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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2010
Census: City populations grow by double digits
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
OVER THE past decade, all
cities in Jackson County have
experienced at least double-digit
population growth, according to
the U.S. Census Bureau.
And two of those cities —
Braselton and Jefferson — have
seen the number of residents in
their towns grow by triple-digit
numbers since 2000.
The Census released its annual
population estimates for every
incorporated area on Tuesday.
The new city estimates are not
the 2010 Census population
counts, but they are the last esti
mates to use the 2000 Census
results as a base.
By far, Braselton has expe
rienced the most growth since
2000, according to the Census
estimates.
The agency predicts that
Braselton has grown 391 percent
from 1,206 residents in 2000 to
5,924 residents, as of July 1,
2009. Braselton spans Jackson,
Barrow. Gwinnett and Hall
counties.
“That sounds about what we
have,” said Braselton town man
ager Jennifer Dees. “We were
estimating 6,000 people last
year.”
But in some years, the Census'
annual population estimates
for the town lagged behind the
number of registered voters in
Braselton.
In June 2009, the town had
3,925 registered voters, Dees
said.
When the estimated number
of non-registered voters and
children are added to the mix,
Braselton officials believe the
town has 6,000 residents, Dees
said. For the 2010 Census, town
officials anticipate 6,000-6,500
residents.
Elsewhere in Jackson County,
Jefferson also welcomed a large
number of new residents over
the past decade, according to the
Census.
City
2009 Est.
Arcade
1,938
Braselton
5,924
Commerce
6,574
Hoschton
1,660
Jefferson
7,917
Maysville
1,692
Nicholson
2,138
Pendergrass
634
Talmo
648
Georgia
9,829,211
Jefferson’s population grew by
106 percent from 3,825 residents
in 2000 to 7.917 in 2009, accord
ing to the data.
While Commerce started the
decade with the most residents in
Jackson County. Jefferson now
has the largest population in the
county, according to the Census.
Commerce grew by 24 percent
from 5,292 residents in 2000 to
6.574 residents in 2009.
Georgia’s estimated popula
tion grew by 20 percent from
8.1 million in 2000 to 9.8 million
2000 Census
%Chanae
1,643
17.9%
1,206
391.2%
5,292
24.2%
1,070
55.1%
3,825
106.9%
1,247
35.6%
1,247
71.4%
431
47.0%
477
35.8%
8,186,453
20.0%
in 2009.
In December 2010 Census
state population counts — used
to apportion seats in the U.S.
House of Representatives - will
be delivered to the president. By
April 1,2011, the Census Bureau
will release 2010 Census counts
for counties, places and smaller
geographic areas.
The 2011 subcounty popula
tion estimates, to be released in
2012, will be the first in the esti
mates series based on the 2010
Census population counts.
Jackson, Barrow housing unit growth among top in U.S.
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
THE U.S. CENSUS Bureau says Jackson
and Barrow counties are some of the fast
est growing in the nation for the number of
housing units.
But, a report released on Wednesday by
the agency doesn’t specify if anyone is liv
ing in those residential structures.
Since 2000, Barrow County’s stock of
housing units has jumped 54.4 percent —
from 17.304 to 26,711, as of July 1, 2009.
That places Barrow County 17th in the
nation for fastest growing counties from
2000-2009, according to the Census.
During that same period, Jackson County
posted a similar growth rate — 52 percent
— by jumping from 16,226 housing units
to 24,656 housing units. Jackson County is
posted at 20th in the national list.
Other Georgia counties named to the list
are those that have been largely transition
ing from characteristically rural areas to
more urban or suburban areas over the past
decade.
Forsyth County is listed seventh fastest-
growing in the nation for the number of
housing units with Henry County at ninth,
Newton County at 12th and Cherokee
County at 15th.
As for population estimates, Barrow
County was previously named the 19th
fastest-growing county in the nation from
2000-2009, while Jackson County was
named 22nd.
The Census Bureau estimates that
Barrow County had 72,158 residents, as
of July 1, 2009, and Jackson County had
63.544.
The agency is still collecting data for its
2010 Census, which will provide popula
tion counts by each state to the president
by Dec. 31. Additional information —
such as race, ethnicity, voting age and
housing units — must be given to the states
by April 1,2011.
Electronics firm may bring additional jobs to area
BY KERRI TESTEMENT
A COMPANY may not
have officially announced it’s
coming to Jackson County,
but it’s already planning more
jobs than initially estimated,
according to one official.
Shane Short, president and
CEO of the Jackson County
Area Chamber of Commerce,
said Friday that Systemax, Inc.
may employ 650-700 people
at its new facility in Jefferson.
The electronics company
initially estimated it would
bring 400 jobs to its distribu
tion center in the Jefferson
Mill Business Park, located on
Hog Mountain Road.
Systemax—which is the par
ent company for Circuit City.
TigerDirect and CompUSA
— hasn’t officially announced
its move to Jefferson, but it
has already been published in
news reports.
The company is now get
ting permits for the 459,000
square-foot facility, which
has remained vacant since its
completion in 2007. Cousins
Properties owns the industrial
building.
Short said the facility will
include 40,000 square feet of
retail space, a main distribu
tion center and a call support
center.
It’s estimated that Systemax
will contribute $600,000 a
year in sales tax revenue to
Jackson County with annual
sales reaching a projected $20
million, he added.
