Latest Census figures show us as the 56th most populous county in the state
2020 U.S. Census figures released last week show that Pickens County has a population of 33,216 – up 12.9 percent from the 2010 population of 29,431. This is a population density of 143.1 people per square mile.
Pickens County is now ranked 56th in the state for population.
Pickens grew more than the state average of 10.6 percent from 2010 to 2020, but still has a lower population density than the state average of 185.6. In the 2000 Census, Pickens had a population of 22,983. The population density was 99 people per square mile at that time.
Cherokee County’s population grew by 24.4 percent and Dawson County’s by 20 percent from 2010 – 2020, both significantly more than Pickens’. Other surrounding counties had populations that grew by less of a percentage (see below).
Green Suttles, Economic Developer for Jasper/Pickens County, said these numbers demonstrate growth coming from the metro-Atlanta area with population increases larger near the city. They grow smaller as you travel north.
“I think these look like very reasonable numbers,” Green said, noting that ongoing and future growth in Pickens is shaping up to be more significant. “I know I filled out my Census around March of 2020, and that was before things started going gangbusters here.”
Suttles compiled data from the county and city and found there are approximately 880 homes either under construction or in the planning stages on property that has been zoned for development. In the city of Jasper, for example, Suttles said their midterm report for building permit fees in 2021 has already overtaken fees collected for the entire year in 2020.
The 2020 Census also found that the nation, including Georgia, saw population increases in metro areas, as well as increased diversity.
The Capitol Beat news service reported, “The first detailed data from the 2020 Census covering cities, counties and census blocks showed the concentration of Americans in the nation’s metropolitan areas increased from 84.3 percent in 2010 to 86.3 percent last year. Population growth in Georgia during the decade was limited primarily to the counties in metro Atlanta and along the coast. On the other hand, many of the counties in rural Georgia lost population between 2010 and 2020, including large swaths of south Georgia.”
The following are populations figures for the state and counties surrounding Pickens:
Georgia
Population Density (2020): 185.6 people per square mile
Total population (2020): 10,711,908
Total population (2010): 9,687,653
Numeric change (2010–2020): 1,024,255
Percent change (2010–2020): 10.6
Gilmer
Population Density (2020): 73.6 people per square mile
Total population (2020): 31,353
Total population (2010): 28,292
Numeric change (2010–2020): 3,061
Percent change (2010–2020): 10.8
Dawson
Population Density (2020): 127.1 people per square mile
Total population (2020): 26,798
Total population (2010): 22,330
Numeric change (2010–2020): 4,468
Percent change (2010–2020): 20.0
Fannin
Population Density (2020): 65.4 people per square mile
Total population (2020): 25,319
Total population (2010): 23,682
Numeric change (2010–2020): 1,637
Percent change (2010–2020): 6.9
Cherokee
Population Density (2020): 633.2 people per square mile
Total population (2020): 266,620
Total population (2010): 214,346
Numeric change (2010–2020): 52,274
Percent change (2010–2020): 24.4
Gordon
Population Density (2020): 161.4 people per square mile
Total population (2020): 57,544
Total population (2010): 55,186
Numeric change (2010–2020): 2,358
Percent change (2010–2020): 4.3
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