Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Some History...Some Demographics

If the empty railroad tracks and dilapidated, abandoned buildings in and around Hart County could talk they would tell the story of textile mills and the once booming city of Bowersville.

Now the textile factories that surround the outskirts of Hartwell are abandoned, replaced with manufacturing plants. These new plants create items such as kitchen counter tops and toothbrushes.

Although the factories provide jobs for residents, many still have not found work.

According to Ilka Decker, a member of the Archway Project which is a collaboration between the county and the University of Georgia, the unemployment rate for the county is approximately 10 percent.

Many in the county grow their own crops for both profit and personal use.

A majority of Hart County revenue comes from those who retire in the county. Lake Hartwell has become a popular place for retirees who wish to flee the hustle and bustle of Atlanta.

Decker said that those who live in town refer to those who live along the lake as the "lake people." They are comprised of mostly affluent people.

As one could surmise, the demographics of the county are skewed by these retirees. Hart County is comprised of a large population of older adults.

Over 50 percent of the county is 35 and older. With a population of 23,000, the birth rate for the county according to a 2001 census was 282.

Also according to records, the majority of those births occurred in women between the ages of 20 to 34.

Conversely, the death rate for the population was 268. In those deaths more than 200 occurred in adults 65 and older.

A large population of older adults signifies a need to focus on adequate elder care. More than 100 of the deaths recorded by the census were due to cardiovascular disease.

More in-depth research will need to be done to discern if these deaths due to cardiovascular diseases are a result of diet, lack of physical activity, or lack of proper care.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Here I Come Hart County

For the next several weeks, I will be reporting on health-related matters that effect Hart County in the state of Georgia.

Hartwell, GA is the major city located in Hart County.

The county has one hospital, an interesting fact is that the hospital has more physicians than beds.

The county has two nursing facilities and one personal care home. The hospital and nursing facilities constitute the care offered in Hart County.

The county has a population of approximately 23,000.

I have only been able to gather information, from the reference website. I hope to have more information that my travels to the county will reveal.