96-515: The Macon City Auditorium is a historic structure in Macon, Georgia , United States , that has hosted performances, meetings, and events for the community since 1925. It was designed by New York architect Egerton Swartwout . It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Municipal Auditorium in 1971. Located nearly across the street from Macon's historic City Hall , the auditorium
192-596: A property in Georgia on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a building or structure in the U.S. state of Georgia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Macon, Georgia Macon ( / ˈ m eɪ k ən / MAY -kən ), officially Macon–Bibb County , is a consolidated city-county in Georgia , United States. Situated near
288-528: A balcony with fixed seating for 988. Over the stage, a Don Carlos Dubois and Wilbur Kurtz mural contains scenes from Macon area history from the Spanish explorations of Hernando de Soto to the early twentieth century. Though it is significantly older than, and geographically separate from, the other building in the complex, the auditorium is maintained as part of the Macon Centreplex , which also includes
384-460: 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,
480-616: A higher concern in the city. In 2022, Macon set a homicide record with 70 homicides. In 2023, Macon had the highest crime rate in Georgia. Macon had a crime rate of 52.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. Gang activity is a major reason for the crime problem in Macon. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation expanded its Gang Task Force Office to Macon in 2023. As of 2024, crime has reduced in Macon compared to 2022 and 2023. The aerospace, advanced manufacturing, food processing, healthcare, professional services, and warehouse and distribution industries drive
576-570: A nine-member county commission elected by districts and (ii) a portion of Macon extending into nearby Jones County was disincorporated. Robert Reichert was elected the first mayor of Macon-Bibb in the September 2013 election, which required a runoff with C. Jack Ellis in October. The Ocmulgee River is a major river that runs through the city. Macon is one of Georgia's three major Fall Line Cities , along with Augusta and Columbus . The Fall Line
672-475: A referendum to merge the governments of the city of Macon and most of unincorporated Bibb County. The vote came after the Georgia General Assembly passed House Bill 1171, authorizing the referendum earlier in the year; Four previous consolidation attempts (in 1933, 1960, 1972, and 1976) failed. As a result of the referendum, (i) the Macon and Bibb County governments were replaced with a mayor and
768-759: A state transportation hub. In 1895, the New York Times dubbed Macon "The Central City" because of is emergence as a railroad transportation and textile factory hub. Terminal Station was built in 1916. In the twentieth century, Macon grew into a prospering town in Middle Georgia. Macon has been impacted by natural catastrophes. In 1994 Tropical Storm Alberto made landfall in Florida and flooded several Georgia cities. Macon, which received 24 inches (61 cm) of rain, suffered major flooding. On May 11, 2008 , an EF2 tornado hit Macon. Touching down in nearby Lizella,
864-572: 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 achieve wealth and prosperity. By the nineteenth century, the Port of Savannah had become one of
960-428: A women's school, has basketball, soccer , cross country , tennis, softball , and volleyball teams. The city maintains several parks and community centers. U.S. Senator Augustus Bacon , of Georgia, in his 1911 will, devised land in Macon in trust, to be used as a public park for the exclusive benefit of white people. The park, known as Baconsfield, was operated in that manner for many years. In Evans v. Newton ,
1056-523: Is 10 miles south of Macon on Highway 247, just east of Warner Robins . Macon has been home for numerous musicians and composers, including Emmett Miller , The Allman Brothers Band , Randy Crawford , Mark Heard , Lucille Hegamin , Ben Johnston , Otis Redding , Little Richard , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry of R.E.M. , as well as more recent artists like violinist Robert McDuffie and country artist Jason Aldean . Capricorn Records , run by Macon natives Phil Walden and briefly Alan Walden, made
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#17328514322881152-523: Is approximately 330 feet (100 m) above sea level. Macon has a humid subtropical climate ( Köppen climate classification Cfa ). The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 46.3 °F (7.9 °C) in January to 81.8 °F (27.7 °C) in July. On average, there are 4.8 days with 100 °F (38 °C)+ highs, 83 days with 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs, and 43 days with a low at or below freezing;
1248-656: Is classified as humid subtropical ( Köppen Cfa ). Throughout the Deep South, this is characterized by long and almost tropical summers and short, mild winters. Savannah records only a few days of freezing temperatures each year, and snowfall is rare. Due to its proximity to the Atlantic coast, Savannah rarely experiences temperatures as extreme as those in Georgia's interior. Nevertheless, the extreme temperatures have officially ranged from 105 °F (41 °C), on July 20, 1986, and July 12, 1879, down to 3 °F (−16 °C) during