The portion of Hog
Mountain Road in front of the
facility remains closed until
a joint project with the city
and county to widen the road
is completed. Systemax is
expected to open in the build
ing in August or September,
Short said.
The New York-based com
pany is one of several new
industries slated to bring more
jobs to Jackson County.
In recent months, officials
have also announced that
Dayton Superior estimates it
will hire 140 employees in
its second year of operation.
Safelite Group expects to
bring 92 jobs to the county and
TranSouth Logistics plans to
employ 90 people. All of those
companies will be located in
Braselton.
Correction
It was incorrectly reported in last week’s issue of The
Jackson Herald that the City of Jefferson is working on a
project to reduce the speed limit on the Hwy. 129 bypass.
The roads involved in the speed limit study involve the two
recreation sites and the schools on Old Pendergrass and
Old Swimming Pool. The effort is due to the high speeds
in this area, according to city officials. We apologize for
the error.
Jefferson Freedom Festival ahead
THE ANNUAL Freedom Festival will be held Saturday,
June 26, at the Jefferson Recreation Complex, located on
Old Pendergrass Road.
The event has been moved from the downtown area due
construction related to the streetscape project.
The festival will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. with food,
rides, music and games planned. Fireworks presented by
the Jefferson Fire Department will be at the end of the
evening.
efferson * Freedom * Festival
June 26 * 5-9:30 pm
Jefferson Recreation Department
(New Location - Same Great Festival!)
Music from The Shade
Inflatables ~ Fireworks
BBQ ~ Hotdogs ~ Hamburgers
Kiddieville: Fun Children’s Activities & Games
Vendor Booths featuring
Arts & Crafts, Ice Creme, Boiled Peanuts
Pizza — Face Painting - Dunking Booth
And More!
Thanks to our Sponsors:
City of Jefferson ★ Main Street Jefferson
Jefferson Area Business Association^ Living Jackson
Allstate Insurance, Joel Harbin
Newell Orthodontics
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BECOME A SPONSOR:
bjaughinghouse@cityofjeffersonga.com ir 706-367-5714
Vote early through July 16
BYANGELA GARY
EARLY VOTING for the
July 20 election will be held
through July 16.
Voters may cast a bal
lot from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mondays through Fridays in
the Administration Building
in Jefferson through July 9.
The next week, voting will
be held from 9 a.m. to 7
p.m. in the Administration
Building and the satellite vot
ing precincts in Commerce
and Braselton.
Voter registration will be
held on June 25 even though
county offices will be closed
for a furlough day.
The only local race is in
the West and North Jackson
areas for the District 5 seat
on the Jackson County Board
of Education. Steven Bryant
and Randall Skelton are both
seeking this seat. Incumbent
Jill McEver is not seeking
re-election.
The State Senate District
47 seat that covers Jackson
County will also be on the
ballot. Those to qualify
were: Kelley Gary, Shane
Coley, Doug Bower and
Frank Ginn, all Republicans,
and Tim Riley, a Democrat.
Incumbent Ralph Hudgens
(R) is running for state insur
ance commissioner.
In the State Senate District
49 seat that covers a portion
of Jackson County, Butch
Miller and Jimmy Norman,
both Republicans, qualified.
QUESTION ON
REPUBLICAN BALLOT
The Republican ballot will
also have the following ques
tion on it: Do you support an
amendment to the Georgia
State Constitution so as to
provide that the paramount
right to life is vested in each
human being from the ear
liest biological beginnings
until natural death?
STATE-WIDE RACES
Among those to be on the
ballot for state-wide races
include:
•Governor: Jeff Chapman,
(R) Alpharetta; Nathan
Deal, (R) Gainesville; Karen
Handel, (R) Alpharetta; Eric
Johnson, (R) Atlanta; Ray
McBerry, (R) McDonough;
John Oxendine, (R) Norcross;
Otis Putnam. (R) Brunswick;
Thurbert Baker, (D) Atlanta;
Roy Barnes, (D) Marietta;
Bill Bolton, (D) Marietta;
Carl Camon. (D) Ray City;
Randall Mangham. (D)
Decatur; DuBose Porter, (D)
Dublin; David Poythress.
(D) Atlanta.
•Lieutenant Governor:
Casey Cagle. (R) incum
bent, Gainesville; Tricia
Carpenter McCracken, (D)
Augusta; and Carol Porter,
(D) Atlanta.
•Attorney General: Sam
Olens, (R) Marietta; Preston
W. Smith, (R) Rome; Max
Wood. (R) Macon; Ken
Hodges, (D) Smyrna; Rob
Teilhet. (D) Smyrna.
•State Superintendent of
Schools: John D. Barge, (R)
Rome; Richard Woods, (R)
Tifton; Beth Farokhi, (D)
Marietta; Joe Martin, (D)
Atlanta; Brian Westlake. (D)
Decatur.
•Commissioner of
Agriculture: Gary Black, (R)
Commerce; Darwin Carter,
(R) Alma; and J.B. Powell,
(D) Blythe.
•Labor Commissioner:
Mark Butler, (R) Carrollton;
Melivn Everson, (R)
Snellville; Terry Coleman,
(D) Eastman; and Darryl
Hicks, (D) Fayetteville.
PROCLAMATION SIGNED
Nicholson Mayor Ronnie Maxwell (R) is shown with
Bob Herrin at Monday’s meeting after the Nicholson
City Council approved a proclamation proclaiming
June 20-26 as Amateur Radio Week in Nicholson.
Photo by Sharon Hogan
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