Savannah, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat
of Chatham County
, in the U.S.
state of Georgia
. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia
and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important Atlantic seaport. It is Georgia's fourth largest city and third largest metropolitan area.
Each year Savannah attracts millions of visitors, who enjoy the city's architecture and historic buildings: the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low
(founder of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America), the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences
(one of the South's first public museums), the First African Baptist Church (one of the oldest African American Baptist congregations in the United States), Temple Mickve Israel
(the third oldest synagogue in America), and the Central of Georgia Railway roundhouse complex
(the oldest standing antebellum rail facility in America).
Savannah's downtown area, which includes the Savannah Historic District
, the Savannah Victorian Historic District
and 22 parklike squares
, is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States (designated by the U.S. government in 1966). Savannah was the host city for the sailing competitions
during the 1996 Summer Olympics
held in Atlanta.
On February 12, 1733, General James Oglethorpe
and his settlers landed at Yamacraw Bluff
and were greeted by Tomochichi, the Yamacraw
s, and Indian traders John and Mary Musgrove
. Mary Musgrove often served as a translator. The city of Savannah was founded on that date, along with the colony of Georgia. In 1751 Savannah and the rest of Georgia became a Royal Colony and Savannah was made the colonial capital of Georgia.
The city was named for the Savannah River
, which probably derives from variant names for the Shawnee
, a Native American people who migrated to the river in the 1680s. The Shawnee destroyed another Native people, the Westo
, and occupied their lands at the head of the Savannah River's navigation on the fall line
, near present-day Augusta
. These Shawnee were known by several local variants, including Shawano, Savano, Savana and Savannah. Another theory is that the name Savannah refers to the extensive marshlands surrounding the river for miles inland, and is derived from the English term savanna
, a kind of tropical grassland, which was borrowed by the English from Spanish sabana and used in the Southern Colonies
. (The Spanish word comes from the Taino
word zabana.) Still other theories suggest that the name Savannah originates from Algonquian
terms meaning "southerner" or perhaps "salt".
, Savannah has a total area of 78.1 square miles (202.3 km²), of which 74.7 square miles (193.5 km²) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) is water (4.31%). Savannah is the primary port on the Savannah River
and the largest port in the state of Georgia. It is also located near the U.S. Intracoastal Waterway
. Georgia's Ogeechee River
flows toward the Atlantic Ocean some 16 miles (25.7 km) south of the city.
Savannah is prone to flooding. Five canals and several pumping stations have been built to help reduce the effects: Fell Street Canal, Pipemaker's Canal, Kayton Canal, Springfield Canal and the Casey Canal, with the first four draining north into the Savannah River.
(Köppen
Cfa). In the Deep South this climate is characterized by long and almost tropical summers, with temperatures reaching freezing only a few times in the winter (and with rare snowfall). Due to its proximity to the Atlantic coast, Savannah rarely experiences temperatures as extreme as those in Georgia's interior. Nevertheless, temperatures as high as 105 °F (41 °C) and as low as 3 °F (-16 °C) have been recorded. Summers tend to be humid with many thunderstorms. Nearly half of Savannah's precipitation falls during the months of June through September, characteristic of monsoon-type climates. As the city is south of the snow line, it rarely receives snow in winter. Occasional Arctic cold fronts in winter can push nighttime temperatures into the high 20s, but rarely much further than that.
Savannah is at risk for hurricanes, particularly of the Cape Verde type. Because of its location in the Georgia Bight (the arc of the Atlantic coastline in Georgia and northern Florida) as well as the tendency for hurricanes to re-curve up the coast, Savannah has a lower risk of hurricanes than some other coastal cities such as Charleston, South Carolina
. Savannah was seldom affected by hurricanes during the 20th century, with one exception being Hurricane David
in 1979. However, the historical record shows that the city was frequently affected during the second half of the 19th century. The most prominent of these storms was the 1893 Sea Islands hurricane
, which killed at least 2,000 people. (This estimate may be low, as deaths among the many impoverished rural African-Americans living on Georgia's barrier islands may not have been reported.)
The first meteorological observations in Savannah probably occurred at Oglethorpe Barracks
circa 1827. Observations at the barracks continued intermittently until 1850 and resumed in 1866. The Signal Service began observations in the early 1870s. Today, the National Weather Service
records local weather observations at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport.
(defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as Bryan
, Chatham
, and Effingham
counties) grew from 293,000 to 347,611, an increase of 18.6 percent. Savannah is also the largest principal city of the Savannah-Hinesville-Fort Stewart CSA, a larger Combined Statistical Area
that includes the Savannah and Hinesville-Fort Stewart
metropolitan areas, which had a combined estimated population of 417,512 in 2009 (up from 364,914 at the 2000 census).
In the 2000 census
of Savannah, there were 131,510 people, 51,375 households, and 31,390 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,759.5 people per square mile (679.4/km²). There were 57,437 housing units at an average density of 768.5 per square mile (296.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.08% Black, 36.09% White, 4.52% Asian, 2.23% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races
, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.23% of the population.
There were 51,375 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples
living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,038, and the median income for a family was $36,410. Males had a median income of $28,545 versus $22,309 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,921. About 17.7% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
The council levies taxes, enacts ordinances, adopts the annual budget, and appoints the City Manager. The City Manager enacts the policies and programs established by council, recommends an annual budget and work programs, appoints bureau and department heads, and exercises general supervision and control over all employees of the city.
voted to merge their city and county police departments. The Savannah-Chatham Metro Police was established on January 1, 2005, after the Savannah Police Department and Chatham County Police Department merged. The department has a number of specialty units, including: K-9, SWAT, Bomb Squad, Marine Patrol, Dive, Air Support and Mounted Patrol. The 9-1-1 Communications Dispatch Center handles all 9-1-1 calls for service within the County and City, including fire and EMS.
While some see the police merger as a step toward city-county consolidation
, Savannah is actually one of eight incorporated cities or towns in Chatham County. (The others are Bloomingdale
, Garden City
, Pooler
, Port Wentworth
, Thunderbolt
, Tybee Island
and Vernonburg
). Although these seven smaller localities would remain independent from a consolidated government, they have long opposed any efforts to adopt a city-county merger. One fear is that consolidation would reduce county funding to areas outside of Savannah. Efforts toward city-county consolidation are also opposed by some wealthier Chatham County communities, including The Landings on Skidaway Island
, since these residents fear higher tax rates in a consolidated government. However, consolidation is favored by some city and county boosters, including Savannah's main newspaper, and merger plans have been presented to state legislators in the recent past. Should consolidation pass, Savannah would become Georgia's second largest city (behind Atlanta
's 420,000 residents), with a population of around 223,000. By state law, the roughly 42,000 residents of the seven smaller incorporated towns would remain independent; they are not included in a Savannah-Chatham consolidation plan. Without special provisions, however, some of these towns would find themselves permanently locked into their current city limits without possibility of further annexation
.
in Savannah.
Agriculture was essential to Savannah's economy during its first two centuries. Silk
and indigo production, both in demand in England, were early export commodities; by 1767 almost a ton of silk per year was exported to England.
Georgia's mild climate
offered perfect conditions for growing cotton
, which became the dominant commodity after the American Revolution
. Its production under the plantation system
and shipment through the Port of Savannah
helped the city's European immigrants to achieve wealth and prosperity.
In the nineteenth century, the Port of Savannah became one of the most active in the United States, and Savannahians had the opportunity to consume some of the world's finest goods, imported by foreign merchants. Savannah's port has always been a mainstay of the city's economy. In the early years of the United States, goods produced in the New World
had to pass through Atlantic ports such as Savannah's before they could be shipped to England.
Today, the Port of Savannah, manufacturing, the military and the tourism
industry are Savannah's four major economic drivers. In 2006, the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau reported over 6.85 million visitors to the city during the year. Lodging, dining, entertainment, and visitor-related transportation account for over $2 billion in visitors' spending per year and employ over 17,000.
For years, Savannah was the home of Union Camp, which housed the world's largest paper mill. The plant is now owned by International Paper
, and it remains one of Savannah's largest employers. Savannah is also home to the Gulfstream Aerospace
company, maker of private jets, as well as various other large industrial interests. Morris Multimedia
, a newspaper and television company, is based in Savannah.
In 2000, JCB
, the third largest producer of construction equipment in the world and the leading manufacturer of backhoes and telescopic handlers, built its North American headquarters in Chatham County near Savannah in Pooler on I-95 near Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport.
In 2009, Savannah was North America's fourth largest port by container traffic.
groups have emerged from Savannah. Included in these are Baroness
, Kylesa
, and Circle Takes the Square
.
charm and hospitality; for example, the city's former promotional name was "Hostess City of the South," a phrase still used by the city government. . An earlier nickname was "the Forest City", in reference to the large population and species of oak trees that flourish in the Savannah area. These trees were especially valuable in shipbuilding during the 19th century. Each year, Savannah attracts millions of visitors from across the country and around the world. Savannah's downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark
Districts in the United States.
The city's location offers visitors access to the coastal islands and the Savannah Riverfront, both popular tourist destinations. Tybee Island
, formerly known as "Savannah Beach", is the site of the Tybee Island Light Station
, the first lighthouse
on the southern Atlantic
coast. Other picturesque towns adjacent to Savannah include the shrimping village of Thunderbolt
and three residential areas that began as summer resort communities for Savannahians: Beaulieu
, Vernonburg
and the Isle of Hope
.
The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center is located on Hutchinson Island
, across from downtown Savannah and surrounded by the Savannah River
. The Belles Ferry connects the island with the mainland, as does the Eugene Talmadge
Memorial Bridge
.