1344-674: 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 not only "southerners" but perhaps also "salt". Savannah lies on the Savannah River, approximately 20 mi (32 km) upriver from
1440-481: Is designed in a similar Classical style, surrounded on three sides by limestone Doric columns . The building is capped by a copper dome , claimed by many locals to be the largest in the world, though verifying the fact has proved difficult. Below the dome, the Great Hall seats 2,688 total, split between the 14,000-square-foot (1,300 m) floor (typically configured with folding chairs and tables for various uses) and
1536-554: Is the largest principal city in the Macon-Warner Robins-Fort Valley CSA , a combined statistical area that includes the Macon metropolitan area (Bibb, Crawford , Jones, Monroe , and Twiggs counties) and the Warner Robins metropolitan area ( Houston , Peach , and Pulaski counties) with a combined population of 411,898 in the 2010 census . As of the official 2010 U.S. census , the population of Macon
1632-475: Is the main location of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil . Opulent buildings that succumbed to fire include the mansions at Bonaventure Plantation and Greenwich Plantation . Colonial Park Cemetery was the city's principal burial ground for much of the eighteenth century when Georgia was a British colony. Laurel Grove Cemetery , with the graves of many Confederate soldiers and enslaved African Americans,
1728-459: Is where the hilly lands of the Piedmont plateau meet the flat terrain of the coastal plain . As such, Macon has a varied landscape of rolling hills on the north side and flat plains on the south. The fall line , where the altitude drops noticeably, causes rivers and creeks in the area to flow rapidly toward the ocean. In the past, Macon and other Fall Line cities had many textile mills powered by
1824-519: The American Revolution and during the American Civil War , Savannah is today an industrial center and an important Atlantic seaport. It is Georgia's fifth most populous city, with a 2020 U.S. census population of 147,780. The Savannah metropolitan area , Georgia's third-largest , had a 2020 population of 404,798. Savannah attracts millions of visitors each year to its cobblestone streets, parks, and notable historic buildings. These include
1920-508: The Atlanta metropolitan area to the northwest. Voters approved the consolidation of the City of Macon and Bibb County governments in a 2012 referendum. Macon became the state's fourth-largest city (after Augusta ) when the merger became official on January 1, 2014. Macon is served by three interstate highways : I-16 (connecting to Savannah and coastal Georgia), I-75 (connecting to Atlanta to
2016-567: The Atrium Health Navicent and Piedmont Healthcare Macon hospital systems, two of the city's largest employers, making Macon the healthcare hub for the Middle and South Georgia regions. The 2010 Census listed Macon's median household income as $ 28,366, below the state average of $ 49,347. The median family income was $ 37,268. Full-time working males had a median income of $ 34,163, higher than the $ 28,082 for females. The city's per capita income
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#17328514322882112-530: The Coastal State Prison in Savannah. Beyond its architectural significance as the nation's largest, historically restored urban area, Savannah has a rich and growing performing arts scene and offers cultural events throughout the year. Savannah's architecture, history, and reputation for Southern charm and hospitality are internationally known. The city's former promotional name was the "Hostess City of
2208-617: The Federal Road , linking Washington, D.C., to the ports of Mobile, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana . Used for trading with the Creek, the fort also was used by state militia and federal troops. It was a major military distribution point during the War of 1812 and the Creek War of 1813. After the wars, it was a trading post and garrisoned troops until 1821. Decommissioned around 1828, it later burned to
2304-792: The Gulfstream Aerospace company, maker of private jets, and various other significant industrial interests. TitleMax is headquartered in Savannah. Morris Multimedia , a newspaper and television company 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 near Savannah in Pooler on I-95 near Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport . By 2023, Naturals2Go relocated to Savannah, and Amazon has operated throughout Savannah and its metropolitan area since 2021. The Georgia Department of Corrections operates
2400-565: 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 Savannah Belles Ferry connects the island with the mainland, as does the Talmadge Memorial Bridge . The Georgia Historical Society is an independent educational and research institution with a research center in Savannah. The center's library and archives hold
