Locals, Officials React to Black Population Growth

The increase of black residents living in Powder Springs, coupled with a decline in the number of white citizens, has caused the black segment of the population to become the majority in the 173-year-old city.

As the city grew 12 percent from 2000 to 2010, Powder Springs’ black population climbed from 4,666 (or 37.4 percent) to 6,961, representing 49.9 percent of the town’s April 2010 population of 13,940, . 

State Rep. David Wilkerson, D-Austell, said he believes it is important that Powder Springs officials encourage new residents to participate in local government and take on other leadership positions.

“One of the impacts of a change in demographics is that more of your future leadership will likely come from that group,” said Wilkerson, whose 33rd House District includes portions in Powder Springs, Austell, Mableton and Smyrna. “That change could be from white to African-American, as you are seeing in Powder Springs, or the other way moving from minority back to majority. These future leaders will be both elected and non-elected."

Another shift in demographics: 1,400 fewer white citizens lived in the city in 2010 when compared to 10 years prior. In 2000, the census reported that segment was represented by 7,225 people in the city, making up 57.9 percent of the community. By 2010, that number had declined to 5,802, constituting 41.6 percent of the population.

Black citizens aren't the only racial group growing in Powder Springs. The Hispanic population more than doubled from 2000 to 2010, increasing from 539 (or 4.3 percent) to 1,267 (or 9.1 percent).

Casey Baker, a 29-year-old white citizen, said she has noticed the racial shift.

“We are the minority,” said Baker, who commutes from Paulding County to work in Powder Springs. “It might hurt the community in terms of the living. I think mostly the white folks that live here have lived here for a long time, but (the population change) might cause some people to move here (and others) to not come here.”

Baker said some people may now choose to move to Dallas, Rockmart and Paulding County instead of Powder Springs because of the 2010 census results.

“I’m not racist, but there are a lot of people that wouldn’t move here because of that,” she said.

Curtis Wormley, 53, has lived in Powder Springs for about a decade and has noticed more black Americans like himself choosing to establish roots in the city. Wormley said he likes and enjoys the “country feel” that Powder Springs embodies, as well as its safety.

"You hear about break-ins and robberies, but not like other areas," he said.

However, Wormley believes the quality of public education could be improved.

“When you go to East Cobb schools, they have better grades than we have, even though we have one of the best schools with ,” he said. 

The increase in Powder Springs’ black population could be at least partially part of a national trend in which younger and more educated black citizens are leaving declining Northeast and Midwest cities to live in the South, The New York Times reported recently.

“… Blacks have begun leaving cities for more affluent suburbs in large numbers, much like generations of whites before them," the article reads.

The article says that based on 2010 census data, Atlanta has for the first time replaced Chicago by boasting the largest number of black Americans in a metro area after New York.

Al Thurman, the first black American to be on the Powder Springs City Council, spoke about how his presence on the city’s governing body signified changes as the population is growing. And as it continues to expand, he added, there may be a further need for diversified representation.

“Certainly we are seeing this area grow,” he said, “and there are more and more situations where there may be another need for someone of a different culture” on the council.

Wilkerson, who was born in New Jersey and moved to Cobb County in 1991, echoed Thurman’s thoughts. A member Powder Springs’ , Wilkerson added that he would like to see the city's leadership "continue to engage the new residents and encourage their participation on local boards and invite them to join civic groups.

"Powder Springs should embrace the changes to keep the city moving forward," he said.