Although the number of persons living below the poverty line has declined slightly over the past three decades, Greenville County still has a considerable number of persons living below the poverty level. In 1990, 32,653 or 10.5 percent of the population lived below the poverty level. A further breakdown shows that 10,977 or 33 percent were children under the age of 18, and 5,756 or 17 percent were over the age of 65. Single-parent households in Greenville County were the fastest growing family type between 1980 and 1990, as this family type grew by 36.0 percent. Single-family households were also much more likely to be headed by a woman than a man.

With an increasing but diversifying population, Greenville County must be prepared to meet the ever-changing demands of the citizens of the 21^st century. Based upon the current rate of growth, it is projected that Greenville County will grow to just under 500,000 people by the year 2020. (See Figure 2 left).

By working with infrastructure providers, developers, and environmentalists alike, we can channel our growth to not only meet the demands of a growing and changing society, but also maintain the quality of life which has distinguished Greenville County since its inception. The list below describes some of the goals to meet those demands in the next millennium.

POPULATION GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Goal - To develop a growth management strategy based upon accurate population forecasts in order to better anticipate future public service and infrastructure needs in Greenville County.

Objectives:

1. To provide the public services required by the forecasted population

2. To ensure that future growth can be accommodated

3. To ensure that adequate and affordable housing opportunities are available, in particular, senior living facilities and low income housing

4. To ensure that adequate and affordable health care opportunities are available to all citizens

5. To ensure that adequate social opportunities are available, especially for senior citizens and young teenagers

6. To ensure that adequate transportation exists, and study the possibility of new forms of transportation, such as greenways and light rail

7. To be prepared to provide community services and facilities for 100,000 more people by the year 2020

8. To provide a safe and stable environment for existing and future populations

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