The Savannah Civic Center
is located on Montgomery Street and is host to over 900 events each year, including the Memorial Health Hockey Classic.
Savannah's historic district has 22 squares (Ellis Square, demolished in 1954, was fully restored in early 2010). The squares vary in size and personality, from the formal fountain and monuments of the largest, Johnson, to the playgrounds of the smallest, Crawford. Elbert, Ellis, and Liberty Squares are classified as the three "lost squares," destroyed in the course of urban development during the 1950s. Elbert and Liberty Squares were paved over to make way for a realignment of U.S. highway 17, while Ellis Square was demolished to build the City Market parking garage. The city restored Ellis Square after razing the City Market parking garage. The garage has been rebuilt as an underground facility, the Whitaker Street Parking Garage, and it opened in January 2009. The newly restored Ellis Square opened in March 2010. Separate efforts are now under way to revive Elbert and Liberty Squares.
Savannah is home to a number of historic houses of worship.
Founded in 1733, with the establishment of the Georgia colony, Christ Church is the longest continuous Christian congregation in Georgia. Early rectors include the Methodist evangelists John Wesley
and George Whitefield
. Located on the original site on Johnson Square, Christ Church continues as an active congregation.
The First Bryan Baptist Church
is an African-American church that was organized by Andrew Bryan in 1788. The site was purchased in 1793 by Bryan, a former slave who had also purchased his freedom. The first structure was erected there in 1794. By 1800 the congregation was large enough to split: those at Bryan Street took the name of First African Baptist Church, and Second and Third African Baptist churches were also established. The current sanctuary of First Bryan Baptist Church was constructed in 1873.
In 1832, a controversy over doctrine caused the First African Baptist congregation at Bryan Street to split. Some members left, taking with them the name of First African Baptist Church
. In 1859, the members of this new congregation (most of whom were slaves) built their current church building on Franklin Square.
The oldest standing house of worship is First Baptist Church, Savannah (1833), located on Chippewa Square. Also located near Chippewa Square is the Independent Presbyterian Church
, which was founded in 1775.
Other historic houses of worship in Savannah include: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
(Roman Catholic), Temple Mickve Israel
(the third oldest synagogue in the U.S.), and St. John's Church
(Episcopal).
Among the historic homes that have been preserved are: the Pink House, the Sorrel Weed House
, Juliette Gordon Low
's birthplace, the Green-Meldrim House
, the Owens-Thomas House
, the William Scarbrough House
, and the Wormsloe plantation
of Noble Jones. The Mercer-Williams House, the former home of Jim Williams, is the main location of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
(with the graves of many Confederate soldiers and African American slaves) and Bonaventure Cemetery
(a former plantation and the final resting place for some illustrious Savannahians).
Baseball
Basketball
Hockey
Football
Savannah has four colleges and universities offering bachelor's, master's, and professional or doctorate degree programs: Armstrong Atlantic State University
, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
, Savannah State University
, and South University
. In addition, Georgia Tech Savannah
offers engineering degrees, and Georgia Southern University
has a satellite campus in the downtown area. Savannah Technical College
, a two-year technical institution, and the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
, a marine science research institute located on the northern end of Skidaway Island, offer educational programs as well. Savannah is also the location of Ralston College
, a liberal arts college founded in 2010.
Mercer University
began a four-year doctor of medicine
program in August 2008 at Memorial University Medical Center. Mercer, with its main campus in Macon
, received additional state funding in 2007 to expand its existing partnership with Memorial by establishing a four-year medical school in Savannah (the first in southern Georgia). Third- and fourth-year Mercer students have completed two-year clinical rotations at Memorial since 1996; approximately 100 residents are trained each year in a number of specialities. The expanded program opened in August 2008 with 30 first-year students.
Savannah is also home to most of the public schools in the Chatham County
public school system, the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
.
Other notable schools include:
Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah is also a part of Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools. Formerly named the Oatland Island Education Center until a name change in 2007, the environmental education center serves thousands of students from school systems throughout the Southeastern United States. It is located just east of Savannah on a marsh island and features a 2 miles (3.2 km) Native Animal Nature Trail that winds through maritime forest, salt marsh, and freshwater wetlands. Along the trail, visitors can observe native animals, such as Florida panthers, Eastern timber wolves, and alligators, in their natural habitat.
); WTOC-TV
, channel 11 (CBS
); WJCL, channel 22 (ABC
); and WTGS, channel 28 (Fox
). Two PBS
member stations serve the city: WVAN (channel 9), part of Georgia Public Broadcasting
; and WJWJ-TV (channel 16), part of SCETV.
Other stations include WGSA-TV, channel 34 (The CW); and WXSX-CA
, channel 46 (MTV2
).
The Savannah Morning News
is Savannah's only daily newspaper. The Savannah Tribune
is a weekly newspaper with a focus on Savannah's African American community. Connect Savannah is an alternative free weekly newspaper focused on local news, culture and music.
is located off Interstate 95
west of Savannah. Airlines serving this airport are Delta
, Delta Connection
, Continental Express
, United Express
, US Airways
, Vision Airlines
and American Eagle
. Until September 2008, DayJet
provided on-demand air transportation service between Savannah and cities throughout the Southeast.
Amtrak
operates a passenger terminal
at Savannah for the Palmetto
and Silver Service
trains running between New York City and Miami
, Florida
with three southbound and three northbound trains stopping at the station daily.
Public transit throughout the region is provided by Chatham Area Transit
.
The DOT (Downtown Transportation) system provides fare free transportation in the Historic District. Services include an express shuttle buses, the River Street Streetcar
, and a ferry to Hutchinson Island and the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
In 2007, Savannah-Chatham recorded a sharp increase in home burglaries but a sharp decrease in larcenies from parked automobiles. During the same year, statistics show a 29 percent increase in arrests for Part 1 crimes.
An additional increase in burglaries occurred in 2008 with 2,429 residential burglaries reported to Savannah-Chatham police that year. That reflects an increase of 668 incidents from 2007. In 2007, there were 1,761 burglaries, according to metro police data.
Savannah-Chatham police report that crimes reported in 2009 came in down 6 percent from 2008.
In 2009, 11,782 crimes were reported to metro police — 753 fewer than in 2008. Within that 2009 number is a 12.2 percent decrease in violent crimes when compared with 2008. Property crimes saw a 5.3 percent decline, which included a 5.2 percent reduction in residential burglary. In 2008, residential burglary was up by almost 40 percent.While some violent crimes increased in 2009, crimes like street robbery went down significantly.In 2009, 30 homicides were reported, four more than the year before. Also, 46 rapes were reported, nine more than the year before. In the meantime, street robbery decreased by 23 percent. In 2008, metro police achieved a 90 percent clearance rate for homicide cases, which was described as exceptional by violent crimes unit supervisors. In 2009, the department had a clearance rate of 53 percent, which police attributed to outstanding warrants and grand jury presentations.
The SCMPD provide the public with up to date crime report information through an online mapping service. This information can be found at http://www.scmpd.org/cityweb/SCMPDorg.nsf
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Chatham County
Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. In the official US Census of 2010, Chatham County had a total population of 265,128 . Chatham is the most populous Georgia county outside the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia
Province of Georgia
The Province of Georgia was one of the Southern colonies in British America. It was the last of the thirteen original colonies established by Great Britain in what later became the United States...
and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important Atlantic seaport. It is Georgia's fourth largest city and third largest metropolitan area.
Each year Savannah attracts millions of visitors, who enjoy the city's architecture and historic buildings: the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low was an American youth leader and the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912.-Early life:...
(founder of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America), the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences
Telfair Museum of Art
The Telfair Museum of Art, located in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia, is the South’s first public art museum. Founded through the bequest of Mary Telfair , a prominent local citizen, the museum opened in 1886 in the Telfair family’s renovated Regency-style mansion, known as the Telfair...
(one of the South's first public museums), the First African Baptist Church (one of the oldest African American Baptist congregations in the United States), Temple Mickve Israel
Congregation Mickve Israel
Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah, Georgia, is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States, the congregation having begun in 1733. The synagogue, located on Monterey Square in historic Savannah, was consecrated in 1878, and is a rare example of a Gothic-style synagogue...
(the third oldest synagogue in America), and the Central of Georgia Railway roundhouse complex
Central of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities
The Central of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities is a historic district in Savannah, Georgia, that was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is dominated by the Central of Georgia Depot and Trainshed, a passenger depot and trainshed constructed...
(the oldest standing antebellum rail facility in America).
Savannah's downtown area, which includes the Savannah Historic District
Savannah Historic District
The Savannah Historic District is a large urban U.S. historic district that roughly corresponds to the city limits of Savannah, Georgia, prior to the American Civil War....
, the Savannah Victorian Historic District
Savannah Victorian Historic District
The Savannah Victorian Historic District is a historic district in Savannah, Georgia.The original area, listed in 1974, is roughly bounded by Gwinnett, Price, Anderson, and Montgomery Sts. An increase to the area, listed in 1982, was bounded by Gwinnett, Anderson and 31st Sts....
and 22 parklike squares
Squares of Savannah, Georgia
The city of Savannah, Georgia, United States, was laid out in 1769 around four open squares. The plan anticipated growth of the city and thus expansion of the grid; additional squares were added during the 18th and 19th centuries, and by 1851 there were twenty four squares in the city...
, is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States (designated by the U.S. government in 1966). Savannah was the host city for the sailing competitions
Sailing at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
during the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
held in Atlanta.
