Columbia County Growth Management Plan 2011 – Community Assessment Development Services Division Planning & Engineering Department 2011 CONTENTS 1 Population ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 6 The Planning Area ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Population Trends ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Population Composition .................................................................................................................................. 8 Income and Educational Attainment ............................................................................................................. 10 Columbia County Tomorrow .......................................................................................................................... 12 2 Housing ..................................................................................................................................................14 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 14 Residential Growth in Columbia County ........................................................................................................ 14 Current Housing Stock ................................................................................................................................... 14 Age of Housing Stock ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Community Assessment Community Housing Growth ............................................................................................................................................. 16 – Household Type ............................................................................................................................................. 16 Housing Cost .................................................................................................................................................. 18 Housing Trends .............................................................................................................................................. 19 Housing Stock and School Age Population ..................................................................................................... 19 Housing Forecast ............................................................................................................................................ 20 Summary and Needs Assessment .................................................................................................................. 20 3 Economic Development ....................................................................................................................22 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 22 Growth Management Plan 2011 2011 Plan Management Growth Setting – The Region ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Setting - The County ....................................................................................................................................... 23 Economic Base Inventory ............................................................................................................................... 24 Columbia County Employment Trends .......................................................................................................... 25 Major Development Trends and Unique Economic Opportunities................................................................ 26 Columbia County Retail Trade and Services ........................................................................................................................... 26 Medical Industry and Health Services ........................................................................................................ 26 Tourism ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Construction ............................................................................................................................................... 27 1 1 Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade ........................................................................................................ 27 Fort Gordon ................................................................................................................................................ 28 Per Capita Income .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Income per Sector .......................................................................................................................................... 29 Inventory of Major County Level Economic Activities .................................................................................... 30 Labor Force Participation and Employment ................................................................................................... 31 Commuting Patterns ...................................................................................................................................... 31 Local and Regional Economic Development Resources ................................................................................. 31 Economic Development Agencies .............................................................................................................. 31 Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce ..................................................................................................... 32 Education and Training Opportunities ....................................................................................................... 32 Georgia Power Company, Economic Development Division ...................................................................... 33 Assessment Georgia Department of Economic Development ....................................................................................... 33 4 Historic Resources .............................................................................................................................. 34 Historic Overview ........................................................................................................................................... 34 Community Inventory of Historic Resources ..................................................................................................................... 35 – Possible National Register Sites in Columbia County ................................................................................. 35 Possible National Register Sites in Columbia County Continued ............................................................... 36 Assessment of Historic Preservation Needs ................................................................................................... 36 5 Natural Resources and Greenspace .............................................................................................. 37 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 37 The Natural Environment of Columbia County .............................................................................................. 37 Climate ........................................................................................................................................................... 37 Topography and Steep Slopes ........................................................................................................................ 38 Protected Mountains ..................................................................................................................................... 38 Soils ................................................................................................................................................................ 38 Prime Agricultural and Forest Land ................................................................................................................ 40 Major Parks, Recreation and Conservation Areas .......................................................................................... 41 Environmentally Sensitive and Ecologically Significant Areas ........................................................................ 43 Plant and Animal Habitats .......................................................................................................................... 43 Columbia County Growth Management Plan 2011 2011 Plan Management Growth County Columbia Air Quality ......................................................................................................................................................