Savannah is a city and the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1733 along the Savannah River, it is the oldest city in Georgia. It was the capital of the colonial Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Savannah was an important port city during the American Revolution and the American Civil War. Today, it is an industrial center and a major Atlantic seaport. It is the most populous city in the Coastal Georgia region and the fifth-most populous city in Georgia. The 2020 census reported a population of 147,780, and it is estimated to have 148,808 people in 2024. The Savannah metropolitan area, which includes about 438,000 residents in 2025, is the third-largest metro area in Georgia.

Savannah draws millions of visitors each year to its cobblestone streets, parks, and historic buildings. These include the birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the Girl Scouts of the USA; the Georgia Historical Society, the oldest continually operating historical society in the South; 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 the United States; and the Central of Georgia Railway roundhouse complex, the oldest standing antebellum rail facility in the United States, now a museum and visitor center.

Savannah’s downtown area, which includes the Savannah Historic District, its 22 parklike squares, and the Savannah Victorian Historic District, is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States. It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1966. Downtown Savannah mostly keeps the original town plan designed by founder James Oglethorpe, known as the Oglethorpe Plan.

During the 1996 Summer Olympics hosted by Atlanta, Savannah held sailing competitions in the nearby Wassaw Sound.

History

On February 12, 1733, General James Oglethorpe and settlers from the ship Anne arrived at Yamacraw Bluff. They were welcomed by Tomochichi, the Yamacraw people, and Indian traders John and Mary Musgrove. Mary Musgrove often worked as an interpreter. The city of Savannah and the colony of Georgia were established on that date. In 1751, Savannah and the rest of Georgia became a Royal Colony, with Savannah as its capital.

By the time the American Revolutionary War began, Savannah had become the southernmost port used for trade in the Thirteen Colonies. British soldiers captured the city in 1778. The next year, a group of American and French soldiers, including Haitians, tried to drive the British out during the Siege of Savannah but failed. The British remained in the city until July 1782. In December 1804, the state legislature chose Milledgeville as Georgia’s new capital.

Savannah was a busy seaport throughout the 1800s. During the Civil War, it was the sixth most populous city in the Confederacy and the main goal of Major General William T. Sherman’s March to the Sea. On December 21, 1864, local leaders arranged a peaceful surrender to protect Savannah from destruction. Union soldiers entered the city early in the morning.

The city was named after the Savannah River. The river’s name likely comes from different names used for the Shawnee, a Native American group that moved to the river in the 1680s. The Shawnee drove out another Native group, the Westo, and took their lands near the head of the Savannah River’s navigation on the fall line, close to present-day Augusta, Georgia. The Shawnee’s Native name was Ša·wano·ki, meaning "southerners." They were also called Shawano, Savano, Savana, and Savannah. Another idea is that the name refers to the large marshlands around the river, which might come from the English word "savanna," borrowed from Spanish "sabana," which originated from the Taino word "zabana." Some theories also suggest the name might come from Algonquian words meaning "southerners" or "salt."

Geography

Savannah is located on the Savannah River, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) inland from the Atlantic Ocean. According to the United States Census Bureau (2011), the city covers a total area of 108.7 square miles (281.5 square kilometers), with 103.1 square miles (267.0 square kilometers) being land and 5.6 square miles (15 square kilometers) being water (5.15%). Savannah is the main port on the Savannah River and the largest port in Georgia. It is also near the U.S. Intracoastal Waterway. Georgia’s Ogeechee River flows toward the Atlantic Ocean about 16 miles (26 kilometers) south of downtown Savannah and forms the southern boundary of the city.

Savannah is often affected by flooding because of heavy rainfall, its position just above sea level, and the shape of the coastline, which increases the risk of flooding during hurricanes. The city uses five canals and several pumping stations to help reduce the effects of sudden flooding.

Savannah has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa), which is common in the Deep South. This climate is marked by long, warm summers and short, mild winters. The city rarely experiences freezing temperatures, and snow is uncommon. Because of its location near the Atlantic Ocean, Savannah’s temperatures are generally less extreme than those in inland Georgia. The highest temperature recorded was 105°F (41°C) on July 20, 1986, and July 12, 1879. The lowest temperature was 3°F (−16°C) during the January 1985 Arctic outbreak.

Savannah’s summers are hot and humid, with frequent but short thunderstorms. About half of the city’s yearly rainfall occurs between June and September. Summer dewpoints range from 67.8 to 71.6°F (20 to 22°C). Winters are mild and sunny, with average high temperatures of 61.4°F (16°C) in January. November and December are the driest months at Savannah–Hilton Head International Airport. On average, the city has 21 days each year with temperatures below freezing, though some winters have fewer than 10 such days. The city went an entire winter season (1879–80) without recording a freeze. Snow is rare, but in December 1989, up to 3.9 inches (9.9 centimeters) of snow fell in parts of the city.

Savannah is at risk for hurricanes, especially Cape Verde-type storms that occur during the peak of the hurricane season. Its location in the Georgia Bight (a curved section of the Atlantic coastline in Georgia and northern Florida) and the tendency for hurricanes to move up the coast mean Savannah has a lower hurricane risk than some other coastal cities, such as Charleston, South Carolina. During the 20th century, Savannah was rarely affected by hurricanes. Hurricane David in August 1979 is a notable exception. However, historical records show the city was frequently hit by hurricanes in the second half of the 19th century. The most severe was the 1893 Sea Islands hurricane, which caused at least 2,000 deaths (this number may be low, as many deaths among poor African Americans on Georgia’s barrier islands may not have been recorded).

Savannah was recently affected by the 2016 hurricane season, including Hurricane Matthew, which made a partial eyewall landfall, and Hurricane Irma in 2017. In 2024, the city experienced impacts from Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Helene.

The first weather observations in Savannah likely began at Oglethorpe Barracks around 1827 and continued until 1850, then again starting in 1866. The Signal Service began observations in 1874, and the National Weather Service has recorded data continuously since then. Since 1948, Savannah–Hilton Head International Airport has served as the city’s official meteorological station. Annual weather records from the airport dating back to 1950 are available online.

Savannah has many diverse neighborhoods. More than 100 distinct neighborhoods can be found in six main areas of the city: Downtown (Landmark Historic District and Victorian District), Midtown, Southside, Eastside, Westside, and Southwest/West Chatham (recently annexed suburban areas).

In addition to the Savannah Historic District, one of the nation’s largest, five other historic districts have been officially recognized:

• Savannah Victorian Historic District
• Cuyler–Brownville Historic District
• Thomas Square Historic District
• Pin Point Historic District
• Ardsley Park–Chatham Crescent Historic District

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Savannah's official 2020 population was 147,780, which increased from the official 2010 count of 136,286 residents. The U.S. Census Bureau's official 2020 population of the Savannah metropolitan area—defined as Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham counties—was 404,798, which rose by 16.45% from the 2010 census population of 347,611. Savannah is also the largest principal city of the Savannah–Hinesville–Statesboro combined statistical area. This larger trading area includes the Savannah and Hinesville metropolitan statistical areas as well as the Statesboro and Jesup micropolitan statistical areas. The official 2020 population of this area was 608,239, which increased from 525,844 at the 2010 census.

In 2010, there were 51,375 households. Of these, 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. Among these households, 31.4% consisted 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. As of 2010, 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, while females had a median income of $22,309. 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. By the 2022 American Community Survey, the median household income was $53,258, with a per capita income of $31,006.

In 2010, the racial and ethnic makeup of the city was 55.04% Black, 38.03% White, 2.00% Asian, 0.03% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.07% of the population. Non-Hispanic whites were 32.6% of the population in 2010, compared to 46.2% in 1990. In 2020, the city's makeup was 48.62% Black or African American, 36.60% non-Hispanic white, 0.21% Native American, 3.80% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.47% some other race, 3.53% multiracial, and 6.62% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The total number of violent crimes in the Savannah-Chatham County reporting area was 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 thefts from parked automobiles. During the same year, statistics show a 29% 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% from 2008.

In 2009, 11,782 crimes were reported to metro police—753 fewer than in 2008. Within 2009, there was a 12.2% decrease in violent crimes compared with 2008. Property crimes saw a 5.3% decline, which included a 5.2% reduction in residential burglary. In 2008, residential burglary was up by almost 40%. 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%. In 2008, metro police achieved a 90% clearance rate for homicide cases, described as exceptional by violent crime unit supervisors. In 2009, the department had a clearance rate of 53%, which police attributed to outstanding warrants and grand jury presentations.

The SCMPD provides the public with up-to-date crime report information through an online mapping service. The year of 2015 saw a dramatic increase in the number of violent crimes, including at least 54 deaths due to gun violence, a number not seen since the early 1990s. The first quarter of 2018 saw crime trending downward, compared to 2017.

Before British colonization of the Americas and the founding of colonial Georgia, the coastal region's indigenous inhabitants practiced Native American religions. Since colonization, the city of Savannah and the surrounding area have remained predominantly Christian. However, a Jewish community has lived in Savannah since the colony's first year. Later, Gullah-Geechee culture and Hoodoo practices were also observed, often alongside Christianity.

