Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County. Savannah was established in 1733 and was the first colonial and state capital of Georgia. Hip and historic, robust and refined, Savannah is where you'll find amazing architecture, spooky cemeteries and rich history�along with global sophistication, funky nightlife and fabulous food. It's where history resonates into the present day, and where memories are still being made.






It is known as America's first planned city and 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 black 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).






Today, Savannah's downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States. This 2.5-mile district, which runs from River Street to Forsyth Park, features plenty of quaint shops, charming boutiques and world-class restaurants nestled beneath a canopy of live oak trees. Georgia�s First City also features stunning examples of Federal, Italianate, Georgian and Victorian architecture.






The Historic District�s 22 squares, which formed a vital part of General James Edward Oglethorpe�s original city plan when he founded Savannah, serve as the heart and soul of downtown Savannah and have been widely praised for their beauty.






Located just 20 minutes east of downtown Savannah, Tybee Island, known as Savannah's Beach, feels worlds away. This quaint beachfront community has been known as �Savannah�s Beach� for decades, attracting beachgoers in search of sea, sand and sanctuary. With spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean and five miles of public beaches, Tybee Island is the ideal place to dig your toes in the sand, catch a wave, watch pelicans soar overhead, and Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin frolic just offshore.






Savannah's population was estimated to be 127,889 in 2006. The median income for a household in the city was $29,038, and the median income for a family was $36,410.



Savannah is home to most of the schools in the Chatham County public school system. The city is the home of four colleges and universities offering bachelor's, master's and professional doctorate degree programs: Armstrong Atlantic State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah State University, and South University. Bachelor�s, Master�s and Ph.D. programs in engineering are also offered through Georgia Tech Savannah, the Savannah campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology. Georgia Southern University maintains a satellite campus in the downtown area. Savannah Technical College, a public, 2-year institution of technical and adult education also operates in the city.



Due to its close proximity to the coast, Savannah experiences milder winters and cooler summers than the Georgia interior. The Savannah region's mild climate offered perfect conditions for growing cotton, which became the dominant commodity after the American Revolution. Its production (under the plantation system) helped the city's European immigrants to achieve wealth and prosperity.



It is the primary port on the Savannah River and is located along the U.S. Intracoastal Waterway. The Port of Savannah was one of the most frequented in the United States and Savannah's inhabitants 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 U.S. history, goods produced in the New World had to pass through ports such as Savannah's before they could be shipped to England.



Agriculture was the background of Savannah's economy in 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.



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 famous Gulfstream Aerospace company, maker of private jets, as well as various other large industrial interests.



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 Savannah on I-95 near the airport.



Rich with history and alive with contemporary culture and arts, Savannah offers the unique experience of a complex past, a thriving present, and a progressive future. Come home to Savannah!