The following stats were posted on The Atlanta Regional Commission’s Metro Stats webpage.
Population
1.28 million
Number of black residents who call the 10-county Atlanta region home as of 2004, comprising roughly 34 percent of the total population. Nationally, blacks comprise 13.4 percent of the total population.
(US Census Bureau – 2004 estimates; ARC processing)
163,624
Number of black residents added from 2000–2004 to the Atlanta region, the largest net gain of any racial or ethnic group. Since 2000, the 10-county region has added 99,551 Hispanics, 83,917 whites and 38,200 Asians.
(US Census Bureau – 2004 estimates; ARC processing)
377,763
Estimated number of black residents in DeKalb County in 2004, which leads the 10-county region. Next is Fulton (352,925), then Clayton (161,007) and Cobb (143,121).
(US Census Bureau – 2004 estimates; ARC processing)
+46,158
Total net change in black residents of Gwinnett County from 2000 to 2004, the largest net gain in the 10-county region. Next is Clayton (+37,464), then Cobb (+26,567) and Henry (+21,362).
(US Census Bureau – 2004 estimates; ARC processing)
+121%
Percent change in black residents of Henry (17,661 to 39,023) from 2000 to 2004, the largest percentage increase in the 10-county region. Next are Cherokee (+117%; 3,624 to 7,860), Rockdale (+83.4%; 12,906 to 23,673) and Douglas (+78.4%, 17,200 to 30,692). The percent change in the 10-county region was 14.7 percent.
(US Census Bureau – 2004 estimates; ARC processing)
Income
$5.9 billion
Receipts for black-owned businesses in Georgia as of 2002, which ranks 5th among all states, and is up 44 percent since 1997.
(US Census Bureau – 2002 Survey of Business Owners)
90,480
Number of black-owned firms in Georgia as of 2002, which ranks 4th among all states, and is up 62 percent since 1997.
(Selig Center for Economic Growth)
$49.5 Billion
Buying power of black residents of Georgia, a 206 percent increase since 1990. Georgia ranks 5th in the nation in total black buying power and 6th in percent increase since 1990.
(Selig Center for Economic Growth)
$304 Million
The 2004 revenue of the region’s top black-owned business, H.J. Russell & Co, which is a construction/real estate/property management company located in downtown Atlanta. Other high-earning, black-owned businesses include The Gourmet Cos. (hospitality – $167 million in revenues), Legacy Automotive Group ($158 million) and Baranco Automotive Group ($151 million).
(Atlanta Business Chronicle – 2005-2006 Book of Lists)
Education
105,542
Number of black students (Pre-K – 12) added to the region’s public school enrollment from 1995-2005, the most of any racial/ethnic group. Since 1995, the region has added 62,349 Hispanic students, 17,228 Asian students and 15,571 multiracial students. In contrast, the region’s public schools have lost 25,497 white students since 1995.
(Georgia Department of Education; ARC processing)
28,275
Number of black students (Pre-K – 12) added to the Gwinnett County’s public school enrollment from 1995-2005, tops in the region. Next are Clayton (19,589), Cobb (18,481) and DeKalb (13,502).
(Georgia Department of Education; ARC processing)
524,250
Number of black residents, 25 and over, in the 10-county region with at least a high school diploma. This represents 82 percent of all black residents 25 years and older in the region, compared to 72 percent nationally.
(US Census Bureau – 2000; ARC processing)
145,358
Number of black residents, 25 and over, in the 10-county Atlanta region with at least a bachelor’s degree. This represents 23 percent of all black residents 25 years and older in the region, compared to 14 percent nationally.
(US Census Bureau – 2000; ARC processing)
47,825
Number of black residents, 25 and over, in DeKalb County with at least a bachelor’s degree, tops in the region. Next are Fulton (38,878), Cobb (21,022) and Gwinnett (14,481).
(US Census Bureau – 2000; ARC processing)
91.2
Percent of black residents, 25 and over, in Gwinnett County with at least a high school diploma, the highest percentage in the region. Next are Fayette (91%), Cobb (90%) and Clayton (88%).
(US Census Bureau – 2000; ARC processing)
42.5
Percent of black residents, 25 and over, in Fayette County with at least a bachelor’s degree, the highest percentage in the region. Next are Clayton (32%), Gwinnett (31%) and Douglas (26%).
(US Census Bureau – 2000; ARC processing)
Income
$47,784
Average median household income for black residents of the 10- county Atlanta region, which is roughly 87 percent of that for all residents. Nationally, that ratio is 70 percent (US median household income for all residents = $41,994; for black residents = $29,423).
(US Census Bureau – 2000; ARC processing)
Home Ownership
48%
Proportion of black householders who own their own home, with Fayette (84%), Henry (79%) and Cherokee (73%) leading the way.
(US Census Bureau – 2000; ARC processing)
While all of this is very good news, I then have to look at the other side of the stats of this city:
*Ranked 3rd most dangerous city (2005) [Link]
*Ranked 4th for percent of children under 18 years below poverty level in the past 12 months (2003) [Link]
*Ranked 4th on the “20 Meanest Cities” report by the National Coalition for the Homeless [Link]
*Tied with South Carolina for last place for lowest SAT scores [Link]
If I had the time, I could go on with this, but I think you get the general idea.
The economic status of individuals does not automatically translate into success for the city.
As black folks, we may out-give other ethnic groups when it comes to charity…
“African-Americans give 25 percent more of their discretionary income to charity than do others. For instance, African-Americans who make between $30,000 and $50,000 give an average of $528 annually, compared with $462 donated by their white counterparts in the same income range.8 Nine of every $10 donated by African-Americans goes to churches or religious groups.” (more…)
but why does that “charity” come up short when it comes to “the black mecca”?
I guess the thing that puzzles me about all of this is that for many of us, we are quick to blame government or “the system” for not doing enough to address these issues.
Question:
With a city such as Atlanta, at what point do you think that individuals should bear the responsibility of the success/failure of that city? I have some ideas, but I would like to hear from some of you.
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