2496-602: The January 1985 Arctic outbreak . Seasonally, Savannah tends to have hot and humid summers with frequent (but brief) thunderstorms that develop in the warm and tropical air masses, which are common. Although summers in Savannah are frequently sunny, half of Savannah's annual precipitation falls from June through September. Average dewpoints in summer range from 67.8 to 71.6 °F (20 to 22 °C). Winters in Savannah are mild and sunny with average daily high temperatures of 61.4 °F (16 °C) in January. November and December are
2592-776: The Macon Coliseum . The latter two facilities comprise a single building on the east side of the Ocmulgee River , and for many in the general public, "the Centreplex" refers specifically to that property, while the downtown structure continues to be colloquially known simply as "the Auditorium". The Macon Coliseum has about 9,000 seats while the Macon City Auditorium has 2,688. [REDACTED] Media related to Macon City Auditorium at Wikimedia Commons This article about
2688-530: The Methodist evangelists John Wesley and George Whitefield . Christ Church continues as an active congregation located on its original site on Johnson Square. The Independent Presbyterian Church , which was founded in 1755, has represented the community's Presbyterian constituency. Other historically prominent churches have included: the First Bryan Baptist Church , an African American church that
2784-492: The National Weather Service has kept records of most data continually since then; since 1948, Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport has served as Savannah's official meteorological station. Annual records (dating back to 1950) from the airport's weather station are available on the web. Savannah is a city of diverse neighborhoods. More than 100 distinct neighborhoods can be identified in six principal areas of
2880-550: The Statesboro and Jesup micropolitan statistical areas. The official 2020 population of this area was 608,239, up from 525,844 at the 2010 census. In 2010, 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. Among them, 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.5% had someone living alone who
2976-516: The Supreme Court of the United States held that the park could not continue to be operated on a racially discriminatory basis. The Supreme Court of Georgia thereupon declared "that the sole purpose for which the trust was created has become impossible of accomplishment" and remanded the case to the trial court, which held cy-près doctrine to be inapplicable, since the park's segregated character
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3072-466: 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, whose Native name was Ša·wano·ki (literally, "southerners"), 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
3168-614: The Yamacraws , and Indian traders John and Mary Musgrove . Mary Musgrove often served as an interpreter. The city of Savannah and the colony of Georgia were founded on that date. In 1751, Savannah and the rest of Georgia became a Royal Colony , with Savannah as its capital. By the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War , Savannah had become the southernmost commercial port in the Thirteen Colonies . British troops took
3264-576: The fall line of the Ocmulgee River , it is 85 miles (137 km) southeast of Atlanta and near the state's geographic center—hence its nickname " The Heart of Georgia ". Macon's population was 157,346 in the 2020 census . It is the principal city of the Macon metropolitan statistical area , which had 234,802 people in 2020. It also is the largest city in the Macon–Warner Robins Combined Statistical Area (CSA), which had approximately 420,693 residents in 2017 and abuts
3360-474: 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
3456-612: The 1779 Siege of Savannah and for an independent America. One of the few black regiments to fight for the American side in the Revolutionary War, the soldiers were recruited from present-day Haiti , which was the French colony of Saint-Domingue until its independence in 1804. Chippewa Square honors the Battle of Chippawa during the War of 1812 . It features a large statue of James Oglethorpe ,
3552-500: The Atlantic Ocean some 16 miles (26 km) south of downtown Savannah and forms the southern city limit. Savannah is prone to flooding due to abundant rainfall, an elevation just above sea level, and the shape of the coastline, which poses a greater surge risk during hurricanes. The city currently uses five canals. In addition, several pumping stations have been built to help reduce the effects of flash flooding. Savannah's climate
3648-490: The Atlantic Ocean. According to the United States Census Bureau (2011), the city has a total area of 108.7 square miles (281.5 km ), of which 103.1 square miles (267.0 km ) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km ) is water (5.15%). Savannah is the primary 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
3744-759: The Baptist , the Episcopal St. John's Church , and Temple Mickve Israel (the third-oldest synagogue in the U.S.). According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the largest Christian group overall were Protestants within the Baptist tradition, served by the Southern Baptist Convention , National Baptist Convention , National Missionary Baptist Convention , and Progressive National Baptist Convention . Non-denominational Protestants represented
3840-550: The Fall, and as a romantic escape. Savannah was also named as America's second-best city for "Cool Buildings and Architecture", behind only Chicago . The mile-long Jones Street has been described as one of the most charming streets in America. Savannah is noted for its 22 squares and small parks along five historic streets running north to south. Each street has between three and five squares. The squares vary in size and character, from
3936-646: The Georgia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church chose Macon as the location for Wesleyan College , the first U.S. college to grant women college degrees. Nonetheless, Macon came in last in the 1855 referendum voting to be Georgia's capital city with 3,802 votes. During the American Civil War , Macon served as the official arsenal of the Confederacy manufacturing percussion caps , friction primers , and pressed bullets . Camp Oglethorpe
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4032-639: The Ohio River for more than 20 years, had lived among the Creek , and was married to a Creek woman. Located at the fall line of the Ocmulgee River , the fort established a trading post with Native peoples at the river's most inland point navigable from the Low Country . Fort Hawkins guarded the Lower Creek Pathway, an extensive and well-traveled American Indian network that the U.S. government later improved as
4128-562: The Savannah River, one mile east of Savannah's Historic District. Built between 1808 and 1812 to protect the city from attack by sea, it was one of several Confederate forts defending Savannah from Union forces during the Civil War . Fort Pulaski National Monument , located on Cockspur Island, 17 miles (27 km) east of Savannah, preserves the largest fort protecting the city during the war. The Union Army bombarded Fort Pulaski in April 1862 with
4224-554: The South", which the city government still uses. An earlier nickname was "the Forest City", in reference to the large population of live oak trees that flourish in the Savannah area. These trees were especially valuable in shipbuilding during the 19th century. In 2019, Savannah attracted 14.8 million tourists from across the country and around the world. Savannah's downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark districts in
4320-608: The U.S.), and the Central of Georgia Railway roundhouse complex (the oldest standing antebellum rail facility in the U.S. and 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 (designated by
4416-645: The United States. The city's location offers tourists 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
4512-426: The average window for freezing temperatures is November 7 thru March 22, allowing a growing season of 228 days. The city has an average annual precipitation of 45.7 inches (1,160 mm). The wettest day on record was July 5, 1994, with 10.25 inches (260 mm) of rain, and the wettest month on record was July 1994, with 18.16 inches (461 mm) of rain. On the other hand, since 1892, when precipitation records for
4608-512: The beneficial local Black Belt geology and the availability of slave labor , cotton became the mainstay of Macon's early economy. The city's location on the Ocmulgee River aided initial economic expansion, providing shipping access to new markets. Cotton steamboats , stagecoaches, and the 1843 arrival of the railroad increased marketing opportunities and contributed to Macon's economic prosperity. Macon's growth had other benefits. In 1836,
4704-840: The birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low (founder of 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
4800-420: The campus's trees were snapped or uprooted and several buildings were damaged, with the gymnasium suffering the worst. The tornado's intensity varied from EF0 to EF2, with the EF2 damage and winds up to 130 miles per hour (210 km/h) occurring near the intersection of Eisenhower Parkway and Pio Nono Avenue. On July 31, 2012, voters in Macon (57.8 percent approval) and Bibb County (56.7 percent approval) passed
4896-433: The city in 1778, and the following year, a combined force of American and French soldiers, including Haitians, failed to rout the British at the Siege of Savannah . The British did not leave the city until July 1782. In December 1804 the state legislature declared Milledgeville the new capital of Georgia. Savannah, a prosperous seaport throughout the nineteenth century, was the Confederacy's sixth most populous city and
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#17328514322884992-581: The city a Southern rock music production center in the late 1960s and 1970s. The Macon Symphony Orchestra, a youth symphony, and the Middle Georgia Concert Band perform at the Grand Opera House in downtown Macon . The Georgia Music Hall of Fame was located in Macon from 1996 to 2011. Macon is home to the Mercer Bears , with NCAA Division I teams in soccer (men's and women's), football , baseball , basketball (men's and women's), tennis , and lacrosse . Central Georgia Technical College competes in men's and women's basketball. Wesleyan College,
5088-419: The city began, there have been two months, October 1961 and October 1963, which did not even record a trace of precipitation in the city, and two other months, October 1939 and May 2007, which only recorded a trace. Snow is occasional, with about half of the winters receiving trace amounts or no snowfall, averaging 0.7 inches (1.8 cm); the snowiest winter was 1972−73 with 16.5 in (42 cm). Macon
