: |
35.2 |
(2000) |
|
Veterans: |
1,240 |
(2000) |
GOVERNMENT
|
Congressional District: |
9th |
(2001 Plan) |
|
State Senatorial District: |
47th |
(2001 Plan) |
|
State Representative District: |
22nd |
(2001 Plan) |
|
