Savannah, GA

Savannah was established on February 12, 1733 when General James Oglethorpe founded Georgia. The city was named for the Savannah River, a local waterway. Oglethorpe carefully planned the city's streets by using a grid pattern with 24 park-like squares. Savannah has the distinction of being the first city in the state of Georgia.

There are numerous attractions in Savannah to increase cultural awareness and make Savannah the "Hostess City of the South". Savannah is home to a National Historic Landmark District of 2.5 square miles, and more than 1,100 architecturally significant buildings. The Victorian District is one of the nation's largest collections of that period's architecture.

Due to the national bestseller and movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the Mercer House on Monterey Square has become one of the most recognized homes. To appreciate Savannah's architectural heritage and style, there are a number of homes in the historic district, including the Green-Meldrim House and the Juliette Gordon Low family home, the founder of the Girl Scouts.

Savannah's African American history and culture are preserved by a number of historic places. The places include the King-Tisdell Cottage, the new Ralph Gilbert Civil Rights Museum and the First African Baptist Church.

The city of Savannah is also home to national parks and wildlife refuges. Blackbeard Island is one of the refuges people can visit. Fort Pulaski National Monument shows the remains of a fort bombarded with cannon fire from the Civil War. Skidaway Island Park and Wormsloe State Park are located in Savannah.

Savannah hosts the second largest St. Patrick's Day parade and celebration in the U.S.

Savannah was the point of origin for the first steamboat to sail across the Atlantic Ocean. The ship was named the S.S. Savannah.

Savannah is home to three state-managed institutions: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah State University, and Savannah Technical Institute. Also, Savannah College of Art and Design, a private institution, is located in the city.

Population (year 2000): 131,510. Estimated population in July 2005: 128,453 (-2.3% change)
Males: 62,039 (47.2%), Females: 69,471 (52.8%)

Chatham County

Zip codes: 31401, 31404, 31405, 31406, 31407, 31408, 31410, 31411, 31415, 31419.

Median resident age: 32.3 years
Median household income: $29,038 (year 2000)
Median house value: $78,500 (year 2000)

Races in Savannah:

Ancestries: Irish (5.9%), English (5.9%), German (5.2%), United States (5.1%), Scottish (1.9%), Subsaharan African (1.8%).

Elevation: 42 feet

Land area: 74.7 square miles

For population 25 years and over in Savannah

• High school or higher: 76.1%
• Bachelor's degree or higher: 20.2%
• Graduate or professional degree: 6.7%
• Unemployed: 8.2%
• Mean travel time to work: 21.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Savannah city

• Never married: 35.6%
• Now married: 40.2%
• Separated: 3.5%
• Widowed: 8.8%
• Divorced: 11.9%

3.9% Foreign born (1.3% Asia, 1.3% Latin America, 0.8% Europe).

Population change in the 1990s: -6,490 (-4.7%).

Demographic - Economy - Finance