Columbia County Growth Management Plan Update Community Assessment June 2005 1 / COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT COLUMBIA COUNTY GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE 1.0 Population 9 Introduction .........................................................................................9 The Planning Area...............................................................................9 Population Trends .............................................................................10 Population Composition.....................................................................11 Population Projection by Age.............................................................12 Income and Educational Attainment ..................................................14 Columbia County Tomorrow..............................................................16 2.0 Housing 19 Introduction .......................................................................................19 Residential Growth in Columbia County ............................................19 Current Housing Stock ......................................................................19 Age of Housing Stock........................................................................21 Housing Growth.................................................................................21 Household Type ................................................................................22 Special Housing Needs .....................................................................23 Housing Cost.....................................................................................24 Housing Trends.................................................................................25 Housing Stock and School Age Population........................................26 Housing Forecast ..............................................................................26 Summary and Needs Assessment.....................................................26 3.0 Economic Development 28 Introduction .......................................................................................28 Setting – The Region.........................................................................28 Setting - The County .........................................................................29 Economic Base Inventory..................................................................30 Columbia County Employment Trends ..............................................32 Major Development Trends and Unique Economic Opportunities......33 Retail Trade and Services .................................................................34 Medical Industry and Health Services................................................34 Tourism .............................................................................................34 Construction ......................................................................................35 Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade.................................................35 Fort Gordon.......................................................................................36 Per Capita Income.............................................................................36 Income per Sector .............................................................................36 Inventory of Major County Level Economic Activities.........................38 Labor Force Participation and Employment .......................................38 Commuting Patterns..........................................................................38 Local and Regional Economic Development Resources....................39 Economic Development Agencies .....................................................39 The Central Savannah River Area Regional Development Center (CSRA RDC) .....................................................................................39 Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce .............................................39 Education and Training Opportunities................................................40 Georgia Power Company, Economic Development Division..............40 2 / COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT COLUMBIA COUNTY GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE Georgia Department of Economic Development................................40 4.0 Historic Resources 42 Historic Overview ..............................................................................42 Inventory of Historic Resources.........................................................43 Assessment of Historic Preservation Needs......................................44 5.0 Natural Resources and Greenspace 45 Introduction .......................................................................................45 The Natural Environment of Columbia County...................................45 Climate..............................................................................................45 Topography and Steep Slopes ..........................................................46 Protected Mountains .........................................................................46 Soils ..................................................................................................46 Prime Agricultural and Forest Land ...................................................48 Major Parks, Recreation and Conservation Areas .............................49 Environmentally Sensitive and Ecologically Significant Areas............51 Animals – None.................................................................................52 Air Quality..........................................................................................53 Water Resources...............................................................................54 Water Supply Watersheds.................................................................56 Wetlands ...........................................................................................57 Floodplains........................................................................................58 Protected River Corridor....................................................................58 Stormwater Utility ..............................................................................58 Scenic Views and Sites .....................................................................59 Columbia County Greenspace Program ............................................59 Summary and Needs Assessment.....................................................62 6.0 Community Facilities and Services 64 Introduction .......................................................................................64 Public Safety .....................................................................................64 Columbia County Sheriffs Office........................................................64 Fire and Emergency Medical Services ..............................................65 Animal Control and Care ...................................................................66 Assessment of Public Safety Needs..................................................66 Hospitals and Other Public Health Care Facilities..............................66 Hospitals ...........................................................................................67 Public Health .....................................................................................67 Senior Services .................................................................................68 Public Transit ....................................................................................68 Assessment of Public Health Needs..................................................68 Parks and Recreation........................................................................69 Public Parks ......................................................................................69 Community Centers...........................................................................71 Assessment of Park and Recreation Needs ......................................72 Educational Facilities.........................................................................73 Assessment of Education Needs.......................................................75 Cultural Facilities...............................................................................75 3 / COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT COLUMBIA COUNTY GROWTH MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE Assessment of Cultural Facilities Needs............................................76 Solid Waste Management .................................................................76 Assessment of Solid Waste Management Needs ..............................77 Water and Wastewater System .........................................................77 Water ................................................................................................77 Wastewater .......................................................................................77 Assessment of Water and Wastewater Needs...................................78 General Government.........................................................................79 Assessment of General Government Needs......................................80 7.0 Land Use 81 Introduction .......................................................................................81 Land Use Categories and Patterns....................................................81 Agriculture and Forestry ....................................................................81 Residential ........................................................................................81 Rural Residential...............................................................................81