History
James Oglethorpe
James Edward Oglethorpe was a British general, member of Parliament, philanthropist, and founder of the colony of Georgia...
and his settlers landed at Yamacraw Bluff
Yamacraw Bluff
Yamacraw Bluff is a bluff situated on the bank of the Savannah River. The bluff is most notable for being the spot upon which General James Edward Oglethorpe landed to settle the colony of Georgia. The bluff was originally inhabited by the Yamacraw Indians...
and were greeted by Tomochichi, the Yamacraw
Yamacraw
The Yamacraw were a Native American tribe which settled parts of Georgia, specifically around the future site of the city of Savannah.- History :...
s, and Indian traders John and Mary Musgrove
Mary Musgrove
Mary Musgrove facilitated in the development of Colonial Georgia and became an important intermediary between Creek Indians and the English colonists. She bridged the gap between two distinctly different societies and became a cultural mediator, who not only translated but counseled those who...
. Mary Musgrove often served as a translator. The city of Savannah was founded on that date, along with the colony of Georgia. In 1751 Savannah and the rest of Georgia became a Royal Colony and Savannah was made the colonial capital of Georgia.
The city was named for the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
, which probably derives from variant names for the Shawnee
Shawnee
The Shawnee, Shaawanwaki, Shaawanooki and Shaawanowi lenaweeki, are an Algonquian-speaking people native to North America. Historically they inhabited the areas of Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Western Maryland, Kentucky, Indiana, and Pennsylvania...
, a Native American people who migrated to the river in the 1680s. The Shawnee destroyed another Native people, the Westo
Westo
The Westo were a Native American tribe encountered in the Southeast by Europeans in the 17th century. They probably spoke an Iroquoian language. The Spanish called these people Chichimeco , and, Virginia colonists may have called the same people Richahecrian...
, and occupied their lands at the head of the Savannah River's navigation on the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
, near present-day Augusta
Augusta, Georgia
Augusta is a consolidated city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located along the Savannah River. As of the 2010 census, the Augusta–Richmond County population was 195,844 not counting the unconsolidated cities of Hephzibah and Blythe.Augusta is the principal city of the Augusta-Richmond County...
. These Shawnee were known by several local variants, including Shawano, Savano, Savana and Savannah. Another theory is that the name Savannah refers to the extensive marshlands surrounding the river for miles inland, and is derived from the English term savanna
Savanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
, a kind of tropical grassland, which was borrowed by the English from Spanish sabana and used in the Southern Colonies
Southern Colonies
The Southern Colonies in North America were established by Europeans during the 16th and 17th centuries and consisted of olden South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia and Georgia. Their historical names were the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, the Province of Carolina, and the Province...
. (The Spanish word comes from the Taino
Taíno language
Taíno, an Arawakan language, was the principal language of the Caribbean islands at the time of the Spanish Conquest, including the Bahamas, Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the Florida Keys, and the Lesser Antilles...
word zabana.) Still other theories suggest that the name Savannah originates from Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
terms meaning "southerner" or perhaps "salt".
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Savannah has a total area of 78.1 square miles (202.3 km²), of which 74.7 square miles (193.5 km²) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) is water (4.31%). Savannah is the primary port on the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
and the largest port in the state of Georgia. It is also located near the U.S. Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
. Georgia's Ogeechee River
Ogeechee River
Ogeechee River is a river in the U.S. state of Georgia. It heads at the confluence of its North and South Forks, about south-southwest of Crawfordville and flowing generally southeast to Ossabaw Sound about south of Savannah. Its largest tributary is the Canoochee River...
flows toward the Atlantic Ocean some 16 miles (25.7 km) south of the city.
Savannah is prone to flooding. Five canals and several pumping stations have been built to help reduce the effects: Fell Street Canal, Pipemaker's Canal, Kayton Canal, Springfield Canal and the Casey Canal, with the first four draining north into the Savannah River.
Climate
Savannah's climate is classified as humid subtropicalHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Köppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa). In the Deep South this climate is characterized by long and almost tropical summers, with temperatures reaching freezing only a few times in the winter (and with rare snowfall). Due to its proximity to the Atlantic coast, Savannah rarely experiences temperatures as extreme as those in Georgia's interior. Nevertheless, temperatures as high as 105 °F (41 °C) and as low as 3 °F (-16 °C) have been recorded. Summers tend to be humid with many thunderstorms. Nearly half of Savannah's precipitation falls during the months of June through September, characteristic of monsoon-type climates. As the city is south of the snow line, it rarely receives snow in winter. Occasional Arctic cold fronts in winter can push nighttime temperatures into the high 20s, but rarely much further than that.
Savannah is at risk for hurricanes, particularly of the Cape Verde type. Because of its location in the Georgia Bight (the arc of the Atlantic coastline in Georgia and northern Florida) as well as the tendency for hurricanes to re-curve up the coast, Savannah has a lower risk of hurricanes than some other coastal cities such as Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. Savannah was seldom affected by hurricanes during the 20th century, with one exception being Hurricane David
Hurricane David
Hurricane David was the fourth named tropical cyclone, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 1979 Atlantic hurricane season. A Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, David was among the deadliest hurricanes in the latter half of the 20th century, killing...
in 1979. However, the historical record shows that the city was frequently affected during the second half of the 19th century. The most prominent of these storms was the 1893 Sea Islands hurricane
1893 Sea Islands Hurricane
On August 27, 1893 a major hurricane which came to be known as the Sea Islands Hurricane struck the United States near Savannah, Georgia. It was one of two deadly hurricanes during the 1893 Atlantic hurricane season; the storm killed an estimated 1,000–2,000 people, mostly from storm surge...
, which killed at least 2,000 people. (This estimate may be low, as deaths among the many impoverished rural African-Americans living on Georgia's barrier islands may not have been reported.)
The first meteorological observations in Savannah probably occurred at Oglethorpe Barracks
Oglethorpe Barracks
Oglethorpe Barracks usually refers to a 19th century United States Army post in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia. Some sources use the title to refer to Fort James Jackson or Fort Wayne , both near Savannah...
circa 1827. Observations at the barracks continued intermittently until 1850 and resumed in 1866. The Signal Service began observations in the early 1870s. Today, the National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
records local weather observations at Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport.
Neighborhoods
Savannah is a city of diverse neighborhoods. More than 100 distinct neighborhoods can be identified in six principal areas of the city: Downtown (Landmark Historic District and Victorian District), Midtown, Southside, Eastside, Westside, and Southwest/West Chatham (recently annexed suburban neighborhoods).Demographics
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Savannah had a population of 136,286, slightly up from the official 2000 count of 131,510 residents. Between 2000 and 2010, the population of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical AreaSavannah metropolitan area
The Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in Georgia, anchored by the city of Savannah. As of the 2010 census, the Savannah MSA had a population of 347,611, an 18.6 percent increase from the 2000 population of ...
(defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as Bryan
Bryan County, Georgia
Bryan County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 23,417. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 30,132...
, Chatham
Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. In the official US Census of 2010, Chatham County had a total population of 265,128 . Chatham is the most populous Georgia county outside the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, and Effingham
Effingham County, Georgia
Effingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. In the United States Census of 2000, the population was 37,535. The Census Bureau's 2008 estimate estimates that this figure has grown to 52,060. The seat of Effingham County is Springfield....
counties) grew from 293,000 to 347,611, an increase of 18.6 percent. Savannah is also the largest principal city of the Savannah-Hinesville-Fort Stewart CSA, a larger Combined Statistical Area
Combined Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas consist of one or more counties...
that includes the Savannah and Hinesville-Fort Stewart
Hinesville-Fort Stewart metropolitan area
The Hinesville-Fort Stewart Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – Liberty and Long – in Georgia, anchored by the city of Hinesville and Fort Stewart...
metropolitan areas, which had a combined estimated population of 417,512 in 2009 (up from 364,914 at the 2000 census).
In the 2000 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of Savannah, there were 131,510 people, 51,375 households, and 31,390 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,759.5 people per square mile (679.4/km²). There were 57,437 housing units at an average density of 768.5 per square mile (296.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.08% Black, 36.09% White, 4.52% Asian, 2.23% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.23% of the population.
There were 51,375 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 21.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,038, and the median income for a family was $36,410. Males had a median income of $28,545 versus $22,309 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,921. About 17.7% of families and 21.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 15.1% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Savannah's government became a council/manager form of government in 1954. The city council consists of the mayor and eight aldermen, six of which are elected from one of six aldermanic districts, with each district electing one member. The other two members and the mayor are elected at-large.The council levies taxes, enacts ordinances, adopts the annual budget, and appoints the City Manager. The City Manager enacts the policies and programs established by council, recommends an annual budget and work programs, appoints bureau and department heads, and exercises general supervision and control over all employees of the city.
Consolidation with Chatham County
In 2003 Savannah and Chatham CountyChatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. In the official US Census of 2010, Chatham County had a total population of 265,128 . Chatham is the most populous Georgia county outside the Atlanta metropolitan area...
voted to merge their city and county police departments. The Savannah-Chatham Metro Police was established on January 1, 2005, after the Savannah Police Department and Chatham County Police Department merged. The department has a number of specialty units, including: K-9, SWAT, Bomb Squad, Marine Patrol, Dive, Air Support and Mounted Patrol. The 9-1-1 Communications Dispatch Center handles all 9-1-1 calls for service within the County and City, including fire and EMS.
While some see the police merger as a step toward city-county consolidation
Consolidated city-county
In United States local government, a consolidated city–county is a city and county that have been merged into one unified jurisdiction. As such it is simultaneously a city, which is a municipal corporation, and a county, which is an administrative division of a state...
, Savannah is actually one of eight incorporated cities or towns in Chatham County. (The others are Bloomingdale
Bloomingdale, Georgia
Bloomingdale is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,713 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Bloomingdale is located at ....