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. Christ Church continues as an active congregation located on its original site

Economy

Agriculture played a key role in Savannah's economy during its first two hundred years. Silk and indigo, both popular in England, were early goods exported from the area. By 1767, nearly one ton of silk was sent to England each year. Georgia's mild climate created ideal conditions for growing cotton, which became the main product after the American Revolution. Cotton production under the plantation system and its transport through Savannah's port helped European immigrants in the city gain wealth.

By the nineteenth century, Savannah's port became one of the busiest in the United States. In the country's early years, goods made in the New World had to pass through Atlantic ports like Savannah before being sent to England. Over time, Savannah's port became North America's fourth-largest for moving containers. In 2023, the port handled 4.9 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEU).

Savannah's first hotel, the City Hotel, was built in 1821. It also had the city's first United States Post Office branch. Between 1912 and 1968, the Savannah Machine & Foundry Company built ships in Savannah.

For many years, Savannah was home to Union Camp, which operated the world's largest paper mill. The mill is now owned by International Paper and remains one of Savannah's largest employers. The city is also home to Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, which makes private jets, and other major industries. TitleMax, a company that provides short-term loans, is based in Savannah. Morris Multimedia, a newspaper and television company, is also located there.

In 2000, JCB, the third-largest maker of construction equipment worldwide and a top producer of backhoes and telescopic handlers, built its North American headquarters near Savannah in Pooler, close to I-95 and Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. By 2023, Naturals2Go moved its operations to Savannah. Amazon has operated in Savannah and its surrounding area since 2021.

The Georgia Department of Corrections manages the Coastal State Prison in Savannah.

Arts and culture

Savannah is known for its large, historically restored area, which is one of the nation's biggest. It also has a growing performing arts scene and hosts cultural events all year.

• The Savannah Book Festival is an annual event held during Presidents' Day weekend near Telfair and Wright squares. It includes free talks by over 35 authors and special events with famous writers throughout the year.
• The Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home is a museum in Savannah that honors the life and work of the famous writer Flannery O'Connor, who was born and lived in the city until age 15. The museum also hosts literary events, such as the annual Ursrey Lecture for American fiction writers.
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is a non-fiction book by John Berendt, published in 1994 and set in Savannah's historic downtown. It was later turned into a movie directed by Clint Eastwood.
• Other well-known authors connected to Savannah include Conrad Aiken, Mary Kay Andrews, and James Alan McPherson. The songwriter Johnny Mercer was born in Savannah.
• Some works by Caitlín R. Kiernan are set in Savannah, such as In the Garden of Poisonous Flowers (novella, 2002) and Houndwife (short story, 2010).

• The Savannah Ballet Theatre was started in 1998 as a nonprofit group and has grown to be the city's largest dance company.
• The Coastal Jazz Association hosts jazz performances throughout the year and organizes the annual Savannah Jazz Festival.
• The Savannah Children's Choir is a nonprofit group for children in grades 2 through 8. They perform in the community and in annual holiday and spring concerts.
• The Savannah Concert Association brings guest artists for chamber music performances each season, usually held at the Lucas Theatre for the Arts.
• The Savannah Music Festival is Georgia's largest music event, featuring a variety of artists.
• The Savannah Orchestra is the city's professional orchestra, offering classical and popular concerts annually.
• The Savannah Philharmonic is a professional group that performs classical, pops, and educational concerts year-round.
• The Savannah Winds is an amateur concert band hosted by Georgia Southern University's music department.
• The Armstrong Youth Orchestra is a professional group for students in elementary, middle, high school, and some college levels.
• The Annual Haitian Flag Day is a festival celebrating art, music, and other activities.

• The American Traditions Vocal Competition is an annual event that aims to preserve traditional American music. It includes the Johnny Mercer Award.
• The Savannah Children's Theatre is a nonprofit group that offers drama and musical opportunities for students and adults.
• The Savannah Community Theatre produces a full season of diverse performances with local actors.
• The Little Theatre of Savannah, founded in 1950, is a nonprofit group that encourages community participation in theater arts.
• The Savannah Theatre is the city's only fully professional resident theater, performing music revues with live singers, dancers, and a band year-round.
• The Savannah Repertory Theatre is a nonprofit professional theater that has been part of Savannah's culture since 2016.
• The Lucas Theatre for the Arts, opened in 1921, is owned by the Savannah College of Art and Design and hosts the annual Savannah Film Festival.
• The Trustees Theater, once called the Weis Theater, opened in 1946 and was renamed in 1998. It hosts performances and concerts sponsored by the Savannah College of Art and Design.
• Odd Lot Improv is a family-friendly comedy group that performs weekly shows on Mondays and Fridays.
• House of Gunt is an alternative drag group that holds monthly shows at Club One and other performances citywide.

