Savannah, Georgia

Located in the state of Georgia, Savannah is the industrial center of the region. It is the 4th largest city of Georgia and the 3rd largest in the metropolitan area. The city is known for its architectural wonders and people from all over travel to see the magnificent building here.

Savannah is the main port to the Savannah River and its location near the U.S. Intracoastal Waterway makes the city all the more prominent. The tropical climate of the city makes it popular with tourists all year round, with tourism rising during the winter months.

The city offers a large number of entertainment options from theater, dancing music, and parks and churches. There are also many forts and streets that can charm visitors tremendously.

Get in touch with the ancient architecture or treat yourself to some great food or even check out the shipping trade rituals while you are in Savannah. With many malls and several shopping streets, the city is a delight for the shopaholic too.

Savannah has a lot to offer those who enjoy city life as well as the outdoors. The city also has a bustling nightlife, various places to eat, places to see and can also offer you a great shopping experience. Many businesses in the city also thrive.

Savannah History

The city of Savannah was founded on the 12th of February, 1733. It was in the year 1751 that the city was made into a Royal Colony and also bestowed with the honor of becoming a colonial capital of Georgia. Savannah has been named after the mighty Savannah River on the banks of which this great port city dwells.

It is believed that a Native American tribe called the Westo inhabited that area but they lost out to the Shawnee tribe in battle. The Shawnee tribe was often referred to as the Savana and it is said that the river was named after them. Of course there is also a belief that the term Savannah comes from the English word savanna meaning tropical grasslands, to which this area resembles.

The area was extremely fertile and most of England's demand for silk and indigo was fulfilled from this region. After the end of the American Revolution, the region was found lucrative for cotton growing and the weather supported Savannah in achieving the rank of one of the largest growers of cotton in this belt.

The famous squares of the city were laid out in 1769. These were initially built as military exercise camps for the colonist. It is believed that each square was built for a new ward that came into the city. All of the Savannah squares are named in honor of historical events or persons.

While initially there were only four squares, namely Telfair, Ellis, Wright and Johnson, the grid was added upon due to increase in settlement in the 18th and 19th centuries. By the year 1851 the population of the city had grown so much that Savannah had a total of 24 squares in all. Sadly, three of these squares were damaged in the 20th century. One of these lost squares was rebuilt in 2010 thus bringing the total square count up to 22.

The squares measure 200 feet from north to south, but each is different in its measurements from east to west. The center of the ward is where the square is located and all squares share their names with the ward. It is said that the squares were the invention of General James Oglethorpe who was inspired by Beijing.

About Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is not only the largest city in Chatham County but it also enjoys the position of the county seat. The city is a very important port and a boasts of extensive industrial activity. Being the largest port in the Georgian State, Savannah enjoys shipping activity all year round.

The city lays claim to an area of 78.1 square miles of which 4.31% is water while the rest is dedicated to land. Due to the frequent flooding of the Savannah River, the city faces water clogging for which there have been five canals set up in order to keep the area clear.

The 2010 census indicated that the population of the city was 136,286 and the median income of the population here is $29,038. The city is governed by a mayor and a group of eight aldermen and they manage everything from the law and order to the economy of the city.

Silk and cotton were the two most important crops that supported the agricultural based economy of Savannah in the first two centuries. However, today the economy is supported by four pillars namely the port, the military, tourism and the manufacturing units. Of these the hospitality industry seems to be growing at the fastest pace.

The city enjoys the nickname 'Hostess City of the South' and rightly so. The downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmarks in the entire country. The place offers great attractions like the Tybee Island, the first light house of the Atlantic coast, the Isle of Hope and of course the 22 different squares each offering its own unique flavor.

The churches of Savannah are a huge crowd puller too. The First Baptist Church is the oldest house of worship and stands tall in the Chippewa Square. Other prominent churches of the city are The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, St. John's Church and also Temple Mickve.

Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski are not to be missed by those who have a love for forts and their architectural wonders. Much to the shoppers delight, the city offers several malls like the Savannah Mall and the Oglethorpe Mall along with shopping areas like the Abercorn Walk. Shopping is an integral part of the city and attracts several tourists and locals alike.

About Chatham County, Georgia

Located in the state of Georgia, the Chatham County is considered the most populous belt of the entire Atlanta Metropolitan Area. The county was created on the 5th of February in the year 1977. It has been named after William Pit, who was the 1st Earl of Chatham and is one of three counties that make up the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The county covers an area of 632.28 square miles of which 30.71% is water. Chatham County has its northeastern border marked by the Savannah River and has the Atlantic Ocean on the other side.

The 2000 census showed that the county was inhabited by 232,048 people of which a majority of 55.28% was White while the Blacks were 40.50%. The remaining were Native Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Pacific Islanders. The year 2010 showed a 14% increase in this number and the figures went up to 265,128. The median age of the population in Chatham County is 34 years and the median income is $37,752 per household.

The county seat is Savannah, which is also the largest city of the county. Other important cities of the Chatham County are Bloomingdale, Pooler, Tybee Island and Garden City. The Isle of Hope and Georgetown are few of the census designated places of the county. The county also houses national protected areas like the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, Fort Pulaski National Monument and Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge.

The county enjoys a good law and order system and shares it police department with the Savannah city. The county and Savannah merged their police departments in the year 2005 and named it Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department (SCMPD) under which the entire region is managed. The county also houses the Coastal State Prison and the Georgia Department of Corrections State Prison.

Tourism and the port are the two main sources of income in the county while agriculture is also high on the list.