, Garden City
Garden City, Georgia
Garden City is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. It lies along the Savannah River just northwest of Savannah. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 8,778...
, Pooler
Pooler, Georgia
Pooler is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. According to 2010 US Census, the population was 19,140, a threefold increase over the 2000 count of 6,239...
, Port Wentworth
Port Wentworth, Georgia
Port Wentworth is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, USA. The population was 5,359 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Port Wentworth is located at...
, Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt, Georgia
Thunderbolt is a small town located in Chatham County about 5 miles southeast of downtown Savannah. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 2,668. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thunderbolt runs along the western shore of the Wilmington River...
, Tybee Island
Tybee Island, Georgia
Tybee Island is an island and city in Chatham County, Georgia near the city of Savannah in the southeastern United States. It is the easternmost point in the state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,990. Tybee Island is an island and city in Chatham County, Georgia near...
and Vernonburg
Vernonburg, Georgia
Vernonburg is a town in Chatham County, Georgia, about 10 miles south of downtown Savannah. It is located at a sharp curve along the Vernon River, a tidal creek. The population was 122 at the 2010 census. Vernonburg was first settled by German craftsmen in the mid-18th century , and was...
). Although these seven smaller localities would remain independent from a consolidated government, they have long opposed any efforts to adopt a city-county merger. One fear is that consolidation would reduce county funding to areas outside of Savannah. Efforts toward city-county consolidation are also opposed by some wealthier Chatham County communities, including The Landings on Skidaway Island
Skidaway Island, Georgia
Skidaway Island is a census-designated place in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 8,341 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is one of the most affluent communities in the state...
, since these residents fear higher tax rates in a consolidated government. However, consolidation is favored by some city and county boosters, including Savannah's main newspaper, and merger plans have been presented to state legislators in the recent past. Should consolidation pass, Savannah would become Georgia's second largest city (behind Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
's 420,000 residents), with a population of around 223,000. By state law, the roughly 42,000 residents of the seven smaller incorporated towns would remain independent; they are not included in a Savannah-Chatham consolidation plan. Without special provisions, however, some of these towns would find themselves permanently locked into their current city limits without possibility of further annexation
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
.
State representation
The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Coastal State PrisonCoastal State Prison
Coastal State Prison is a Georgia Department of Corrections state prison located in Savannah, near Garden City. The facility houses Adult Male Felons, the capacity is 1580. It was constructed 1981 and opened in the same year...
in Savannah.
Economy
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and indigo production, both in demand in England, were early export commodities; by 1767 almost a ton of silk per year was exported to England.
Georgia's mild climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
offered perfect conditions for growing cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
, which became the dominant commodity after the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Its production under the plantation system
Peculiar institution
" peculiar institution" was a euphemism for slavery and the economic ramifications of it in the American South. The meaning of "peculiar" in this expression is "one's own", that is, referring to something distinctive to or characteristic of a particular place or people...
and shipment through the Port of Savannah
Port of Savannah
The Port of Savannah is a major U.S. seaport located at Savannah, Georgia. Its extensive facilities for oceangoing vessels line both sides of the Savannah River approximately from the Atlantic Ocean...
helped the city's European immigrants to achieve wealth and prosperity.
In the nineteenth century, the Port of Savannah became one of the most active in the United States, and Savannahians had the opportunity to consume some of the world's finest goods, imported by foreign merchants. Savannah's port has always been a mainstay of the city's economy. In the early years of the United States, goods produced in the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
had to pass through Atlantic ports such as Savannah's before they could be shipped to England.
Today, the Port of Savannah, manufacturing, the military and the tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
industry are Savannah's four major economic drivers. In 2006, the Savannah Area Convention & Visitors Bureau reported over 6.85 million visitors to the city during the year. Lodging, dining, entertainment, and visitor-related transportation account for over $2 billion in visitors' spending per year and employ over 17,000.
For years, Savannah was the home of Union Camp, which housed the world's largest paper mill. The plant is now owned by International Paper
International Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
, and it remains one of Savannah's largest employers. Savannah is also home to the Gulfstream Aerospace
Gulfstream Aerospace
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation is a producer of several models of jet aircraft. Gulfstream has been a unit of General Dynamics since 1999.The company has produced more than 1,500 aircraft for corporate, government, private, and military customers around the world...
company, maker of private jets, as well as various other large industrial interests. Morris Multimedia
Morris Multimedia
Morris Multimedia, Inc. is a media company based in Savannah, Georgia, founded in 1970 by Charles H. Morris. Morris Multimedia, among the largest privately held media companies in the United States, is the parent company of Morris Newspaper Corporation and Morris Network.- Newspapers :The Morris...
, a newspaper and television company, is based in Savannah.
In 2000, JCB
J. C. Bamford
JCB is a global construction, demolition and agricultural equipment company headquartered in Rocester, United Kingdom. It is the world's third-largest construction equipment manufacturer. It produces over 300 types of machines, including diggers , excavators, tractors and diesel engines...
, the third largest producer of construction equipment in the world and the leading manufacturer of backhoes and telescopic handlers, built its North American headquarters in Chatham County near Savannah in Pooler on I-95 near Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport.
In 2009, Savannah was North America's fourth largest port by container traffic.
Arts and Culture
Beyond its architectural significance as being the nation's largest, historically restored urban area, the City of Savannah has a rich and growing performing arts scene, offering cultural events throughout the year.Dance
Savannah Dance Theatre — Established in 1998 as a nonprofit organization, the theatre has grown to become the city’s largest dance company.Music
- The Coastal Jazz Association — Presents a variety of jazz performances throughout the year in addition to hosting the annual Savannah Jazz Festival.
- Savannah Children's Choir — Non-profit, auditioned choir for children in 2nd through 8th grades that performs throughout the community and in annual holiday and spring concerts.
- Savannah Concert Association — Presents a variety of guest artists for chamber music performances each season. Performances are generally held in the Lucas Theatre For The Arts.
- Savannah Music FestivalSavannah music festivalThe Savannah Music Festival is Georgia's largest musical arts festival. The festival is a cross-genre event that celebrates both the musical heritage of the South and international musicians. The festival is held annually over eighteen consecutive days in the springtime in Savannah, Georgia...
— An annual music festival of diverse artists. - The Savannah Orchestra — Savannah's professional orchestra, which presents an annual season of classical and popular concert performances.
- The Savannah Philharmonic — Professional orchestral and choral organization presenting year round concerts (classical, pops, education).
- The Savannah Winds — Amateur concert band hosted by the music department of Armstrong Atlantic State University.
Rock music
Several heavy metal musicHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
groups have emerged from Savannah. Included in these are Baroness
Baroness (band)
Baroness is a band from Savannah, Georgia whose members grew up together in Lexington, Virginia.-Formative years:Baroness formed in mid-2003, founded by former members of the punk/metal band Johnny Welfare and the Paychecks...
, Kylesa
Kylesa
Kylesa is a metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with sludgy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is...
, and Circle Takes the Square
Circle Takes the Square
Circle Takes the Square is an American post-hardcore band from Savannah, Georgia. Their debut release was a 7-track self-titled EP in 2001, followed later by a 7" split with Pg. 99...
.
Theater and Performance
- Muse Arts Warehouse — Founded in 2010, Muse Arts Warehouse is a nonprofit organization committed to community-building through the arts by providing a venue that is available, affordable, and accessible to Savannah's individual artists, arts organizations and the public.
- Savannah Children's Theatre — A non-profit, year-round drama theatre company geared toward offering elementary through high school students (and adults) opportunities for participation in dramatic and musical productions.
- Savannah Community Theatre — A full theater season with a diverse programming schedule, featuring some of Savannah's finest actors in an intimate, three-quarter-round space.
- Little Theatre of Savannah— Founded in 1950, The Little Theatre of Savannah, Inc., is a nonprofit, volunteer-based community organization dedicated to the celebration of the theater arts. Recognizing the unique social value, expressive fulfillment and opportunity for personal growth that theater provides its participants, the Little Theatre of Savannah invites all members of the community to participate both on- and off-stage.
- Savannah Theatre — Savannah's only fully professional resident theater, producing music revues with live singers, dancers and the most rockin' band in town. Performances happen year-round, with several different titles and a holiday show.
Points of interest
Savannah's architecture and history are internationally known, as is its reputation for SouthernSouthern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
charm and hospitality; for example, the city's former promotional name was "Hostess City of the South," a phrase still used by the city government. . An earlier nickname was "the Forest City", in reference to the large population and species of oak trees that flourish in the Savannah area. These trees were especially valuable in shipbuilding during the 19th century. Each year, Savannah attracts millions of visitors from across the country and around the world. Savannah's downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
Districts in the United States.
The city's location offers visitors access to the coastal islands and the Savannah Riverfront, both popular tourist destinations. Tybee Island
Tybee Island, Georgia
Tybee Island is an island and city in Chatham County, Georgia near the city of Savannah in the southeastern United States. It is the easternmost point in the state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,990. Tybee Island is an island and city in Chatham County, Georgia near...
, formerly known as "Savannah Beach", is the site of the Tybee Island Light Station
Tybee Island Light Station
The Tybee Island Light, also known simply as the Tybee Lighthouse is located on Tybee Island, Georgia, east of Savannah at the mouth of the Savannah River...
