Empire: Demographics & People
Empire is home to 306 people, in 133 households. Population shrank 31.5% from 447 (2022) to 306 (2024). Median age 54.0 years. (11.4y older than Dodge County; 18.4y older than Georgia). Children under 18 are 8% of the population. Population is 70% White (non-Hispanic) and 30% Black. 80% of households are family-led. County is gaining 121 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 16% smoke.
- 2.3 people per household (vs Georgia avg 2.6).
- 20% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Georgia 40%).
- 46 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Georgia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 31.5% from 447 (2022) to 306 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~217 (extrapolated at -15.8%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 126.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 12,583 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -31.5% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 447 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 306 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | shrinking |
| Population | 306 people (vs Georgia 37,381) |
| Population Estimate | 126 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 54.0y is 15.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 8% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 54.0 years (vs Georgia 35.6y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 8.5% |
| Age Summary · Character | retirement community |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 306 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 26 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 107.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 102.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 71 |
| Population under 18 | 26 |
| Median age | 54.0 years (vs Georgia 35.6y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 306 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups).
| White residents | 303 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 144 |
| Diversity Index · Simpson Index | -0.20 |
| Diversity Index · Interpretation | less diverse |
| Black population | 29.7% (vs Georgia 40.5%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 70.3% (vs Georgia 38.1%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (4)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 243 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 63 |
| Share born in this state | 79.4% |
| Share born in another state | 20.6% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 20.6% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 403 |
Households & Family Composition
133 households. Averaging 3.4 people each — larger than the U.S. average of 2.5. 80% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 103 families, 12% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 24 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 103 |
| Married couples with children | 12 |
| Average household size | 3.44 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 0.8% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 111 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 42 |
| Family households | 106 households (vs Georgia 8,896) |
| Households that are families | 79.7% (vs Georgia 60.1%) |
| Total households | 133 households (vs Georgia 14,704) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 0.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 121 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 0.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 10,246 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 10,125 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 121 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 161 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 33.0% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 8 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | GA-08 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 13023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 13 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 023 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Bleckley |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 15.3% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 11.70 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 19.70 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 13023 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Bleckley County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 416 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 13023 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Bleckley County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 43.7% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 37.8% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 38.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 12,873 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.50 |
| Family Score · Schools | 5 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 8.5% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 306, shrinking, retirement community, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 306 people (vs Georgia 37,381) |
| Town Summary · County | Bleckley County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade