Savannah
Metropolitan statistical area
Savannah metropolitan statistical area
Downtown Savannah
Savannah MSA highlighted in red
Country	United States
State	Georgia
Largest city	Savannah
Area
• Metro	1,569 sq mi (4,060 km2)
• CSA	3,265 sq mi (8,460 km2)
Population  (2022 estimates)
• Density	238/sq mi (92/km2)
• Metro	418,373 (134th)[1]
• CSA	618,706 (81st)
• CSA density	161/sq mi (62/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30415; 30450; 30452; 30458 - 30461; 31301 - 31304; 31306 - 31318; 31320 - 31326; 31333; 31401 - 31421; 31545 - 31546; 31555; 31560; 31598 - 31599
Area code	912

The Savannah metropolitan area, officially the Savannah metropolitan statistical area by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, is a metropolitan statistical area designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as encompassing three counties: Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham. The population of the Savannah metropolis was 404,798 at the 2020 U.S. census,^[2] an increase of more than 100,000 residents from 347,611 in the 2010 census. Overall, its 2020 population was an increase of 16.45% over the decade.^[3] Being the third most populous of the U.S. state of Georgia's fourteen metropolitan areas (after Atlanta and Augusta), it was the fastest-growing metro area in the state for the period 2010–2020, followed by Atlanta, Gainesville, and Warner Robins.

Savannah and its metropolitan area form the largest economic sector of Coastal Georgia, followed by the Brunswick and Hinesville metropolitan areas. Altogether, the three metropolitan statistical areas form the Savannah–Hinesville–Statesboro–Jesup combined statistical area. The combined statistical area had a 2020-tabulated population of 597,465.^[4]

Geography

The Savannah metropolitan area is located in the Coastal Georgia region, and is its most populous metropolis. The three counties comprising the metropolitan area make up a total area of 1,569 sq mi (4,063.691 square kilometers). If the Savannah metropolitan area were a U.S. state, it would be larger than Rhode Island. If it were a sovereign state, the metropolitan area would be slightly smaller than Comoros.

Demographics

From the 1960 United States census, the Savannah metropolitan area has had a positive population increase from 204,669 to 293,000 people, 111,105 households, and 76,405 families residing within the area by 2000.^[7] In 2010, its metropolitan population was 347,611; and by the 2020 U.S. census, its population grew to a total of 404,798 residents.^[2]

According to the 2000 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of the MSA was 61.24% White, 34.87% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.49% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races; Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.18% of the population. According to the 2022 American Community Survey, its racial and ethnic makeup was 53% White, 32% African American, 2% Asian, 1% some other race, 5% two or more races, and 7% Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[8]

In 2000, the median income for a household in the MSA was $44,201, and the median income for a family was $50,052. Males had a median income of $37,992 versus $24,777 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $19,940. In 2022, the median household income within the MSA was $72,098 with a per capita income of $37,044. An estimated 37% of the population made less than $50,000 and 30% made from $50,000-$100,000 annually. Approximately 14% of the Savannah metropolitan area lived at or below the poverty line.^[8]

Since British colonization of the Americas, and the establishment of the Province of Georgia, Christianity grew to become the present-day metropolitan area's dominant religion, with Native American religions declining in practice, though the Gullah-Geechee communities also brought West African religions and derivatives including Hoodoo to the area. In some Gullah communities within the Savannah metropolitan area, Hoodoo is still practiced to the present day alongside other West African religions.

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives in 2020, the overall largest Christian group were Protestants within the Baptist tradition, served by the Southern Baptist Convention, National Baptist Convention, National Missionary Baptist Convention, and Progressive National Baptist Convention. Following, non-denominational Protestants represented the second-largest overall 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 Catholic Church, served by the Diocese of Savannah.^[9]

Among its non-Christian population, which forms a minority in the metropolitan area and Coastal Georgia overall, Hinduism was the area's second-largest religion. Judaism was Savannah's third-largest religion, being present since the 1700s.^[10] Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism, and Conservative Judaism were the predominant Jewish traditions adhered to; and Islam was the area's fourth-largest religion, followed by the Baha'i Faith.^[9] Within the area, the oldest continually-functioning Jewish synagogue is Congregation Mickve Israel. Congregation Mickve Israel is the third-oldest synagogue within the United States.^[11]

Combined statistical area

The Savannah–Hinesville–Statesboro–Jesup combined statistical area is made up of seven counties in Georgia. The official 2020 U.S. census population for this area was 597,465.^[4]

Economy

Port of Savannah

The majority of Coast Georgia and the metropolitan's economy is centered within the city of Savannah. As a coastal city, Savannah's economy and the metropolitan's has been primarily stimulated by the Port of Savannah, one of the region's busiest ports, north of the Port of Brunswick.^[12] In the nineteenth century, the Port of Savannah became one of the most active in the United States, as goods produced in the New World had to pass through Atlantic ports such as Savannah's before they could be shipped to England.^[13] In 2022, the port handled 5.7 million, 20-foot equivalent container units (TEU).^[14]

Education is also a dominant factor of the metropolitan economy, with Georgia Southern University–Armstrong Campus,^[15] Savannah State University,^[16] South University, Georgia Tech Savannah, Savannah Technical College,^[17] Ralston College and Savannah College of Art and Design being some of Coastal Georgia's largest colleges and universities by enrollment and financial contribution.^[18]

Alongside education, J.C. Bamford Excavators established their North American headquarters within the metropolitan area.^[19] Other prominent industries stimulating the MSA's economy have been major retail companies including Amazon, Best Buy, and T-Mobile. Banking companies with a large presence in the Savannah metropolitan area include Chase Bank and Wells Fargo.

Sports

Transportation

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport

See also

• Georgia census statistical areas

References