, the first lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
on the southern Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
coast. Other picturesque towns adjacent to Savannah include the shrimping village of Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt, Georgia
Thunderbolt is a small town located in Chatham County about 5 miles southeast of downtown Savannah. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 2,668. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thunderbolt runs along the western shore of the Wilmington River...
and three residential areas that began as summer resort communities for Savannahians: Beaulieu
Beaulieu, Georgia
Beaulieu is an unincorporated village located about 12 miles south of downtown Savannah, Georgia, USA. Beaulieu began in the nineteenth century as a summer resort for well-heeled Savannahians. A few old homes remain, but most current structures are more modern...
, Vernonburg
Vernonburg, Georgia
Vernonburg is a town in Chatham County, Georgia, about 10 miles south of downtown Savannah. It is located at a sharp curve along the Vernon River, a tidal creek. The population was 122 at the 2010 census. Vernonburg was first settled by German craftsmen in the mid-18th century , and was...
and the Isle of Hope
Isle of Hope, Georgia
Isle of Hope is a census-designated place in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, and at the 2010 census, its population was 2,402...
.
The Savannah International Trade & Convention Center is located on Hutchinson Island
Hutchinson Island, Georgia
Hutchinson Island is a river island in the Savannah River, north of downtown Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. The island is formed where the Back River breaks off to the north from the Savannah River...
, across from downtown Savannah and surrounded by the Savannah River
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
. The Belles Ferry connects the island with the mainland, as does the Eugene Talmadge
Eugene Talmadge
Eugene Talmadge was a Democratic politician who served two terms as the 67th Governor of Georgia from 1933 to 1937, and a third term from 1941 to 1943. Elected to a fourth term in 1946, he died before taking office...
Memorial Bridge
Talmadge Memorial Bridge
The Talmadge Memorial Bridge is a bridge in the United States that spans the Savannah River between downtown Savannah, Georgia, and Hutchinson Island.-History:...
.
The Savannah Civic Center
Savannah Civic Center
The Savannah Civic Center is a 9,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on Montgomery Street in Savannah, Georgia. The facility has two venues: The Martin Luther King Arena and the Johnny Mercer Theater...
is located on Montgomery Street and is host to over 900 events each year, including the Memorial Health Hockey Classic.
Squares
Historic churches and synagogues
Founded in 1733, with the establishment of the Georgia colony, Christ Church is the longest continuous Christian congregation in Georgia. Early rectors include the Methodist evangelists John Wesley
John Wesley
John Wesley was a Church of England cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield...
and George Whitefield
George Whitefield
George Whitefield , also known as George Whitfield, was an English Anglican priest who helped spread the Great Awakening in Britain, and especially in the British North American colonies. He was one of the founders of Methodism and of the evangelical movement generally...
. Located on the original site on Johnson Square, Christ Church continues as an active congregation.
The First Bryan Baptist Church
First Bryan Baptist Church
The First Bryan Baptist Church is an African-American church that was organized by Andrew Bryan in 1788. The site was purchased in 1793 by Bryan, a former slave who had also purchased his freedom. The first structure was erected there in 1794...
is an African-American church that was organized by Andrew Bryan in 1788. The site was purchased in 1793 by Bryan, a former slave who had also purchased his freedom. The first structure was erected there in 1794. By 1800 the congregation was large enough to split: those at Bryan Street took the name of First African Baptist Church, and Second and Third African Baptist churches were also established. The current sanctuary of First Bryan Baptist Church was constructed in 1873.
In 1832, a controversy over doctrine caused the First African Baptist congregation at Bryan Street to split. Some members left, taking with them the name of First African Baptist Church
First African Baptist Church (Savannah)
First African Baptist Church, located in Savannah, Georgia claims evolution from the first black Baptist congregation in North America. While it was not officially organized until 1788, it grew from members who founded a church in 1773...
. In 1859, the members of this new congregation (most of whom were slaves) built their current church building on Franklin Square.
The oldest standing house of worship is First Baptist Church, Savannah (1833), located on Chippewa Square. Also located near Chippewa Square is the Independent Presbyterian Church
Independent Presbyterian Church
- Independent Presbyterian Church. :Independent Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church located on the Southside in Birmingham, Alabama. Initially started by a group of 25 following controversy over doctrinal issues within a local congregation, the church now has...
, which was founded in 1775.
Other historic houses of worship in Savannah include: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist (Savannah)
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is a Roman Catholic cathedral at 222 East Harris Street, Savannah, Georgia, in the United States. It is the Mother Church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.-History:...
(Roman Catholic), Temple Mickve Israel
Congregation Mickve Israel
Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah, Georgia, is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States, the congregation having begun in 1733. The synagogue, located on Monterey Square in historic Savannah, was consecrated in 1878, and is a rare example of a Gothic-style synagogue...
(the third oldest synagogue in the U.S.), and St. John's Church
St. John's Church, Savannah
St. John's Church in Savannah is a parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia.The church was formed in 1840 from the growing Christ Church, Savannah, as part of a plan to increase Episcopal presence in Georgia and to provide for a first bishop of the diocese. In addition to his Episcopal duties,...
(Episcopal).
Historic homes
Sorrel Weed House
The Sorrel Weed House, or the Francis Sorrel House, is a historic facility located in Savannah, Georgia. It represents one of the finest examples of Greek Revival and Regency architecture in Savannah and was one of the first two homes in the state of Georgia to be made a state landmark in 1954...
, Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low
Juliette Gordon Low was an American youth leader and the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA in 1912.-Early life:...
's birthplace, the Green-Meldrim House
Green-Meldrim House
The Green-Meldrim House is a historic house located in Savannah, Georgia. It is located at 14 West Macon Street, on the northwest corner of Madison Square and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.-History:...
, the Owens-Thomas House
Owens-Thomas House
The Owens-Thomas House is a historic home in Savannah, Georgia that is operated as a historic house museum by the Telfair Museum of Art.It is located at 124 Abercorn Street, on the northeast corner of Oglethorpe Square...
, the William Scarbrough House
William Scarbrough House
William Scarbrough House is a historic house in Savannah, Georgia. It is significant for its Neoclassical architecture. It was completed in 1819. An architecturally compatible third floor was added in the mid-19th century, but was later removed. The house was declared a National Historic Landmark...
, and the Wormsloe plantation
Wormsloe Historic Site
The Wormsloe Historic Site is a state historic site near Savannah, Georgia, in the southeastern United States. The site consists of protecting part of what was once the Wormsloe Plantation, a large estate established by one of Georgia's colonial founders, Noble Jones...
of Noble Jones. The Mercer-Williams House, the former home of Jim Williams, is the main location of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a non-fiction work by John Berendt. Published in 1994, the book was Berendt's first, and became a The New York Times bestseller for 216 weeks following its debut....
Historic cemeteries
Colonial Park Cemetery (an early graveyard dating back to the English colony of Georgia), Laurel Grove CemeteryLaurel Grove Cemetery
Laurel Grove Cemetery is a cemetery located in midtown Savannah, Georgia. It includes the original cemetery for whites and a companion burial ground that was reserved for slaves and free people of color. The original cemetery has countless graves of many of Savannah's Confederate veterans of the...
(with the graves of many Confederate soldiers and African American slaves) and Bonaventure Cemetery
Bonaventure Cemetery
Bonaventure Cemetery is a public cemetery located on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah, Georgia. The cemetery became famous when it was featured in the 1994 novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt, and in the movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, based on...
(a former plantation and the final resting place for some illustrious Savannahians).
Historic forts
- Fort JacksonFort James JacksonFort James Jackson is a restored nineteenth-century fort located one mile east of Savannah, Georgia, on the Savannah River. It hosts the Fort Jackson Maritime Museum....
— near the historic district - Fort Pulaski National MonumentFort Pulaski National MonumentFort Pulaski National Monument is located between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia. It preserves Fort Pulaski, notable as the place where, during the American Civil War, in 1862, the Union Army successfully tested a rifled cannon. The success of the test rendered brick fortifications obsolete....
— 17 miles (27.4 km) east of Savannah via the Islands Expressway
Other registered historic sites
- Savannah Historic District and the Savannah Victorian Historic DistrictSavannah Victorian Historic DistrictThe Savannah Victorian Historic District is a historic district in Savannah, Georgia.The original area, listed in 1974, is roughly bounded by Gwinnett, Price, Anderson, and Montgomery Sts. An increase to the area, listed in 1982, was bounded by Gwinnett, Anderson and 31st Sts....
- Forsyth ParkForsyth ParkForsyth Park is a large city park that occupies in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia. The park is bordered by Gaston Street on the North, Drayton Street on the East, Park Avenue on the South and Whitaker Street on the West...
- Juliette Gordon Low Historic DistrictJuliette Gordon Low Historic DistrictJuliette Gordon Low Historic District consists of three buildings - the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace also known as "Wayne-Gordon House", First Girl Scout Headquarters which was the carriage house for the Andrew Low House, converted for use by the Girl Scouts in May - June 1912, and the Andrew...
- Central of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Terminal FacilitiesCentral of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Terminal FacilitiesThe Central of Georgia Railroad: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities is a historic district in Savannah, Georgia, that was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It is dominated by the Central of Georgia Depot and Trainshed, a passenger depot and trainshed constructed...
and Central of Georgia Depot and Trainshed — a 33.2 acres (134,355.8 m²) historic districtHistoric districtA historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
that was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1978. - Riverfront Plaza and Factors' Walk — River Street's restored nineteenth-century cotton warehouses and passageways include shops, bars and restaurants
- City Market — Savannah's restored central market features antiques, souvenirs, small eateries, as well as two large outdoor plazas
- Savannah State UniversitySavannah State UniversitySavannah State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah State holds the distinction as the oldest public historically black university in Georgia...
campus and Walter Bernard Hill HallHill Hall at Savannah State CollegeHill Hall at Savannah State College, also known as Walter Bernard Hill Hall and built between 1900 and 1901 by students studying manual arts and blacksmithing, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The building was named for Dr...
