Clarkston, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Clarkston is a city in DeKalb County
, Georgia
, United States
. The population was 7,554 at the 2010 census. The city is home to the central campus of Georgia Perimeter College
.
The city is noted for its ethnic diversity. In the 1990s refugee
resettlement
programs identified Clarkston as a good fit for displaced persons of many different backgrounds. The rental market was open, residents were moving farther out from the Atlanta urban core, and Clarkston was the last stop on a transit line into the city. By the 2000s the local high school had students from more than 50 countries; a local mosque
had 800 worshipers; and by some estimates, half the population was from outside the U.S.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which 1 square miles (2.6 km²) is land and 0.94% is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 7,231 people, 2,469 households, and 1,587 families residing in the city. The population density
was 6,856.3 people per square mile (2,659.0/km²). There were 2,622 housing units at an average density of 2,486.1 per square mile (964.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 19.44% White, 55.66% African American, 0.11% Native American, 12.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races
, and 9.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.
There were 2,469 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% were married couples
living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.54.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 40.0% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,436, and the median income for a family was $38,056. Males had a median income of $27,604 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,304. About 19.5% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, Clarkston had the highest percentage of people from Somalia
of any community in the United States, with 7.6% of the population reporting having come from there.
operates Clarkston's public schools.
All of the schools are located outside of the city limits of Clarkston.
Atlanta Area School for the Deaf is a private school in Clarkston.
DeKalb County, Georgia
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population of the county was 691,893 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is the city of Decatur. It is bordered to the west by Fulton County and contains roughly 10% of the city of Atlanta...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 7,554 at the 2010 census. The city is home to the central campus of Georgia Perimeter College
Georgia Perimeter College
Georgia Perimeter College is a two-year associate degree-granting unit of the University System of Georgia. In May 2011, the state Board of Regents approved two bachelor's programs: a Bachelor of Arts in Sign Language Interpreting and a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics...
.
The city is noted for its ethnic diversity. In the 1990s refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
resettlement
Asylum in the United States
The United States honors the right of asylum of individuals as specified by international and federal law. A specified number of legally defined refugees, who apply for asylum either overseas or after arriving in the U.S., are admitted annually. Refugees compose about one-tenth of the total...
programs identified Clarkston as a good fit for displaced persons of many different backgrounds. The rental market was open, residents were moving farther out from the Atlanta urban core, and Clarkston was the last stop on a transit line into the city. By the 2000s the local high school had students from more than 50 countries; a local mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
had 800 worshipers; and by some estimates, half the population was from outside the U.S.
Geography
Clarkston is located at 33°48′37"N 84°14′24"W (33.810304, -84.239877).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km²), of which 1 square miles (2.6 km²) is land and 0.94% is water.
Demographics
As of 2010 Clarkston had a population of 7,554. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 13.6% white (13.1% non-Hispanic white), 58.4% black or African American (57.9% non-Hispanic black), 0.2% Native American, 4.8% Vietnamese, 16.8% other Asian, 2.1% from some other race and 4.1% from two or more races. 2.8% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 7,231 people, 2,469 households, and 1,587 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 6,856.3 people per square mile (2,659.0/km²). There were 2,622 housing units at an average density of 2,486.1 per square mile (964.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 19.44% White, 55.66% African American, 0.11% Native American, 12.57% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.56% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 9.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population.
There were 2,469 households out of which 38.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 22.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.54.
In the city the population was spread out with 30.0% under the age of 18, 12.9% from 18 to 24, 40.0% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,436, and the median income for a family was $38,056. Males had a median income of $27,604 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $14,304. About 19.5% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
In 2000, Clarkston had the highest percentage of people from Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
of any community in the United States, with 7.6% of the population reporting having come from there.
Education
DeKalb County School SystemDeKalb County School System
DeKalb County School System is a school district headquartered at 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard in unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States...
operates Clarkston's public schools.
- Indian Creek Elementary School
- Jolly Elementary School
- Freedom Middle School
- Clarkston High School
All of the schools are located outside of the city limits of Clarkston.
Atlanta Area School for the Deaf is a private school in Clarkston.