Brunswick, Georgia: Msa Explained

The Brunswick, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a coastal region in the US state of Georgia, centred on the city of Brunswick. The MSA comprises Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh counties, including the cities of Brunswick and Darien. As of the 2020 census, the metropolitan area had a population of 113,495.

Brunswick, Georgia's MSA definition

The United States Office of Management and Budget, Census Bureau, and other entities define a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) as a region that comprises a high-population urban core and its surrounding communities, which have a high degree of social and economic integration with the core.

The Brunswick, Georgia MSA is the Coastal Georgian MSA centred on the principal city of Brunswick, Georgia. The MSA comprises Glynn County, McIntosh County, and Brantley County, including the cities of Brunswick and Darien. The Brunswick MSA is located along the Lower Coastal Plain and has a total area of 1,300 square miles (3,400 km2).

At the 2020 census, the Brunswick MSA had a population of 113,495, a slight increase from the 2000 census figure of 93,044. The racial makeup of the MSA in 2000 was predominantly White (73.30%), followed by African Americans (24.13%), Native Americans (0.26%), Asians (0.49%), and Pacific Islanders (0.04%). The median household income in the MSA was $33,076, while the median income for a family was $38,960.

The Brunswick MSA is known for its diverse economy, which includes industries such as tourism, logistics, and automotive manufacturing. The Port of Brunswick, one of Georgia's two seaports, plays a vital role in the region's economy. The MSA also has a growing healthcare sector, with the Southeast Georgia Health System being the largest private employer in Brunswick.

Population and demographics

Brunswick, Georgia, is the principal city of the Brunswick Metropolitan Area, a coastal Georgian metropolitan statistical area (MSA). The MSA consists of Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh counties, including the cities of Brunswick and Darien.

The population of the city of Brunswick was 15,210 as of the 2020 U.S. census, while the Brunswick metropolitan area's population was 113,495 in the same year. The metropolitan population grew to 114,442 in 2022.

In 2000, the racial makeup of the MSA was 73.30% White, 24.13% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, and 1.06% multiracial, with Hispanics or Latinos of any race making up 2.44% of the population. By 2022, the racial and ethnic composition had shifted to 68% non-Hispanic white, 22% African American, 1% Asian, 3% multiracial, and 6% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The median household income in the MSA increased from $33,076 in 2000 to $59,383 in 2022, with a per capita income of $37,951 in the latter year. The poverty rate in the metropolitan region was estimated to be 12.9% in 2022.

Brunswick, Georgia, has a diverse religious landscape, with approximately 56.3% of the city's population affiliated with a religious group as of 2020. Christianity is the predominant religion, with Baptists constituting the largest Christian tradition in the area (15.7%). Methodism is the second-largest tradition (12.3%), followed by Pentecostalism (8.2%). Judaism is the second-largest religion practised in the area.

Employment and wages

Brunswick, Georgia is a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the state of Georgia, USA. It is the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline and serves as the primary urban and economic centre of the lower southeast portion of the state. The city has a progressive economy largely based on tourism and logistics, with a GDP of $3.9 billion as of 2013.

In May 2020, workers in the Brunswick, GA MSA had an average hourly wage of $21.66, about 20% below the national average of $27.07. The MSA had 15 out of 22 major occupational groups with average wages significantly lower than the national average, including sales, healthcare practitioners, and management. Six groups had wages that were not significantly different from the national averages.

The Brunswick area had higher concentrations of employment in five occupational groups: food preparation and serving, building and grounds cleaning and maintenance, and healthcare practitioners and technical. Eight groups had employment shares significantly below their national representation, including production, computer and mathematical, and transportation.

The food preparation and serving group was the largest detailed occupation within the MSA, with 5,700 jobs, accounting for 14.4% of local employment, significantly higher than the 8.1% national share. The average hourly wage for this group was $11.49, lower than the national average of $13.30.

Some of the higher-paying jobs in this group included non-restaurant food servers and first-line supervisors of food preparation workers, with mean hourly wages of $18.95 and $15.89, respectively. At the lower end were fast-food workers and cooks, earning $9.42 and $9.43 hourly, respectively.

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) is the largest employer in Glynn County, with an annual economic impact of over $600 million. Other major employers in the Brunswick area include:

• Southeast Georgia Health System
• International Auto Processing
• King & Prince Seafood
• GSI Commerce
• Pinova
• Gulfstream Aerospace
• Georgia-Pacific (wood pulp mill)
• Hercules (chemical manufacturer)
• Jet aircraft manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace

The Port of Brunswick is a vital part of the city's economy, recognised as one of the most productive ports on the East Coast. It is the sixth-busiest automobile port in the US and handles about 10% of the nation's roll-on/roll-off trade.

Tourism is the single largest industry in the city and the county, with Brunswick and the Golden Isles being a year-round resort community.

Housing

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2000, the median income for a household in the Brunswick Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was $33,076, and the median income for a family was $38,960. The per capita income for the MSA was $16,558. By 2022, the median household income had increased to $59,383, with a per capita income of $37,951. An estimated 12.9% of the metropolitan region's population lived at or below the poverty line.

The BHA determines eligibility for its housing programs based on specific criteria, including income limits, citizenship or eligible immigration status, and a criminal background check. Applicants must also meet the qualifications defined in the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP). Additionally, the head of the household must be a citizen or eligible non-citizen, and the annual income must not exceed the low-income limits established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Public Housing Program, created by the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, provides safe and decent rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The program is administered by HUD, which provides federal aid to local housing agencies. Approximately 1.3 million households are served by this program, which is managed by over 3,300 housing authorities across the country.

The city of Brunswick itself had a population of 15,210 as of the 2020 U.S. census, with 6,486 households and a median household income of $27,471. The Brunswick MSA, which includes Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh counties, had a population of 113,495 in 2020 and an estimated population of 114,442 in 2022.

The Brunswick area offers a mix of housing options, from historic Victorian mansions on Union Street to modern apartments and condominiums. The city also has several public housing communities and subsidized housing developments.

Education

The Brunswick Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is a Coastal Georgian metropolitan area centred on the principal city of Brunswick, Georgia. The MSA comprises Glynn, Brantley, and McIntosh counties, including the cities of Brunswick and Darien.

The Glynn County School System is the governing authority of public schools in Brunswick, with over 12,000 students attending schools in the system. There are ten elementary schools, four middle schools, and two high schools: Brunswick High School and Glynn Academy. Glynn Academy is the second-oldest public high school in the American South and the sixth-oldest in the United States, founded in 1788. Brunswick High School opened in 1967. There are also specialised institutions, including a career-technical academy.

There are several private schools in the area, including one Catholic school, one Seventh-day Adventist school, and several Baptist, Pentecostal, and non-denominational Christian schools.

The College of Coastal Georgia has over 3,000 enrolled students and offers bachelor's degree programs in education, business, and nursing sciences, as well as associate degree programs. Coastal Pines Technical College is another option for higher education in the area.

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