— The Georgia Historical Commission and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources have recognized both the Savannah StateSavannah State UniversitySavannah State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah State holds the distinction as the oldest public historically black university in Georgia...
campus and Hill HallHill Hall at Savannah State CollegeHill Hall at Savannah State College, also known as Walter Bernard Hill Hall and built between 1900 and 1901 by students studying manual arts and blacksmithing, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The building was named for Dr...
as a part of the Georgia Historical Marker Program. Hill Hall, which was built in 1901, was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1981. - Telfair Museum of ArtTelfair Museum of ArtThe Telfair Museum of Art, located in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia, is the South’s first public art museum. Founded through the bequest of Mary Telfair , a prominent local citizen, the museum opened in 1886 in the Telfair family’s renovated Regency-style mansion, known as the Telfair...
and Telfair Academy of Arts of SciencesTelfair Academy of Arts of SciencesTelfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, also known as Telfair Academy and Telfair Mansion, is a historic mansion in Savannah, Georgia. Originally a family townhouse, it became a free art museum in 1886 known as the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences...
— the South’s first public art museum. - Ossabaw IslandOssabaw IslandOssabaw Island is one of the Sea Islands located on the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the U.S. state of Georgia approximately twenty miles by water south from the historic downtown of the city of Savannah. One of the largest of Georgia's barrier islands, Ossabaw contains of wooded uplands with...
Shopping
- Abercorn CommonAbercorn CommonAbercorn Common is a shopping center in Savannah, Georgia. The center was the first retail center in the U.S. to become LEED-certified, meaning its design incorporates efficiency with attractive buildings and public spaces. The buildings and public spaces resemble Savannah's downtown historic...
- Savannah Historic DistrictSavannah Historic DistrictThe Savannah Historic District is a large urban U.S. historic district that roughly corresponds to the city limits of Savannah, Georgia, prior to the American Civil War....
- Oglethorpe MallOglethorpe MallOglethorpe Mall is a super-regional shopping mall on the Southside of Savannah, Georgia. Named after General James Oglethorpe, the founder of Savannah, it has grown over the last forty years to be nearly one million square feet....
- Savannah MallSavannah MallSavannah Mall is an enclosed regional shopping mall on the southside of Savannah, Georgia. The mall opened on August 29, 1990 and has four anchor stores: Bass Pro Shops, Burlington Coat Factory, Dillard's and Target...
- Abercorn WalkAbercorn WalkAbercorn Walk is a shopping center that runs along Abercorn Street in midtown Savannah, Georgia. It is located near the city's more upscale midtown commercial sector. Abercorn Walk resembles a village in which each storefront retains a different style...
Other attractions
- Bamboo Farm and Coastal GardensBamboo Farm and Coastal GardensBamboo Farm and Coastal Gardens is an experimental research station and botanical garden located at 2 Canebrake Road, Savannah, Georgia. The gardens are open daily, except holidays, without charge....
- Pinkie Masters Bar which has been the site of presidential visits and political aspiration. Pinkie Masters (a local political figure) was a friend of President Jimmy CarterJimmy CarterJames Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, who made several visits to the bar and the city. - Club OneClub One (Bar)Club One is a night club located in Savannah, Georgia, famous for its drag shows featuring The Lady Chablis.- History :The building was originally built in 1893, by the estate of George Wymberly Jones Derenne, a descendent of Noble Jones, as a warehouse....
— Home of The Lady ChablisThe Lady ChablisThe Lady Chablis is an American drag queen entertainer.- Career :Chablis became notable in the early 1990s when she was featured as one of Savannah's colorful characters in John Berendt's book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, based on a true crime story...
made famous in the book and movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and EvilMidnight in the Garden of Good and EvilMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a non-fiction work by John Berendt. Published in 1994, the book was Berendt's first, and became a The New York Times bestseller for 216 weeks following its debut....
. - Saint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's DaySaint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
Celebrations — Annually Savannah holds celebrations in honor of Saint Patrick's Day. The actual parade route changes from year to year but usually travels through Savannah's Historic Park District and along Bay Street. The Savannah Waterfront Association has an annual celebration on Historic River Street that is reminiscent of Mardi GrasMardi GrasThe terms "Mardi Gras" , "Mardi Gras season", and "Carnival season", in English, refer to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday...
on Bourbon StreetBourbon StreetBourbon Street is a famous and historic street that spans the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. When founded in 1718, the city was originally centered around the French Quarter...
in New Orleans. - Oatland Island Education Center — facility owned and operated by the Board of Education, is a place to see animals that are or were found in this region.
- Tybee Island — popular coastal city with public beaches and attractions.
- Pirates' HousePirates' HouseThe Pirates' House is a historic restaurant and tavern established in 1753 located in downtown Savannah, Georgia in the Southern United States. It is thought to be the oldest standing building in the state of Georgia...
- historic restaurant and tavern located in downtown Savannah.
Professional sport teams
| Club | Sport | League | Venue | Championships | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah Braves Savannah Braves The Savannah Braves, were a baseball team that existed from 1971 to 1983 in Savannah, Georgia, United States. Affiliated with the Atlanta Braves, they played in the Southern League and played their home games at Grayson Stadium... |
Baseball | Southern League Southern League (baseball) The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams... |
Grayson Stadium Grayson Stadium Grayson Stadium is a stadium in Savannah, Georgia. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Savannah Sand Gnats minor league baseball team, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Mets. It is also the part-time home of the Savannah State University college baseball team... |
0 | 1971–1983 |
| Savannah Cardinals | Baseball | South Atlantic League South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States... |
Grayson Stadium Grayson Stadium Grayson Stadium is a stadium in Savannah, Georgia. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Savannah Sand Gnats minor league baseball team, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Mets. It is also the part-time home of the Savannah State University college baseball team... |
2 (1993, 1994) | 1984–1995 |
| Savannah Sand Gnats Savannah Sand Gnats The Savannah Sand Gnats are a minor league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia and are a member of the A-level South Atlantic League. Since the 2007 season, the Sand Gnats have been an affiliate of the New York Mets.-History:... |
Baseball | South Atlantic League South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States... |
Grayson Stadium Grayson Stadium Grayson Stadium is a stadium in Savannah, Georgia. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Savannah Sand Gnats minor league baseball team, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Mets. It is also the part-time home of the Savannah State University college baseball team... |
1 (1996) | 1996 — present |
| Savannah Spirits Savannah Spirits The Savannah Spirits were a professional basketball team that played for two years in the Continental Basketball Association from 1986 to 1988, amassing a total regular season record of 42 wins and 60 losses for a total of 306.5 points. The Spirits did not qualify for the postseason in their first... |
Basketball | Continental Basketball Association Continental Basketball Association The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :... |
Savannah Civic Center Savannah Civic Center The Savannah Civic Center is a 9,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on Montgomery Street in Savannah, Georgia. The facility has two venues: The Martin Luther King Arena and the Johnny Mercer Theater... |
0 | 1986–1988 |
| Savannah Wildcats Savannah Wildcats The Savannah Wildcats are a charter member of the Continental Basketball League based in Savannah, Georgia which began play in 2010. They played their games at Alfred E. Beach High School during their inaugural season, but switched to Armstrong Atlantic State University for year two. They won the... |
Basketball | Continental Basketball League Continental Basketball League The Continental Basketball League is a professional men's basketball minor league in the United States that began play in April of 2010. The league is headquartered in Florida.- History :... |
Armstrong Atlantic State University Armstrong Atlantic State University Armstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States... |
1 (2010) | 2010 — present |
| Savannah Storm Savannah Storm The Savannah Storm is an expansion franchise of the American Basketball Association which will begin play in the 2010 season. The Storm are located in Savannah, Georgia, with home games on the campus of Savannah High School.-External links:*... |
Basketball | American Basketball Association | 2010 — present |
College teams
| Club | Affiliation | Conference | Venues | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates | NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States... Division II |
Peach Belt Conference Peach Belt Conference The Peach Belt Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division II. The PBC was formed in 1990 with seven charter universities as the Peach Belt Athletic Conference, and took its current name in 2000.-Current members:The league currently has 13 full... |
Alumni Arena | |
| Savannah College of Art and Design Bees | NAIA National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA... |
Florida Sun Conference Florida Sun Conference The Sun Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NAIA. Member institutions are located in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina... |
Ron Love Athletic Center | |
| Savannah State Tigers Savannah State Tigers The Tigers is the name used for all of the men's intercollegiate athletic teams that play for Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia. The female intercollegiate teams are known as the Lady Tigers.-Conference affiliation:... |
NCAA National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States... Division I (FCS) |
MEAC | Tiger Arena Tiger Arena Tiger Arena is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is home to the Savannah State University Tigers basketball and volleyball teams... , Ted Wright Stadium Ted Wright Stadium Ted Wright Stadium is a 7,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Savannah, Georgia. The facility is located on the campus of Savannah State University and is named in honor of Theodore Wright who served as the Tiger's head football coach from 1947-1949.... |
Sports facilities
Auto Racing- Savannah DragwaySavannah DragwaySavannah Dragway was an eighth-mile dragstrip used by the NHRA located near in Savannah, Georgia. The track opened as a quarter-mile facility in 1968, but safety concerns and rising insurance costs caused it to convert to the smaller distance in the mid-1980s...
Baseball
- Grayson StadiumGrayson StadiumGrayson Stadium is a stadium in Savannah, Georgia. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Savannah Sand Gnats minor league baseball team, the Class-A affiliate of the New York Mets. It is also the part-time home of the Savannah State University college baseball team...
