The new face of Cobb County: Whites will be minority in 4 years (Atlanta: real estate market, schools)

[jhtrico1850]

Race and ethnicity in Atlanta: The changing face of Cobb County

In Mableton, where African-Americans accounted for 4 percent of the population 40 years ago, a black man is the state senator.

And in 2016, Cobb County, once a symbol of conservatism, voted for Hillary Clinton for president.

Cobb is the last core metro county in which more than 50 percent of residents are white. The opportunities, and the tensions, abound.

[primaltech]

But how many more years (or decades) before the county chairman and 4/5 of the county commissioners are not conservative, white, Republicans? The fantastic Lisa Cupid is the only real exception to the old-school Cobb status quo.

Chairman Boyce, and my commissioner Bob Ott, are thoughtful, good guys and are doing fine at everything to my knowledge, but I want to know where they really stand on transit and MARTA. African-American leadership would be more favorable, less stuck in the old mindset of keeping Cobb some kind of sheltered racial haven for white people, disconnected from the city.

Cobb just needs to generally embrace its status as a core metro county, and then we'll be good. It still only does so partially.

[hautemomma]

Glad they're reporting on a shift that anyone who actually resides in Cobb must be blind not to see. I've been talking about how diverse the area is on here for quite some time in relevant posts, but it appears that those who proclaim proudly not to venture into Cobb dismissed the notion. As Cobb is going, so is the entire country. The USA will hit the "majority minority" status before the long-predicted 2040 or 2050 date.

[glovenyc]

No need for alarm, "minorities" are not one big monolith so once each of the "minorities" are broken up, whites will still have the numbers in there favor for some time to come.


Now if all "minorities" become convinced that there interest are aligned, and choose to unite at the polls, then watch out!

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by jhtrico1850

Race and ethnicity in Atlanta: The changing face of Cobb County

Sounds like some folks in Cobb have their backs up over residents who can't speak English.

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by primaltech

But how many more years (or decades) before the county chairman and 4/5 of the county commissioners are not conservative, white, Republicans? The fantastic Lisa Cupid is the only real exception to the old-school Cobb status quo.

It's just a matter of time. Cobb is going through what Dekalb County did back in the 80s right now. The change has been so complete people have forgotten what it once was like.

[ekman243]

Originally Posted by waronxmas

It's just a matter of time. Cobb is going through what Dekalb County did back in the 80s right now. The change has been so complete people have forgotten what it once was like.

So is this what is driving Smyrna being the hottest real estate market in Georgia

[waronxmas]

Originally Posted by ekman243

So is this what is driving Smyrna being the hottest real estate market in Georgia

I wouldn't go out on a limb and say no. Relatively cheap prices and close proximity to job centers is the most likely reason. If the words Cobb County didn't leave a nasty taste in my mouth when i uttered them, suburban living wasn't abhorent to me, and it had rail service in the city I could see why it was an attractive place to live.

[Newsboy]

I found this tool to be quite fascinating: When each of Georgia's counties will flip majority minority:

Map: When each Georgia county shifts from majority-white

[Newsboy]

ALSO: Unlike parts of DeKalb and South Fulton, and virtually all of Clayton, that have been through this change with negative results, most all of Cobb County remains solidly middle to upper-middle class and desirable. The schools are strong. This makes all the difference when a community flips from majority to minority and is a lesson ALL counties in Metro Atlanta need to embrace and follow.

When you maintain the economic vitality (commercial and residential) of an area and the quality of public education, nobody really cares what your skin color is.