Metro Atlanta is now majority-nonwhite

Census Bureau data released Thursday revealed that Cobb County, which is Georgia’s third largest county, grew by 11.3% from 2010-2020. The demographic data is just coming in and is being analyzed by experts for its various implications, but what it is clearly revealing is that there has been an extraordinary growth of residents of color in metro Atlanta. As a result, this growth is fueling Georgia’s conversion to becoming a majority-minority state.

Cobb County’s population went from 688,078 to 766,149 (as of April 2020). The White population in the county declined from 62.2% to 50.6%, while the Cobb Countians who are Black, Asian, Hispanic or two or more races all increased (from 2010-2020). Data also revealed that Cobb is now the 14th-most Hispanic County in the state. Further analysis of the data suggests that the City of Atlanta has grown whiter and is now 47% Black due to an influx of roughly 37,000 white residents in the last decade that far outpaced Black population growth. This information may play a role in the upcoming elections for a new Atlanta Mayor.

A recent AJC article pointed to several suburbs that are falling into this majority-minority category including Johns Creek in north Fulton County, Buford, Dacula, Loganville and Snellville in Gwinnett County, Carrollton, and Newnan. In addition, seven metro Atlanta counties are now predominantly Black, including Clayton, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale. The new data showed that in 2010, these counties around metro Atlanta were nearly 51% white, but are now slightly less than 44% white.

Population counts were also released for Cobb’s six cities, plus three unincorporated census designated places (CDP).

Marietta 60,972 residents

Smyrna 55,663 residents

Kennesaw 33,036 residents

Acworth 22,440 residents

Powder Springs 16,887 residents

Austell 7,713 residents

Unincorporated CDP’s

Mableton 40,834 residents

Vinings 12,851 residents

Fair Oaks 9,028 residents

Quick facts on the census were initially shared, but as the data continues to be analyzed, information extracted from it will be used to redraw political maps across an increasingly diverse state of Georgia, which will have implications on future races. The data will also shape how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed each year across Georgia.

What is also in the backdrop for Cobb is Cityhood for several communities. If cityhood were to occur in Mableton, it would become the 3rd largest city in Cobb behind Marietta and Smyrna. For Vining’s, it would become the 6th largest city, after Powder Springs, based on the numbers provided.