per capita income for the city was $15,924. About 11.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. Economy The economy of Austell in its early years was largely tied to the rail depot, transferring people and goods and allowing many residents to commute to nearby Atlanta in pursuit of higher paying, more abundant jobs. Passengers no longer move by rail to or from Austell, though. Other industry includes recycling paper and plastics with exports going as far as China. Arts and culture Annual events The City of Austell holds an annual July 4 fireworks celebration. Points of interest Six Flags Over Georgia, a large tourist attraction, is located in unincorporated Cobb County southeast of downtown and has an Austell mailing address. The Collar Community Center located near downtown is used for civic organizations and local get-togethers. The South Cobb Recreation Center is a facility that offers a gym, two multipurpose rooms, a caterer's kitchen, six offices, a conference room, three restrooms and a lobby. It has an occupational capacity of 939. Sports During summer, softball games are nearly a continual occurrence with city leagues having 30 games and 450 players. In addition to cheerleading, 32 teams of over 500 youths are sponsored by the Sweetwater Valley Youth Association. Five lighted fields accommodate baseball and softball aficionados. Collar Park and Washington Street Park both have tennis courts. Parks and recreation The Austell Parks and Recreation Department maintains five recreational facilities and seven parks Berry Park, a passive park, Collar Park and Legion Park which are both community parks, and Pine Street, Stephens, Washington Street and Berry Park which are neighborhood parks. Combined, they all cover an area of . Government The city of Austell has seven elected officials: Mayor, representatives of four wards and two representatives at-large. Education Public education in Cobb County is handled by the Cobb County School District. Public schools in the city limits include Austell Primary School, Austell Elementary School, Garrett Middle School, and South Cobb High School. Private schools in the city include: Cumberland Christian Academy Good Shepherd Learning Center Sunbrook Academy at Barnes Mill The Goddard School is located north of Austell Media The locally read newspapers include the South Cobb Patch, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Fulton County Daily Report. Transportation Austell is north