5184-436: 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
5280-448: The city's economy in the 2000s. In recent years, the city has successfully landed numerous new employers to diversify the economy, such as Irving Consumer Products and Kuhmo Tire manufacturing plants, as well as multiple aerospace employers at the Middle Georgia Regional Airport , including an Embraer aircraft maintenance facility. The health care and social assistance sector is the largest industry in Macon by number of employees, with
5376-435: The city's founder. In popular culture, the square is the location of the park bench seen in the 1994 film Forrest Gump from which the title character dispenses wisdom to others waiting for a bus. Because both Calhoun Square (the official name until 2022) and Whitefield Square were named for prominent slaveholders, a movement was begun in 2021 to rename them Sankofa Square and Jubilee Square, respectively. Calhoun Square
5472-412: The city: Downtown (Landmark Historic District and Victorian District), Midtown, Southside, Eastside, Westside, and Southwest/West Chatham (recently annexed suburban neighborhoods). Besides the Savannah Historic District , one of the nation's largest, five other historic districts have been formally demarcated: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Savannah's official 2020 population was 147,780, up from
5568-413: The consolidated Macon-Bibb County in October 2013. There are also 9 County Commissioners elected from districts within the county. On March 15, 2019, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged the former County Manager, Dale M. Walker, with fraud. Bibb County Public School District operates district public schools. Public high schools include: Georgia Academy for the Blind , operated by
5664-488: The driest months recorded at Savannah–Hilton Head International Airport. Each year, Savannah reports 21 days on average with low temperatures below freezing, though in some years, fewer than 10 nights will fall below freezing, and the city has even gone an entire winter season (1879–80) without recording a freeze. Although decades might pass between snowfall events, Savannah has experienced snow on rare occasions, most notably in December 1989 , when up to 3.9 inches (9.9 cm)
5760-406: The economy in Macon-Bibb County. Long-standing large private employers include Mercer University , GEICO 's Southeast Corporate Headquarters, YKK USA, and Norfolk Southern Railway 's Brosnan Yard. The decline of the textile industry in the South, along with the shuttering of other large manufacturing operations, such as the closing of the Brown and Williamson plant in 2006, caused a decline in
5856-430: The federal government in 1966). Downtown Savannah largely retains the founder James Oglethorpe 's original town plan, a design known as the Oglethorpe Plan . During the 1996 Summer Olympics hosted by Atlanta , Savannah held sailing competitions in the nearby Wassaw Sound . On February 12, 1733, General James Oglethorpe and settlers from the ship Anne landed at Yamacraw Bluff and were greeted by Tomochichi ,
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#17328514322885952-463: 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. Route 17, while Ellis Square was demolished to build the City Market parking garage. The city restored Ellis Square after razing
6048-403: The ground. A replica of the southeast blockhouse was built in 1938 and stands on an east Macon hill. Fort Hawkins Grammar School occupied part of the site. In the 21st century, archeological excavations have revealed more of the fort, increasing its historical significance, and led to further reconstruction planning for this major historical site. With the arrival of more settlers, Fort Hawkins
6144-433: The most active in the United States. In the United States' early years, goods produced in the New World had to pass through Atlantic ports such as Savannah's before they could be shipped to England. The Port of Savannah grew to become North America's fourth-largest port for shipping container traffic. In 2023, the port handled 4.9 million twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEU). Savannah's first hotel, City Hotel ,
6240-470: The nearby state capital of Milledgeville , and Maconites prepared for an attack. Sherman, however, passed by without entering Macon. The Macon Telegraph reported the city had furnished 23 companies of men for the Confederacy, but casualties were high. By war end, Maconite survivors fit for duty could fill only five companies. The city was taken by Union forces during Wilson's Raid on April 20, 1865. Because of its central location, Macon developed as
6336-436: The north and Valdosta to the south), and I-475 (a city bypass highway). The area has two small general aviation airports, Middle Georgia Regional Airport and Herbert Smart Downtown Airport . Residents traveling to and from the area mainly use the large commercial airport in Atlanta , approximately 80 miles to the northwest. The city has several institutions of higher education and numerous museums and tourism sites. Macon
