Savannah is a city located in Chatham County Georgia. Savannah has a 2023 population of 145,870. It is also the county seat of Chatham County.Savannah is currently declining at a rate of -0.42% annually and its population has decreased by -1.24% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 147,701 in 2020.
The average household income in Savannah is $69,653 with a poverty rate of 19.82%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Savannah is 33.2 years, 32.8 years for males, and 33.6 years for females.
What’s most notable about Savannah is that it is the oldest city in Georgia, having been established in 1733. Savannah serves as the county seat of Chatham County and serves an important role as an industrial center and seaport.
Today, Savannah’s port and tourism are the main drivers of the economy. Savannah is also one of the largest ports for shipping container traffic and is home to many company headquarters including TitleMax and JCB. Many students also call Savannah home as it is the location of several universities and colleges, including Armstrong State University, Savannah State University and Savannah College of Art and Design.
Savannah has seen its share of ups and downs when it comes to population. While the city saw significant growth throughout many decades, the census taken at 1970 showed that the population declined by over 20%. It bounced back almost entirely by the time of the next census but was down again during the poll taken in 1990 and 2000. At the time of the last census taken in 2010, the population was up 3.6%. Recent estimates show that the city’s growth is on the upswing again, up 7.7% since the last census in 2016 and almost reaching its peak population recorded at the time of the 1960 census.
Savannah was first founded in 1733 with the arrival of General James Oglethorpe and other settlers. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the area was inhabited by Yamacraws and Tomochichi. The Georgia colony was also founded on the same date as the founding of Savannah. It was in 1751 when Savannah was made the capital of Georgia. By the late 1800s, it was also an important commercial port.
The city was seized by the British during the Revolutionary War, who later left in 1782. The city continued to grow, and through the 19th century, it was one of the most prosperous seaports in the country as well as one of the most populous cities of the Confederacy. However, toward the end of the century, the population began to drop. Also notable is that during the 19th century, Savannah State University was founded. It is the oldest public college for African Americans in the state.
The city continued to thrive as a seaport and cashed in on the cotton industry. The city became even more prosperous with the entry into the heavy industry and manufacturing sectors in the late 1800s and early 1900s. During the early 1900s, the city’s population began to grow again, while more people were also moving to areas outside of the city center.
Today, the city is a popular tourist destination. Its cobblestone streets and historic buildings are just a few of the many attractions that bring in visitors every year. Other notable attractions include the home of Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low and the Telfair Academy of Arts and Science, which is one of the South’s first museums that was open to the public. The downtown area of Savannah is designated as a National Historic Landmark District and is one of the largest in the United States.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Savannah was:
Black or African American
White
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native American
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 56,155 | 2.46 | 45.1 | 54.9 |
Non Family | 24,734 | 1.37 | 34.9 | 65.1 |
Married | 17,652 | 3.21 | 68.6 | 31.4 |
Female | 10,985 | 3.56 | 30.7 | 69.3 |
Male | 2,784 | 3.15 | 43.8 | 56.2 |
3.23
Average Family Size
2.46
Average Household Size
45.1%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
90.08% of Savannah residents speak only English, while 9.92% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 5.32% of the population.
rate
19.82%
Overall Poverty Rate
18.15%
Male Poverty Rate
21.31%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Savannah is Hispanic, with 24.99% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Savannah is Native, with 10.55% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.68%. Among those working part-time, it was 26.51%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 28.82%.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
32.1%
Overall Marriage Rate
34.2%
Male Marriage Rate
30.3%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
9.61%
Veteran Poverty Rate
28.71%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
64.2%
Labor Force Participation
58.1%
Employment Rate
7.4%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
60.62%
Born in Savannah
100.45%
Native Born
6.58%
Foreign Born
3.87%
Non Citizen
2.71%
Naturalized
100.45% of Savannah residents were born in the United States, with 60.62% having been born in Georgia. 3.87% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.
Year | Population | Growth | Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
1800 | 5,146 | -137,130 | 1.46% |
1810 | 5,215 | 69 | 0.13% |
1820 | 7,523 | 2,308 | 3.73% |
1830 | 7,303 | -220 | -0.3% |
1840 | 11,214 | 3,911 | 4.38% |
1850 | 15,312 | 4,098 | 3.16% |
1860 | 22,292 | 6,980 | 3.83% |
1870 | 28,235 | 5,943 | 2.39% |
1880 | 30,709 | 2,474 | 0.84% |
1890 | 43,189 | 12,480 | 3.47% |
1900 | 54,244 | 11,055 | 2.31% |
1910 | 65,064 | 10,820 | 1.84% |
1920 | 83,252 | 18,188 | 2.5% |
1930 | 85,024 | 1,772 | 0.21% |
1940 | 95,996 | 10,972 | 1.22% |
1950 | 119,638 | 23,642 | 2.23% |
1960 | 149,245 | 29,607 | 2.24% |
1970 | 118,349 | -30,896 | -2.29% |
1980 | 141,654 | 23,305 | 1.81% |
1990 | 137,560 | -4,094 | -0.29% |
2000 | 131,510 | -6,050 | -0.45% |
2010 | 136,286 | ||
2011 | 137,435 | 1,149 | 0.84% |
2012 | 138,584 | 1,149 | 0.84% |
2013 | 139,733 | 1,149 | 0.83% |
2014 | 140,882 | 1,149 | 0.82% |
2015 | 142,031 | 1,149 | 0.82% |
2016 | 143,180 | 1,149 | 0.81% |
2017 | 144,329 | 1,149 | 0.8% |
2018 | 145,478 | 1,149 | 0.8% |
2019 | 146,627 | 1,149 | 0.79% |
2020 | 147,701 | 1,074 | 0.73% |
2021 | 147,088 | -613 | -0.42% |
2022 | 146,478 | -610 | -0.41% |
2023 | 145,870 | -608 | -0.42% |
2024 | 145,265 | -605 | -0.41% |
2025 | 144,662 | -603 | -0.42% |
2026 | 144,062 | -600 | -0.41% |
2027 | 143,464 | -598 | -0.42% |
2028 | 142,869 | -595 | -0.41% |
2029 | 142,276 | -593 | -0.42% |