Basketball
- Savannah Civic CenterSavannah Civic CenterThe Savannah Civic Center is a 9,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on Montgomery Street in Savannah, Georgia. The facility has two venues: The Martin Luther King Arena and the Johnny Mercer Theater...
- Tiger ArenaTiger ArenaTiger Arena is a 6,000-seat multi-purpose arena in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It is home to the Savannah State University Tigers basketball and volleyball teams...
Hockey
- Savannah Civic CenterSavannah Civic CenterThe Savannah Civic Center is a 9,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on Montgomery Street in Savannah, Georgia. The facility has two venues: The Martin Luther King Arena and the Johnny Mercer Theater...
Football
- Memorial StadiumMemorial Stadium, SavannahMemorial Stadium is a 15,000 capacity county owned multi-purpose stadium near Savannah, Georgia . The stadium is primarily used for American football and soccer games, usually by high schools in Chatham County though it occasionally hosts regular season and homecoming festivities for Savannah State...
- Ted Wright StadiumTed Wright StadiumTed Wright Stadium is a 7,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Savannah, Georgia. The facility is located on the campus of Savannah State University and is named in honor of Theodore Wright who served as the Tiger's head football coach from 1947-1949....
Education
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States...
, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)
Savannah College of Art and Design
SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design, is a private, accredited and degree-granting university with locations in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Hong Kong, and Lacoste, France.-History:...
, Savannah State University
Savannah State University
Savannah State University is a four-year, state-supported, historically black university located in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah State holds the distinction as the oldest public historically black university in Georgia...
, and South University
South University
South University is a proprietary university owned by Education Management Corporation with programs in business, health care, design, and legal and criminal justice, operating at locations in Savannah, Georgia; Round Rock, Texas; Columbia, South Carolina; Montgomery, Alabama; Novi, Michigan; Glen...
. In addition, Georgia Tech Savannah
Georgia Tech Savannah
Georgia Tech Savannah is a satellite campus of the Atlanta-based Georgia Institute of Technology. It is located in Savannah, Georgia, near Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. The Savannah campus offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in four engineering majors: Civil, Computer,...
offers engineering degrees, and Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University
Georgia Southern University is a national public university located on a campus in Statesboro, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1906, it is part of the University System of Georgia and is the largest center of higher education in the southern half of Georgia offering 117 academic majors in a comprehensive...
has a satellite campus in the downtown area. Savannah Technical College
Savannah Technical College
Savannah Technical College, also known as Savannah Tech is a technical college located in Savannah, Georgia.-Academics:Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Learning Enrichment Center is certified by the...
, a two-year technical institution, and the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
The Skidaway Institute of Oceanography is an internationally renowned marine science research institute located on the northern end of Skidaway Island near Savannah, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1968, it is part of the University System of Georgia as an independent research unit...
, a marine science research institute located on the northern end of Skidaway Island, offer educational programs as well. Savannah is also the location of Ralston College
Ralston College
Ralston College is a liberal arts college in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It was founded on February 1, 2010 and as of December 2010 is not yet accepting applications for admission. The patrons of Ralston College are Harold Bloom, Hilary Putnam, and Salman Rushdie. The members of the Board...
, a liberal arts college founded in 2010.
Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
began a four-year doctor of medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
program in August 2008 at Memorial University Medical Center. Mercer, with its main campus in Macon
Macon, Georgia
Macon is a city located in central Georgia, US. Founded at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River, it is part of the Macon metropolitan area, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. Macon is the biggest city in central Georgia...
, received additional state funding in 2007 to expand its existing partnership with Memorial by establishing a four-year medical school in Savannah (the first in southern Georgia). Third- and fourth-year Mercer students have completed two-year clinical rotations at Memorial since 1996; approximately 100 residents are trained each year in a number of specialities. The expanded program opened in August 2008 with 30 first-year students.
Savannah is also home to most of the public schools in the Chatham County
Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. In the official US Census of 2010, Chatham County had a total population of 265,128 . Chatham is the most populous Georgia county outside the Atlanta metropolitan area...
public school system, the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
Savannah-Chatham County Public School System is a school district based in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. SCCPSS is run by an elected Board of Public Education and operates most public schools in the Chatham County including those in the city of Savannah. The current superintendent is...
.
Other notable schools include:
- Beach High SchoolAlfred E. Beach High SchoolAlfred Ely Beach High School is one of the oldest public high schools located in Savannah, Georgia, USA.-History:In 1867, the Beach Institute was established by the Freedmen's Bureau with funds donated by Alfred Ely Beach, editor of Scientific American...
- Benedictine Military SchoolBenedictine Military SchoolBenedictine Military School is a Benedictine, military, all-male high school located in Savannah, Georgia, United States...
- Calvary Day SchoolCalvary Day SchoolCalvary Day School is a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade private school located in Savannah, Georgia.-History:The school opened in 1961. In 2007, the school underwent its largest renovation in its history...
- Islands High School
- Jenkins High SchoolJenkins High SchoolHerschel V. Jenkins High School is a public high school located in Savannah, Georgia. A part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, it is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Georgia Accrediting Commission....
- Johnson High SchoolSol C. Johnson High SchoolSol C. Johnson High School is a public high school located in Savannah, Georgia, USA. A unit of the Savannah-Chatham County School System, it has been ranked number 819 among Newsweek magazine's top 1,500 U.S. secondary schools based on advanced placement and International Baccalaureate test scores....
- Savannah Christian Preparatory SchoolSavannah Christian Preparatory SchoolSavannah Christian Preparatory School is a non-denominational Christian school, located in Savannah, Georgia.-Chatham Parkway:Savannah Christian presently maintains two campuses. The Chatham Parkway campus hosts over 1,000 Lower and Upper School students and 250 Daycare/Preschool students...
- Savannah Arts AcademySavannah Arts AcademySavannah Arts Academy is the first dedicated performing and visual arts school in Savannah, Georgia. It is part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools. Savannah Arts Academy was granted charter school status and the former Savannah High School building in July 1998, and opened in August of...
- Savannah Country Day SchoolThe Savannah Country Day SchoolThe Savannah Country Day School is a preparatory school founded in 1955 in Savannah, Georgia. The school serves students from pre-kindergarten through to twelfth grade, and has 921 students enrolled.- History :...
- Savannah High SchoolSavannah High School (Georgia)Savannah High School is located in Savannah, Georgia, USA.-History:Savannah High School building, was originally located on Washington Avenue between East and West Atlantic Avenues. The original building, built by the WPA and designed by William Bordley Clarke, Sr., was once the largest public...
- Saint Andrew's SchoolSaint Andrew's School (Savannah, Georgia)St. Andrew's is an independent, college prep school located on Wilmington Island in Savannah, Georgia.St. Andrew's, established in 1978, is dually accredited by Southern Association of Independent Schools and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The school serves students in Pre-K through...
- St. Vincent's Academy
- Windsor Forest High SchoolWindsor Forest High SchoolWindsor Forest High School is a public high school in the Windsor Forest section of Savannah, Georgia. Managed by the Savannah-Chatham County School Board of Education, its attendance area includes the southside Savannah neighborhoods of Windsor Forest, White Bluff, Wilshire, and...
Oatland Island Wildlife Center of Savannah is also a part of Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools. Formerly named the Oatland Island Education Center until a name change in 2007, the environmental education center serves thousands of students from school systems throughout the Southeastern United States. It is located just east of Savannah on a marsh island and features a 2 miles (3.2 km) Native Animal Nature Trail that winds through maritime forest, salt marsh, and freshwater wetlands. Along the trail, visitors can observe native animals, such as Florida panthers, Eastern timber wolves, and alligators, in their natural habitat.
Media
Savannah's major television stations are WSAV, channel 3 (NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
); WTOC-TV
WTOC-TV
WTOC-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for Southeastern Georgia's Coastal Empire and Southern South Carolina's Lowcountry. Licensed to Savannah, Georgia, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter along Fort Argyle Road/SR 204 in unincorporated...
, channel 11 (CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
); WJCL, channel 22 (ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
); and WTGS, channel 28 (Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
). Two PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
member stations serve the city: WVAN (channel 9), part of Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting
Georgia Public Broadcasting is the public broadcasting radio and television state network in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is operated by the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission....
; and WJWJ-TV (channel 16), part of SCETV.
Other stations include WGSA-TV, channel 34 (The CW); and WXSX-CA
WXSX-CA
WXSX-CA is the MTV2-affiliated television station for the Coastal Empire area of Georgia and the Lowcountry of Southern South Carolina that is licensed to Savannah, Georgia. Owned by L4 Media Group, the station broadcasts on UHF channel 46. Like most over-the-air MTV2 affiliates, it was an...
, channel 46 (MTV2
MTV2
MTV2 is a cable network that is widely available in the United States on digital cable and satellite television, and is progressively being added to analogue cable lineups across the nation...
).
The Savannah Morning News
Savannah Morning News
The Savannah Morning News is a daily newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. It is published by Morris Communications, Inc. The motto of the paper is "Light of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry"...
is Savannah's only daily newspaper. The Savannah Tribune
Savannah Tribune
The Savannah Tribune is a weekly African American newspaper located in Savannah, Georgia, United States.-History:The paper was originally founded in 1875 and went through two hiatuses . Originally named the Colored Tribune, the paper was established by Louis B. Toomer, Sr., Louis M. Pleasant, and...
is a weekly newspaper with a focus on Savannah's African American community. Connect Savannah is an alternative free weekly newspaper focused on local news, culture and music.
