Demographic Information
Population
Ashburn 5,249
Turner County 9,160
Area Labor Market 59,148
Note: The area labor market is composed of Turner and its 6 surrounding counties: Ben-Hill, Crisp, Irwin, Tift, Wilcox, and Worth.
Trends 1990 1998 2003 Growth
Census
Estimate
Forecast
Rate
Population
City of Ashburn 4,827
5,031
5,670
4.2%
County 8,703
9,160
9,656
5.3%
State 6,487,216
7,642,207
6,955,190
18.0%
Population -By Race
Caucasian 58.96%
53.13%
50.14%
African-American 40.61% 45.93%
48.00%
Asian
0.23% 0.37%
0.40%
Other 0.23%
0.58%
0.58%
Hispanic 0.4%
0.71%
1.1%
(% of above )
Population -By Gender
Male 47.28%
47.21% 46.86%
Female 2.72%
52.79%
53.14%
Income
1990
1998
2003
Census
Estimate
Forecast
Turner Households
Households
$3,043
$3,334 $3,603
Average Income $22,610
$32,832
$35,200
Median Income $18,106
$24,135
$24,135
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Turner County topped the state's
growth chart with a per capita income increase of 39% between 1990 & 1994.
Metro communities only averaged a 16.2% per capita income growth.
Per Capita Income in Turner County in 1996 was $16,976 and in 1998 is 12,025. In 1990, Georgia's was $17,045, the Southeastern U.S. was $16,514 and the United States was $18,696.
The median Household Effective Buying Income (roughly the same as disposable income) was $17,776 in 1989. This relatively low EBI is a good indicator of a lower cost of living and a competitive wage rate. Thus, Turner County is a very attractive location for businesses, which seek to reduce operating expenses.
Taxes
Ashburn: Effective
Property Tax $9.50
per $1000 of fair market value
Mileage Rate
9.5
Freeport
Tax Exemption 100%
County: Effective
Property Tax
(school, county, state) $26.38
per $1000 affair market value
Mileage
Rate
26.38
Freeport
Tax Exemption 100%
Local
Sales Tax
3%
Job
Tax Credit: $3500
State: Sales Tax 4%
Georgia Job Tax Credit
Businesses creating ten (10) or more new jobs in Turner County may be eligible
for a jobs creation state tax credit of $3,500 per employee. The credit begins
in the second year and continues for five years. The total tax cannot exceed
50% of a manufacturer's state corporate tax liability; however, any unused
tax credit can be carried forward for ten years.
Freeport Exemption
Turner County has passed freeport exemption by referendum vote. Turner County
is currently at 100% freeport exemption on Class I and Class 2 inventories
(raw materials, goods-in-process and finished goods held by original manufacturer).
Transportation
Ashburn and Sycamore have excellent locations on 1-75 and U.S. 41, 160 miles from Atlanta and 80 miles from the Florida border. A total of 22 motor carriers provide trucking to Ashburn. Norfolk Southern and CSX serve the County's rail needs. Albany's airport, 45 minutes away, provides commercial air service to Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport.
Utilities
Utility services in Turner County have been rated highly by area manufacturers. Georgia Power is the primary supplier of electricity to the area, with Irwin EMC supplying selected areas of Turner. Natural gas is available to manufacturers in both firm and interruptible quantities. Excess water capacity of 2,700,000 gallons per day is ample for virtually any industrial user, while the sewer system. with 400.000 gallons per day of excess capacity. can accommodate all but the heaviest users.
Education
The County supports a quality school system as evidenced by the significant expenditure per student, $3,299.87 in 1994-95, compared to the state average of $3,374.00, and the excellent attendance rate of 95.9%, above the state average of 90.8%. Gifted programs are offered to students on both the middle and high school levels.
Source: Georgia Department of Education, Statistical Services Office
Community Schools:
3 county
public facilities
2,
100 students
159
teachers
18
administrators
3
guidance counselors
87
other employees
1 private school (grades K-12) within 10 minutes of the city of Ashburn.
Higher
Education:
Abraham
Baldwin College -20 miles
Albany
State College- 38 miles
Darton
College -38 miles
Georgia
Southwestern College -30 miles
Valdosta
State University- 59 miles
Technical
Education:
Albany
Technical Institute -38 miles
East
Central Tech Turner - located in Turner County
East
Central Tech -28 miles
Moultrie
Area Technical Institute -39 miles
South
Georgia Technical Institute -42 miles.
Recreation
Turner County has, within easy access, an abundance of recreational activities, including several state parks and golf courses, a wildlife preserve, public parks and recreational areas, museums, and much more.
Local Government
Turner County: Five Member Board of Commissioners
City Of Ashburn: Mayor
Five
Member City Council
City
Manager
Ashburn City Council Turner
County Commission
Mayor Bob Hunnicutt Al
Rose, Chairman
Major Sanders Tommy
Horne
Richard Weaver Joe
Burgess
Bob Hudson Jack
Paulk
John Y. Christian David
Young
Arty Eld
City Manager Jerry Grimes County Clerk Mary Wynn
Community Officials
Chamber of Commerce
Magistrate
Judge Probate
Judge
Shelley Zorn, President / Econ. Dev. Craig Poole Dot
Coker
238 East College Ave. 261
East College Ave. East
College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714 Ashburn,
GA 31714
Ashburn, GA 31714
(800) 471-9696 (912)
567-3155
(912) 567-2151
Clerk Of Court
Chief of Police District
Attorney
Linda House J.C.
Harris
Paul Bowden
East College Ave.
238 S. Main St. P.O.
Box 1252
Ashburn, GA 31714 Ashburn,
GA 31714 Tifton,
GA 31793
(912) 567-2011 (912)
567-2323 (912)
386-7900
Postmaster Sheriff
Tax
Commissioner
Wayne Hightower
Donnie Sellars
Charles Evans
United States Post Office
261 East College Ave. East
College Ave.
Ashburn, GA 31714 Ashburn,
GA 31714 Ashburn,
GA 31714
(912) 567-2432 (912)
567-3636 (912)
567-3636
Emergency Services
Turner County:
24-hour
Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
Enhanced
911 System
Turner County
Sheriff's Department -8
Deputies
Fire rating -9
ISO
rating - 5
City of Ashburn:
Ashburn
Police Department -12 FT officers
3 FT fire
fighters; 18 volunteers
Fire rating
-5
City of Sycamore:
Sycamore
Police Department -2 PT officers
16 volunteer
fire fighters
Fire rating
-8
Note: Turner County EMS, as well as the E-911 system covers all 3 municipalities as well as all of Turner County.