Porterdale, Georgia

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Porterdale is a town in Newton County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,281 at the 2000 census.

[edit] Geography

Porterdale is located at 33°34′11″N, 83°53′53″W (33.569585, -83.897968)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7 km² (1.0 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,281 people, 463 households, and 333 families residing in the town. The population density was 480.2/km² (1,241.3/mi²). There were 487 housing units at an average density of 182.6/km² (471.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 92.58% White, 4.92% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.87% of the population.

There were 463 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.9% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,967, and the median income for a family was $30,398. Males had a median income of $28,409 versus $20,962 for females. The per capita income for the town was $10,812. About 18.7% of families and 22.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over.

Porterdale, Ga is one of many small towns that were based around textile mills. The mills were the centerpiece of the area and employed the majority of the local population. These towns were largely founded in the early 1900's. The advent of the global economy has sent these "mill towns" into economic collapse in the latter part of the 20th century. NAFTA was the head shot for those that held on.