6432-469: 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, up 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
6528-421: The oldest materials related to Georgia's history. The Savannah Civic Center on Montgomery Street hosts more than nine hundred events annually. Savannah has consistently been named one of "America's Favorite Cities" by Travel + Leisure . In 2012, the magazine rated Savannah highest in "Quality of Life and Visitor Experience". Savannah was also ranked first for "Public Parks and Outdoor Access", visiting in
6624-411: The parking garage. The garage was rebuilt as an underground facility, the Whitaker Street Parking Garage, and opened in January 2009. The restored Ellis Square opened in March 2010. Separate efforts are now underway to revive Elbert and Liberty Squares. Franklin Square is the site of Savannah's Haitian Monument, which commemorates the heroic efforts of the Chasseurs-Volontaires de Saint-Domingue in
6720-490: The population. Non-Hispanic whites were 32.6% of the population in 2010, compared to 46.2% in 1990. In 2020, its 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 ran just above 1,000 per year from 2003 through 2006. In 2007, however,
6816-455: The population. By the 2020 census, its population increased to 157,346. There were 38,444 households, out of which 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.0% were married couples living together, 25.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
6912-542: The prime objective of General William T. Sherman 's March to the Sea . On December 21, 1864, local authorities negotiated a peaceful surrender to save Savannah from destruction, and Union troops marched into the city at dawn. Savannah was named after 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,
7008-402: The rivers. Macon is located at 32°50′05″N 83°39′06″W / 32.834839°N 83.651672°W / 32.834839; -83.651672 (32.834839, −83.651672). According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 56.3 square miles (146 km ), of which 55.8 square miles (145 km ) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km ) (0.82%) is water. Macon
7104-643: The second-largest Christian group, including the Christian churches and Churches of Christ . Methodists were the third-largest, spread among the United Methodist Church and African Methodist Episcopal Church . The single second-largest Christian denomination was the Roman Catholic Church , served by the Diocese of Savannah . Among Savannah's non-Christian population, which forms a minority, Hinduism
7200-608: The state of Georgia, is a statewide school for blind students. Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( / s ə ˈ v æ n ə / sə- VAN -ə ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia and the county seat of Chatham County . Established in 1733 on the Savannah River , the city of Savannah became the British colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. A strategic port city in
7296-660: The tornado moved northeast to the southern shore of Lake Tobesofkee , continued into Macon, and lifted near Dry Branch in Twiggs County. The storm's total path length was 18 miles (29 km), and its path width was 100 yards (91 m). The tornado produced sporadic areas of major damage, with widespread straight-line wind damage along its southern track. The most significant damage was along Eisenhower Parkway and Pio Nono Avenue in Macon, where two businesses were destroyed and several others were heavily damaged. The tornado also impacted Middle Georgia State College, where almost half of
7392-805: 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 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 2009, there
7488-481: 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, described as exceptional by violent crime 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 provides the public with up-to-date crime report information through an online mapping service. The year of 2015 saw
7584-516: Was $ 17,010. About 24.1% of families and 30.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 43.6% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those over 65. Malls include The Shoppes at River Crossing , Macon Mall , and Eisenhower Crossing. Traditional shopping centers are in the downtown area and Ingleside Village. Macon is the headquarters of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team , Georgia Army National Guard . The largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia, Robins Air Force Base ,
7680-403: Was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.08. In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 72.8 males. Since 2020, crime has become
7776-400: 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 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
7872-565: Was 91,351. In the last official census, in 2000, there were 97,255 people, 38,444 households, and 24,219 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,742.8 inhabitants per square mile (672.9/km ). There were 44,341 housing units at an average density of 794.6 per square mile (306.8/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 67.94% African American , 28.56% White , 0.02% Native American , 0.65% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.46% from other races , and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 2.48% of
