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Several Cobb County departments participated in a set of cybersecurity exercises organized by the Atlanta Regional Commission and the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).

The UASI is a Homeland Security grant program managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The FEMA website states, “This program provides funding to enhance regional preparedness and capabilities in designated high-threat, high-density areas.”

Members of Cobb County Government Information Technology Services, Emergency Management Agency, and 911 Emergency Communications, along with counterparts from the City of Atlanta and Clayton, Cobb, Dekalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett Counties, took part in the training to simulate cyber threats and practice responding to them.

“Cobb County’s involvement in this tabletop exercise underscores our commitment to maintaining robust cybersecurity measures and staying vigilant against potential threats,” said Kimberly Lemley, Cobb County’s Chief Information Officer. “The experience and connections gained from this exercise are instrumental in enhancing our incident response strategies and protecting our county’s infrastructure and data.”

“We are fortunate to have this partnership with UASI and to participate in these collaborative events with our neighboring agencies, which promote cross-organizational collaboration and preparedness,” she said.

About Cobb County

Cobb County is Georgia’s third most populous county, smaller only than Fulton and Gwinnett counties.

Early History

The county was established in 1832, is named after Thomas Willis Cobb, a U.S. Congressman, Senator, and Supreme Court judge. Cobb was formed from a portion of Cherokee County.

Marietta, the county seat, was incorporated in 1834, becoming a vital center for trade and governance. 

Government Structure

The governance of Cobb County is anchored by the Board of Commissioners, consisting of a Chairman and four Commissioners. Each member is elected—the Chairwoman at large and the Commissioners from their respective districts. This body holds the dual role of enacting county policies and overseeing the administration of county services. The Chairwoman also has specific duties, such as presiding over board meetings and acting as the official county spokesperson.

Key Departments and Services

Cobb County’s government is organized into departments focusing on different aspects of community life. These include Public Safety, which encompasses police and fire services; Transportation, tasked with maintaining and improving roadways and public transit; Community Development, which handles zoning and land use; and Parks and Recreation, which manages public parks and community centers. Each department aims to fulfill its responsibilities efficiently, though effectiveness can vary based on funding, policy decisions, and community needs.

The current board is:

Chairwoman	Lisa Cupid
District 1 Commissioner	Keli Gambrill
District 2 Commissioner	Jerica Richardson
District 3 Commissioner	JoAnn Birrell
District 4 Commissioner	Monique Sheffield

The U.S. Census Bureau gives the following quick facts about the county:

PeoplePopulation
Population Estimates, July 1 2021, (V2021)	766,802
Population estimates base, April 1, 2020, (V2021)	766,149
Population, percent change – April 1, 2020 (estimates base) to July 1, 2021, (V2021)	0.1%
Population, Census, April 1, 2020	766149
Population, Census, April 1, 2010	688078
Age and Sex
Persons under 5 years, percent	5.6%
Persons under 18 years, percent	22.7%
Persons 65 years and over, percent	13.3%
Female persons, percent	51.3%
Race and Hispanic Origin
White alone, percent	61.7%
Black or African American alone, percent(a)	29.2%
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent(a)	0.5%
Asian alone, percent(a)	5.7%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent(a)	0.1%
Two or More Races, percent	2.8%
Hispanic or Latino, percent(b)	13.7%
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent	50.2%
Population Characteristics
Veterans, 2016-2020	40562
Foreign born persons, percent, 2016-2020	15.6%
Housing
Housing units, July 1, 2021, (V2021)	311450
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2016-2020	65.8%
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2016-2020	$273,900
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2016-2020	$1,672
Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2016-2020	$474
Median gross rent, 2016-2020	$1,264
Building permits, 2021	3247
Families & Living Arrangements
Households, 2016-2020	283359
Persons per household, 2016-2020	2.63
Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2016-2020	84.6%
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2016-2020	20.5%
Computer and Internet Use
Households with a computer, percent, 2016-2020	97.2%
Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent, 2016-2020	93.3%
Education
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-2020	92.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2016-2020	48.4%
Health
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2016-2020	6.2%
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent	13.8%
Economy
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-2020	69.6%
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2016-2020	64.3%
Total accommodation and food services sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	2056579
Total health care and social assistance receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	5569500
Total transportation and warehousing receipts/revenue, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	1536858
Total retail sales, 2017 ($1,000)(c)	18543691
Total retail sales per capita, 2017(c)	$24,615
Transportation
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16 years+, 2016-2020	31.2
Income & Poverty
Median household income (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020	$80,830
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2020 dollars), 2016-2020	$41,480
Persons in poverty, percent	9.2%
BusinessesBusinesses
Total employer establishments, 2020	21492
Total employment, 2020	358927
Total annual payroll, 2020 ($1,000)	21780372
Total employment, percent change, 2019-2020	-0.3%
Total nonemployer establishments, 2019	86497
All employer firms, Reference year 2017	17066
Men-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	10386
Women-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	3537
Minority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	3058
Nonminority-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	12177
Veteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	1204
Nonveteran-owned employer firms, Reference year 2017	13909
GeographyGeography
Population per square mile, 2020	2254.8
Population per square mile, 2010	2026.4
Land area in square miles, 2020	339.78
Land area in square miles, 2010	339.55