Cobb County, Georgia

Coordinates: 33°56′N 84°35′W / 33.94°N 84.58°W / 33.94; -84.58
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 128.163.160.123 (talk) at 18:23, 8 September 2008 (→‎Major businesses). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Cobb County
County
Official seal of Cobb County
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Cobb County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°56′N 84°35′W / 33.94°N 84.58°W / 33.94; -84.58
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1832
SeatMarietta
Largest cityMarietta
Area
 • Total345 sq mi (892 km2)
 • Land340 sq mi (881 km2)
 • Water4 sq mi (11 km2)  1.27%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2006)
679,325
 • Density1,952/sq mi (763/km2)
Websitewww.cobbcounty.org

Cobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created December 3, 1832, by the State of Georgia from land it confiscated from the Cherokee Nation and redistributed to settlers via lottery following the passage of the federal Indian Removal Act.[1] Its county seat is Marietta,Template:GR located in the center of the county. The county was named for Judge Thomas Willis Cobb, who in the early 19th century was a United States Representative and Senator from Georgia.

As of the 2000 census, the population is 607,751. The county's population continues to grow. The 2007 estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau put the population at 691,905. The county is part of the core Atlanta metropolitan area, which is included in the Atlanta–Sandy Springs–Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The U.S. Census Bureau ranks Cobb County as the most-educated in the State of Georgia and 15th among all counties in the United States.[2] It is consistently ranked among top 100 wealthiest counties in the United States.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 345 square miles (892 km²), of which, 340 square miles (881 km²) of it is land and 4 square miles (11 km²) of it (1.27%) is water.

The county is divided between two major watersheds. Most runoff flows into the Chattahoochee River (along the southeastern border), via Willeo Creek, Sope Creek, Rottenwood Creek, Nickajack Creek, and Sweetwater Creek. A ridge from Lost Mountain in the west, to Kennesaw Mountain in the north, to Sweat Mountain in the extreme northeast, divides the far north-northwest of the county into the Lake Allatoona area, including the northward-flowing Noonday Creek.

There are several high points in Cobb County.

  • Sweat Mountain: in the extreme northeast portion, runs along the border with Cherokee County
  • Blackjack Mountain: a low ridge in central Cobb
  • Kennesaw Mountain: The highest point in Cobb County located in the western reaches of the county.
  • Little Kennesaw Mountain: An offshoot of Kennesaw

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Addressing

Despite the lack of a grid system of city blocks though the county, all street addresses have their numeric origin at the southwest corner of the town square in Marietta.

From here, the north/south boundary heads west on Georgia 120, which is Whitlock Avenue and Dallas Highway. All addresses actually on this road are considered "southwest", even on the north side of the street, To the east, it follows 120 (South Park Square, Roswell Street, and Roswell Road), then onto Lower Roswell Road, and finally skipping to Paper Mill Road across a roadless strip, and down a small section of Johnson Ferry Road to the river.

The east/west boundary follows Church Street and its extension north to Bell's Ferry Road, with all addresses on it being "northwest", even on the east side of the street. To the south, it follows an arbitrary path toward Mableton, usually running between roads instead of along them.

Because the USPS delivers mail from post offices in other counties in some places, it has assigned the names and ZIP codes of those cities to areas in Cobb. This creates a situation where an address can appear to be in southeast Atlanta, but is actually northwest of Atlanta in southeast Cobb, for example.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
190024,664—
191028,39715.1%
192030,4377.2%
193035,40816.3%
194038,2728.1%
195061,83061.6%
1960114,17484.7%
1970196,79372.4%
1980297,71851.3%
1990447,74550.4%
2000607,75135.7%

As of 2006, there were 679,325 people, 248,303 households, and 169,178 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,998 people per square mile (763/km²). There were 261,659 housing units at an average density of 770 per square mile (301/km²). The racial makeup of the county in 2006 was 63.0% White, 22.6% Black, 0.5% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 8.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 11.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 248,303 households out of which 35.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.10% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 36.50% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 6.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 98.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.90 males.

As of 2005, the mean income for a household in the county was $81,672, and the mean income for a family was $95,142. Males had a median income of $50,656 versus $39,547 for females. The per capita income for the county was $31,631. About 6.3% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Government and elections

Cobb County Courthouse

Under Georgia's home rule provision, county governments have free rein to legislate on all matters within the county, provided that such legislation does not conflict with state or federal laws or constitutions. When this home rule was enacted for Cobb by the Georgia General Assembly in the early 1960s, Ernest W. Barrett became the first chairman of the new county commission.

Cobb County is currently governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners, which has both legislative and executive authority within the county. The chairman of the Board is elected county-wide. The other four commissioners are elected from single-member districts; though during 2004, the commission has discussed adding at least one member, to keep up with the county's growing population. The Board hires a county manager who oversees day-to-day operations of the county's executive departments.

County residents also elect a sheriff, district attorney, probate court judge, clerk of superior court, state court solicitor, chief magistrate judge (who then appoints other magistrate court judges), superior court judges, state court judges, tax commissioner, surveyor, and a seven-member board of education. The following is a table of those currently holding office as of September 2007:

Office Holder Office Holder
Sheriff Neil Warren State Court Solicitor Barry E. Morgan
District Attorney Pat Head Chief Magistrate Judge Frank Cox
Probate Court Judge David Dodd Tax Commissioner Gail Downing
Clerk of the Superior Court Jay Stephenson

In addition to the county sheriff, the constitutional chief law enforcement officer of the county, Cobb County has a separate police department under the authority of the Board of Commissioners. The sheriff oversees the jail, to which everyone arrested under state law is taken, regardless of the city or other area of the county where it happens, or what police department makes the arrest.

Taxes

In addition to the 4% statewide sales tax, Cobb County levies an additional 2% for special projects, each 1% subject to separate renewal every few years by countywide referendum (including within its cities). This funds mainly transportation and parks. Cobb levies a 1% tax to lower property taxes, but only for the public school budget, and not the additional 1% HOST homestead exemption for general funds. It has also voted not to pay the extra 1% to join MARTA, which has made operating and expanding that rapid transit system difficult even in the two counties where it does operate.

At the beginning of 2006 it became the last county in the state to raise the tax to 6%, which also doubled the tax on food to 2%. The SPLOST barely passed by a 114 vote margin, or less than one-quarter of a percent, in a September 2005 referendum. The revenue will go to a new county courthouse and expanded jail, and toward various road projects [1]

Cities and communities

Unincorporated:

Formerly incorporated:

Existing communities:

  • East Cobb - (E)
  • Sandy Plains - (NE)
  • Blackwell - (N)
  • Clarkdale - (S)
  • Noonday - (N)
  • Mt. Bethel - (NE)
  • Powers Park - (SE)
  • Due West - (W)
  • Lost Mountain - (W)
  • Mars Hill - (WNW)
  • Macland - (WSW)
  • Westoak - (NE)

Modern communities:

Unincorporated northeastern Cobb County, although closer to Roswell, is largely considered part of unincorporated Marietta. Southeastern Cobb (mainly Vinings) is considered unincorporated Atlanta.

Major businesses

Transportation

Recreation

Education

Colleges and universities

Schools

Public schools

Private schools

Public libraries

References

  1. ^ Cobb County, Georgia
  2. ^ ACS: Ranking Table - Percent of People 25 Years and Over Who Have Completed a Bachelor's Degree
  3. ^ bizjournals: How 100 counties ranked in wealth

External links

Template:Georgia

33°56′N 84°35′W / 33.94°N 84.58°W / 33.94; -84.58

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cobb_County,_Georgia&oldid=237110146"