• Art Rise Savannah, Inc. is a local nonprofit that helps increase access to the arts and supports artists in the city.

Savannah is famous for its architecture, history, and Southern charm. The city was once called the "Hostess City of the South," a nickname still used today. It was also known as "the Forest City" because of the many live oak trees in the area, which were important for shipbuilding in the 19th century. In 2019, Savannah welcomed 14.8 million visitors from around the world. The city's downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark districts in the United States.

Savannah's location gives visitors access to coastal islands and the Savannah Riverfront, popular tourist spots. Tybee Island, formerly named Savannah Beach, is a beach community with the historic Tybee Island Light Station, the first lighthouse on the southern Atlantic coast. Nearby towns include Thunderbolt, a shrimping village, and Beaulieu, Vernonburg, and the Isle of Hope, which were once summer resorts.

The Savannah Convention Center is on Hutchinson Island, across from downtown. The Savannah Belles Ferry and the Talmadge Memorial Bridge connect the island to the mainland.

The Georgia Historical Society is an independent research group with a library and archives in Savannah that holds the oldest materials about Georgia's history.

The Savannah Civic Center on Montgomery Street hosts over 900 events each year.

Savannah has been named one of "America's Favorite Cities" by Travel + Leisure. In 2012, the magazine ranked Savannah highest for "Quality of Life and Visitor Experience" and first for "Public Parks and Outdoor Access." It was also named the second-best city for "Cool Buildings and Architecture," after Chicago.

Jones Street, a mile-long street in Savannah's Historic District, is known as one of the most charming streets in the United States.

Savannah is famous for its 22 squares and small parks along five historic streets that run north to south. Each street has three to five squares, which vary in size and style. The largest square, Johnson Square, has fountains and monuments, while the smallest, Crawford Square, has playgrounds. Elbert, Ellis, and Liberty Squares were destroyed during urban development in the 1950s. Elbert and Liberty Squares were paved over to make room for a highway, and Ellis Square was also lost.

Sports

Parts of the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile (5,000-kilometer) trail system that stretches from Maine to Florida, pass through Savannah.

Government

In 1954, Savannah chose a council-manager system for its government. The city council includes a mayor and eight aldermen. Six of the aldermen are elected by voters in one of six districts, with each district choosing one member. The mayor and the other two aldermen are elected citywide by all voters.

The council is responsible for collecting taxes, creating rules, approving the yearly budget, and selecting the city manager. The city manager carries out the council’s decisions, suggests a yearly budget and work plans, hires leaders for city departments, and oversees all city employees.

Derek Mallow (D) and Ben Watson (R) represent Savannah in the Georgia State Senate. Carl Gilliard (D), Anne Allen Westbrook (D), Ron Stephens (R), Edna Jackson (D), and Jesse Petrea (R) represent the area in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Education

Savannah has four colleges and universities that offer bachelor's, master's, and professional or doctoral degree programs: Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah State University, and South University. Georgia Tech Savannah provides certificate programs, and Georgia Southern University has a satellite campus in the downtown area. Savannah Technical College, a two-year institution in the city, and the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, a marine science research institute of the University of Georgia located on the northern end of Skidaway Island, also offer educational programs. Savannah is also home to Ralston College, an unaccredited liberal arts college founded in 2010.

Mercer University started a four-year doctor of medicine program at Memorial University Medical Center in August 2008. Mercer, which has its main campus in Macon, received extra state funding in 2007 to expand its partnership with Memorial by creating a four-year medical school in Savannah (the first in southern Georgia). Since 1996, third- and fourth-year Mercer students have completed two-year clinical rotations at Memorial. About 100 residents are trained yearly in several medical practices. The expanded program opened in August 2008 with 30 first-year students.

Savannah Law School, which opened in 2012 in the historic Candler building on Forsyth Park, stopped operating in 2018.

