Cobb County, Georgia, nestled in the north-central part of the state, is flanked by Fulton, DeKalb, and Cherokee counties. As an integral part of the Atlanta metropolitan area, its population stood at approximately 757,000 people, as per the 2020 census.
The county seat is Marietta, with Mableton being its largest city. It’s worth noting that the county derives its name from Thomas Willis Cobb, a notable U.S. representative and senator from Georgia. Interestingly, there’s a belief that Marietta was named in honor of his wife, Mary.
Cobb County is renowned for its top-tier public schools, diverse communities, and a robust economy. Nevertheless, it grapples with substantial income disparities, poverty rates, unemployment figures, and educational gaps within its neighborhoods. Certain areas confront multiple challenges, including low income levels, elevated poverty rates, high unemployment, limited educational attainment, and restricted access to healthcare and social services.
In this piece, we delve into five of Cobb County’s most impoverished neighborhoods, as determined by data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) spanning from 2017 to 2021. We employ a set of indicators to gauge poverty:
1. Fair Oaks
Fair Oaks is situated in southwestern Cobb County, in proximity to Smyrna and Marietta. It is an urban enclave with a predominantly Hispanic population, complemented by Blacks, Whites, and Asians. Its population hovers around 9,000 residents, but it grapples with pronounced socioeconomic disadvantages. According to ACS data, Fair Oaks registers:
- A median household income of $36,000, signifying a 58% dip compared to the county median and a 55% drop compared to the national median.
- A poverty rate of 28%, nearly three times higher than the county rate and over twice as high as the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 10%, surpassing both the county and national averages.
- An educational attainment rate of 57%, indicating that just about half of the adult population has completed high school or advanced education.
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2. Powder Springs
Located in western Cobb County, near Austell and Hiram, Powder Springs is a suburban city boasting a diverse populace that includes Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, and Asians. With a population of approximately 16,000 residents, Powder Springs contends with significant socioeconomic challenges. As per ACS data, Powder Springs presents:
- A median household income of $44,000, marking a 49% decline relative to the county median and a 35% dip compared to the national median.
- A poverty rate of 22%, more than twice the county rate and over one-and-a-half times higher than the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 8%, exceeding both the county and national rates.
- An educational attainment rate of 80%, indicating that roughly four-fifths of the adult population has achieved high school or higher education.
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3. Austell
Austell, located in southwestern Cobb County, near Mableton and Lithia Springs, is an urban area primarily inhabited by a Black population, accompanied by some Whites, Hispanics, and Asians. With around 7,000 residents, Austell faces significant socioeconomic adversity. ACS data for Austell reveals:
- A median household income of $46,000, reflecting a 47% decline from the county median and a 32% decrease from the national median.
- A poverty rate of 20%, surpassing the county rate by more than twofold and exceeding the national rate by over one-and-a-half times.
- An unemployment rate of 7%, higher than both county and national averages.
- An educational attainment rate of 82%, signifying that approximately four-fifths of the adult population has attained high school or advanced education.
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4. Mableton
Mableton, nestled in southern Cobb County and close to Smyrna and Vinings, is an urban community marked by diversity, encompassing Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, and Asians. Its population stands at roughly 40,000 residents, yet it contends with significant socioeconomic challenges. According to ACS data, Mableton exhibits:
- A median household income of $51,000, indicating a 41% reduction in comparison to the county median and a 24% decrease relative to the national median.
- A poverty rate of 18%, nearly twice the county rate and over one-and-a-half times higher than the national rate.
- An unemployment rate of 6%, exceeding both the county and national rates.
- An educational attainment rate of 82%, suggesting that about four-fifths of the adult population has achieved high school or higher education.
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5. Kennesaw
Kennesaw, positioned in northern Cobb County and in proximity to Acworth and Woodstock, is a suburban community primarily inhabited by a White population, interspersed with some Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians. With a population of roughly 34,000 residents, Kennesaw grapples with notable socioeconomic challenges. As per ACS data, Kennesaw reports:
- A median household income of $54,000, marking a 37% reduction in comparison to the county median and a 20% decrease relative to the national median.
- A poverty rate of 16%, exceeding the county rate by more than one-and-a-half times and surpassing the national rate by the same margin.
- An unemployment rate of 5%, surpassing both county and national averages.
- An educational attainment rate of 77%, indicating that about three-fourths of the adult population has achieved high school or advanced education.
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Conclusion
Cobb County, Georgia, takes its place in the north-central region of the state and forms an integral part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. While it boasts a high population density and a robust economy, it also bears the weight of substantial disparities in income, poverty, unemployment, and education across its neighborhoods. Fair Oaks, Powder Springs, Austell, Mableton, and Kennesaw emerge as some of the county’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, grappling with a host of challenges that include low income, elevated poverty rates, high unemployment figures, limited educational attainment, and constrained access to healthcare and social services. Addressing these multifaceted issues demands concerted efforts from a range of stakeholders to improve the well-being and quality of life for these communities’ residents.