7968-588: Was Savannah's chief municipal cemetery during the nineteenth century. Bonaventure Cemetery is a former plantation and the final resting place for some illustrious Savannahians. Also located in Savannah are the Mordecai Sheftall Cemetery and the Levi Sheftall Family Cemetery , which both date back to the second half of the eighteenth century. Fort Jackson (named for the Georgia politician James Jackson , not Andrew Jackson ) lies on
8064-442: Was a 12.2 percent decrease in violent crimes 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
8160-403: Was an essential and inseparable part of Bacon's plan. The trial court ruled that the trust failed and that the property reverted to Bacon's heirs. The Supreme Court of Georgia and the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed. The 50-acre (20 ha) park was lost and commercially developed. Prior to 2013, the city government consisted of a mayor and city council. Robert Reichert was elected the first mayor of
8256-468: Was completed in 1821. It also housed the city's first United States Post Office branch. Between 1912 and 1968, the Savannah Machine & Foundry Company was a shipbuilder in Savannah. 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 remains one of Savannah's largest employers. Savannah is also home to
8352-512: Was developed at the site of Fort Benjamin Hawkins , built in 1809 at President Thomas Jefferson's direction after he forced the Creek to cede their lands east of the Ocmulgee River . (Archeological excavations in the 21st century found evidence of two separate fortifications.) The fort was named for Benjamin Hawkins , who served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southeast territory south of
8448-399: Was established as a prison for captured Union officers and enlisted men. Later, it held only officers, at one time numbering 2,300. The camp was evacuated in 1864. Macon City Hall served as the temporary state capitol in 1864 and was converted to a hospital for wounded Confederate soldiers. The Union General William Tecumseh Sherman spared Macon on his march to the sea . His troops sacked
8544-615: Was founded on the site of the Ocmulgee Old Fields, where the Creek Indians lived in the 18th century. Their predecessors, the Mississippian culture , built a powerful agriculture-based chiefdom (950–1100 AD). The Mississippian culture constructed earthwork mounds for ceremonial, religious, and burial purposes. Indigenous peoples inhabited the areas along the Southeast's rivers for 13,000 years before Europeans arrived. Macon
8640-478: Was most recently affected by an active 2016 hurricane season , including Hurricane Matthew (which made a partial eyewall landfall), and was brushed by Hurricane Irma in 2017. The 2024 season saw impacts from Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Helene . The first meteorological observations in Savannah probably occurred at Oglethorpe Barracks circa 1827, continuing intermittently until 1850 and resuming in 1866. The Signal Service began observations in 1874, and
8736-587: Was organized by Andrew Bryan in 1788; First African Baptist Church ; and St. Benedict the Moor Church, which was the first African American Catholic church in Georgia, and one of the oldest in the Southeast . The oldest standing house of worship is First Baptist Church (1833), located on Chippewa Square . Other historic houses of worship in Savannah include: the Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. John
8832-587: Was recorded in one day in parts of the city. Savannah is at risk for hurricanes , particularly of the Cape Verde type of storms that take place during the peak of the season. 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
8928-895: Was renamed Taylor Square in 2024. Among the historic homes that have been preserved are: the Olde Pink House , the Sorrel–Weed House , Juliette Gordon Low 's birthplace, the Davenport House Museum , the Green–Meldrim House , the Owens–Thomas House , the William Scarbrough House , and the Wormsloe plantation of Noble Jones. Mercer Williams House , the former home of Jim Williams in Monterey Square ,
9024-519: Was renamed "Newtown". After Bibb County 's organization in 1822, the city was chartered as the county seat in 1823 and officially named Macon, in honor of Nathaniel Macon , a statesman from North Carolina, from where many early Georgia residents hailed. City planners envisioned "a city within a park" and created a city of spacious streets and landscapes. Over 250 acres (1.0 km ) were dedicated for Central City Park, and ordinances required residents to plant shade trees in their front yards. Because of
9120-562: Was seldom affected by hurricanes during the 20th century. Hurricane David , in August 1979, is a notable exception. 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.) Savannah
9216-591: Was the city's second-largest religion. Judaism was Savannah's third-largest, with a history dating back to 1733. Orthodox Judaism , Reform Judaism , and Conservative Judaism were the predominant Jewish traditions adhered to. Islam was the area's fourth-largest religion, followed by the Baha'i . 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
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