Transportation
Savannah/Hilton Head International AirportSavannah/Hilton Head International Airport
"Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport , formerly Savannah International Airport, Travis Field and Chatham Field, is a joint civil-military airport located northwest of Savannah, Georgia just off Interstate 95, between Savannah and the city of Pooler, Georgia...
is located off Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Georgia
Interstate 95, the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States, serves the Atlantic coast of Georgia. It begins at the St. Marys River at the Florida state line north of Jacksonville and heads north past the border of South Carolina at the Savannah River...
west of Savannah. Airlines serving this airport are Delta
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, Delta Connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
, Continental Express
Continental Express
Continental Express is the operating brand name used by a number of independently owned regional airlines providing regional jet feeder service under agreement with Continental Airlines...
, United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
, US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
, Vision Airlines
Vision Airlines
Vision Airlines, formerly Vision Air, is an airline with its operations headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia. Commercial and charter flights are offered primarily in the southeastern and central portions of the USA. Las Vegas is the farthest western city served by the airline as of April 2011...
and American Eagle
American Eagle Airlines
American Eagle Airlines is a brand name used by American Eagle Airlines, Inc. , based in Fort Worth, Texas, and Executive Airlines based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the operation of passenger air service as regional affiliates of American Airlines. All three airlines are wholly owned subsidiaries...
. Until September 2008, DayJet
DayJet
DayJet was an American commercial aviation operation that provided on-demand jet travel using Eclipse 500 Very Light Jets. The company began operations in Florida in October 2007 and suspended operations on September 19, 2008....
provided on-demand air transportation service between Savannah and cities throughout the Southeast.
Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
operates a passenger terminal
Savannah (Amtrak station)
The Savannah Amtrak station is an Amtrak station in Savannah, Georgia. Located at 2611 Seaboard Coastline Drive, the station consists of a terminal building on the east side of the north-south tracks, with a platform between the tracks. The terminal offers ticketing, checked baggage, Amtrak...
at Savannah for the Palmetto
Palmetto (Amtrak)
The Palmetto is a passenger train service operated by Amtrak over the from New York City south to Savannah, Georgia via the Northeast Corridor to Washington, DC, then via Richmond, Virginia, Fayetteville, North Carolina and Charleston, South Carolina...
and Silver Service
Silver Service
The Silver Service is a brand currently applied by Amtrak to two of its East Coast long-distance passenger trains operating between New York City and Miami:*Silver Meteor*Silver Star...
trains running between New York City and Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
with three southbound and three northbound trains stopping at the station daily.
Public transit throughout the region is provided by Chatham Area Transit
Chatham Area Transit
Chatham Area Transit is the provider of public transportation in the Savannah, Georgia metropolitan area. The county-owned service was founded in 1986 after the collapse of previous transit providers...
.
The DOT (Downtown Transportation) system provides fare free transportation in the Historic District. Services include an express shuttle buses, the River Street Streetcar
River Street streetcar
The River Street Streetcar is a heritage streetcar line in Savannah, Georgia in the United States. It began regular operation on February 11, 2009 and shuttles between 7 stops along River Street, next to the Savannah River.- History :...
, and a ferry to Hutchinson Island and the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
Interstates and major highways
- Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in GeorgiaInterstate 95, the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States, serves the Atlantic coast of Georgia. It begins at the St. Marys River at the Florida state line north of Jacksonville and heads north past the border of South Carolina at the Savannah River...
— Runs north-south just west of the city; provides access to Savannah/Hilton Head International AirportSavannah/Hilton Head International Airport"Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport , formerly Savannah International Airport, Travis Field and Chatham Field, is a joint civil-military airport located northwest of Savannah, Georgia just off Interstate 95, between Savannah and the city of Pooler, Georgia...
, and intersects with Interstate 16 which leads into the city's center. - Interstate 16
Interstate 16Interstate 16 , also known as Jim Gillis Historic Savannah Parkway or State Route 404 , is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Georgia, United States...
— Terminates in downtown Savannah at Liberty and Montgomery Streets, and intersects with Interstate 95 and Interstate 516. - Interstate 516
Interstate 516Interstate 516 is a 6.49-mile long auxiliary Interstate Highway near the southeastern, coastal Georgia city of Savannah as a spur route of Interstate 16. I-516 was formerly signed State Route 21 and even early as State Route 26 Loop...
— An urban perimeter highway connecting Southside Savannah, at DeRenne Avenue, with the industrialized port area of the city to the north; intersects with the Veterans Parkway and Interstate 16, as well. Also known as Lynes Parkway. - U.S. Route 80
U.S. Route 80U.S. Route 80 is an east–west United States highway, much of which was once part of the early auto trail known as the Dixie Overland Highway. As the "0" in the route number indicates, it was originally a cross-country route, from the Atlantic to the Pacific...
(Victory Drive) — Runs east-west through Midtown Savannah and connects the city with the town of Thunderbolt, and the islands of WhitemarshWhitemarsh Island, GeorgiaWhitemarsh Island is a census-designated place in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 6,792 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, Talahi, WilmingtonWilmington Island, GeorgiaWilmington Island is a census-designated place in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 15,138 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The communities of Wilmington Island form a large and affluent suburb of Savannah, where most residents...
and Tybee. Merges with the Islands Expressway and serves as the only means of reaching the beach by automobile. - State Route 204
Georgia State Route 204State Route 204 begins just east of Pembroke at U.S. 280/S.R. 30 and ends in Savannah at I-16 exit 165 .In Savannah, this is a very major and heavily traveled surface arterial and is known as Abercorn Expressway, Abercorn Street and 37th Street...
(Abercorn Expressway) — An extension of Abercorn Street that begins at 37th Street (which is its northern point) and terminates at Rio Road and the Forest River at its southern point, and serves as the primary traffic and commercial artery linking downtown, midtown and southside sections of the city. - Harry S. Truman ParkwayHarry S. Truman ParkwayHarry S. Truman Parkway is a freeway in Savannah, Georgia, connecting the surrounding Savannah metropolitan area with Downtown Savannah. It was originally dubbed Casey Canal Parkway, as it paralleled the adjacent waterway. In the early 1970s, coinciding with the death of former president Harry S...
— Runs through the eastside of town, connecting the east end of Downtown with Southside Savannah. The road has been under construction since 1992, and is opening in phases with the latest phase opening in 2004. - Veterans Parkway — Links Interstate 516 and Southside/Midtown Savannah with South Savannah, and is intended to move traffic quicker from north-south by avoiding high-volume Abercorn Expressway. Also known as the Southwest Bypass.
- Islands Expressway — An extension of President Street to facilitate traffic moving between Downtown Savannah and the barrier islands, as well as the beaches of Tybee Island
Crime
The total number of violent crimes in the Savannah-Chatham County reporting area ran just above 1,000 per year from 2003 through 2006. In 2007, however, the total number of violent crimes jumped to 1,163. Savannah-Chatham has recorded between 20 and 25 homicides each year since 2005.In 2007, Savannah-Chatham recorded a sharp increase in home burglaries but a sharp decrease in larcenies from parked automobiles. During the same year, statistics show a 29 percent increase in arrests for Part 1 crimes.
An additional increase in burglaries occurred in 2008 with 2,429 residential burglaries reported to Savannah-Chatham police that year. That reflects an increase of 668 incidents from 2007. In 2007, there were 1,761 burglaries, according to metro police data.
Savannah-Chatham police report that crimes reported in 2009 came in down 6 percent from 2008.
In 2009, 11,782 crimes were reported to metro police — 753 fewer than in 2008. Within that 2009 number is a 12.2 percent decrease in violent crimes when compared with 2008. Property crimes saw a 5.3 percent decline, which included a 5.2 percent reduction in residential burglary. In 2008, residential burglary was up by almost 40 percent.While some violent crimes increased in 2009, crimes like street robbery went down significantly.In 2009, 30 homicides were reported, four more than the year before. Also, 46 rapes were reported, nine more than the year before. In the meantime, street robbery decreased by 23 percent. In 2008, metro police achieved a 90 percent clearance rate for homicide cases, which was described as exceptional by violent crimes unit supervisors. In 2009, the department had a clearance rate of 53 percent, which police attributed to outstanding warrants and grand jury presentations.
The SCMPD provide the public with up to date crime report information through an online mapping service. This information can be found at http://www.scmpd.org/cityweb/SCMPDorg.nsf
Sister cities
 Georgia (country) |
Batumi Batumi Batumi is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia. Sometimes considered Georgia's second capital, with a population of 121,806 , Batumi serves as an important port and a commercial center. It is situated in a subtropical zone, rich in... (Ajaria, Georgia Georgia (country) Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of... ) |
 Greece |
Patras Patras Patras , ) is Greece's third largest urban area and the regional capital of West Greece, located in northern Peloponnese, 215 kilometers west of Athens... (Akhaia, Greece) |
 Burkina Faso |
Kaya Kaya, Burkina Faso Kaya is the eighth largest city in Burkina Faso, lying north east of Ouagadougou, to which it is connected by railway. It is a centre for weaving and tanning.... (Burkina Faso Burkina Faso Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated... ) |
See also
- List of mayors of Savannah, Georgia
- List of people from Savannah, Georgia
- Savannah, Georgia in popular cultureSavannah, Georgia in popular cultureThe city of Savannah, Georgia, the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, is referenced frequently in popular culture. What follows is a list of Savannah, Georgia in popular culture and includes works of literature, music, film, and television...
- List of tallest buildings in Savannah
External links
- www.savannahga.gov — Official City Web site
- www.seda.org — Savannah Economic Development Authority
- www.savannah-visit.com — Savannah Convention & Visitors Bureau