Savannah is also home to most of the schools in the Chatham County school district, the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools. Notable secondary schools in Savannah-Chatham County include:
– Beach High School
– Benedictine Military School
– Calvary Day School
– Groves High School
– Islands High School
– Jenkins High School
– Johnson High School
– New Hampstead High School
– Saint Andrew's School
– St. Vincent's Academy
– Savannah Arts Academy
– Savannah Christian Preparatory School
– Savannah Country Day School
– Savannah High School
– Windsor Forest High School

The Oatland Island Wildlife Center in Savannah is part of the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools. As an environmental education center, it teaches thousands of students across the Southeastern United States. Located east of Savannah on a marsh island, it has a 2-mile (3.2 km) Native Animal Nature Trail that passes through maritime forests, salt marshes, and freshwater wetlands. Along the trail, visitors can see native animals such as Florida panthers, Eastern timber wolves, and alligators in their natural habitat.

Media

Savannah has several major television stations. These include WSAV-TV, channel 3 (NBC, with The CW Plus and MyNetworkTV on digital subchannel 2); WTOC-TV, channel 11 (CBS); WJCL, channel 22 (ABC); and WTGS, channel 28 (Fox). Two PBS stations serve the city: WVAN (channel 9), which is part of Georgia Public Broadcasting; and WJWJ-TV (channel 16), which is part of SCETV.

The Georgia Gazette was the first newspaper published in Savannah, beginning on April 7, 1763. Today, the Savannah Morning News is the only daily newspaper remaining in Savannah. It first appeared on January 15, 1850, as the Daily Morning News. The Savannah Tribune and the Savannah Herald are weekly newspapers that focus on news related to Savannah’s African-American community. Connect Savannah was a free weekly newspaper that covered local news, culture, and music. It stopped publishing in 2024. The Coastal Buzz is the only media company in the metro area dedicated to “positive news.” It is owned and operated by Positive Life Media.

Infrastructure

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is located off Interstate 95, west of Savannah.

Amtrak operates a passenger terminal in Savannah for its Palmetto and Silver Service trains. These trains travel between New York City and Miami. Two southbound and three northbound trains stop daily at the Savannah terminal.

Public transportation in the region is managed by Chatham Area Transit (CAT). There are 17 fixed bus routes, plus the CAT's dot (downtown transportation) system. This system offers free bus service on the Forsyth Loop and Downtown Loop. It also provides free passage between River Street and Hutchinson Island via the Savannah Belles Ferry. The Georgia Queen and Savannah River Queen paddle steamers are also located on River Street.

The Georgia Hi-Lo Trail, which is 211 miles (340 km) long, was established in 2024. When completed, it will connect Savannah to Athens, Georgia.

• Interstate 95 — Runs north-south just west of the city. It provides access to Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport and intersects with Interstate 16, which leads into the city’s center.
• Interstate 16 — Ends in downtown Savannah at Liberty and Montgomery streets. It intersects with Interstate 95 and Interstate 516.
• Interstate 516 — A highway that connects southside Savannah, near DeRenne Avenue, with the city’s industrial port area to the north. It intersects with the Veterans Parkway and Interstate 16. It is also known as Lynes Parkway.
• U.S. Route 80 (Victory Drive) — Runs east-west through midtown Savannah. It connects the city to Thunderbolt and the islands of Whitemarsh, Talahi, Wilmington, and Tybee. It merges with the Islands Expressway and is the only road that allows automobile travel to the Atlantic Ocean.
• U.S. Route 17 (Ocean Highway) — Runs north-south from Richmond Hill through southside Savannah to Garden City. It continues west into Savannah, connects to Interstate 516, then Interstate 16, and crosses the Talmadge Memorial Bridge into South Carolina.
• Harry S. Truman Parkway — Runs through eastside Savannah, connecting the east end of downtown with southside neighborhoods. Construction began in 1990, and the final section, which connects to Abercorn Street, opened in 2014.
• Veterans Parkway — Links Interstate 516 and southside/midtown Savannah. It is designed to move traffic quickly north-south, avoiding busy Abercorn Street. It is also known as the Southwest Bypass.
• Islands Expressway — An extension of President Street that helps move traffic between downtown Savannah, the barrier islands, and Tybee Island beaches.

In 2003, Savannah and Chatham County voted to merge their city and county police departments. The Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department was created on January 1, 2005, after the Savannah Police Department and Chatham County Police Department merged.

In February 2018, the city and county governments ended the police department merger. This restored the Savannah Police Department and Chatham County Police Department as separate agencies. Both departments have 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 emergency calls for the city and county, including fire and EMS. The Savannah Fire Department serves the City of Savannah, and other areas in Chatham County have separate municipal fire departments.

Sister cities

Savannah has sister cities in different countries. These cities are:

• Batumi, Georgia
• Halle, Germany
• Jiujiang, China
• Kaya, Burkina Faso
• Patras, Greece /think