Cobb County, Georgia

Cobb County
Cobb County
County
	Official seal of Cobb County Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
	Georgia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 33°56′N 84°35′W / 33.94°N 84.58°W
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Founded	1832
Seat	Marietta
Population (2000)
• Total	607,751
Website	www.cobbcounty.org

Cobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It was created December 3, 1832. As of the 2000 census, the population is 607,751. The county's population continues to grow, having reached 663,818 according to the 2005 estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau. Its county seat is Marietta ⁶, located in the center of the county.

The county is part of the core Atlanta metropolitan area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 892 km² (345 mi²). 881 km² (340 mi²) of it is land and 11 km² (4 mi²) of it (1.27%) is water.

The county is divided along two major watersheds. Most runoff flows into the Chattahoochee River (along the southeastern border), via Sope Creek, Willeo Creek, Rottenwood 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.

Major Highways

Adjacent Counties

Cherokee County, Georgia - north
Fulton County, Georgia - east, southeast
Douglas County, Georgia - south
Paulding County, Georgia - west
Bartow County, Georgia - northwest

Demographics

As of 2005, there were 663,818 people (2005), 241,847 households (2004), and 170,167 families (2004) residing in the county. The population density was 763/km² (1,952/mi²). There were 261,659 housing units at an average density of 301/km² (770/mi²). The racial makeup of the county in 2005 was 64.3% White, 21.2% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 3.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 8.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 10.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 241,847 (2004) 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 2.64 and the average family size was 3.14.

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 2003, the median income for a household in the county was $60,565, and the median income for a family was $72,398. Males had a median income of $50,460 versus $38,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $30,620. About 6.3% of families and 8.5% 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

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.

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 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:

Part of northeastern Cobb is considered unincorporated Roswell and unincorporated Sandy Springs; and part of southeastern Cobb (mainly Vinings) is considered unincorporated Atlanta. All three cities are in neighboring Fulton County. Portions of far northeastern Cobb are considered to be unincorporated Woodstock, which is actually in Cherokee County. Those areas carry a Woodstock zip code.