Issue link: http://savannah.uberflip.com/i/1202658
60 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2020 Economic Trends 10 Demographics: Population Dynamic population growth, a robust business climate, and a thriving artistic and cultural community combine to create the highest quality work and home environments in Savannah, one of the nation's loveliest and most historic port cities. Savannah's allure has been recognized nationally by TripAdvisor as "Top 25 Destinations of 2019," "The South's Best Cities" (#2) by Southern Living and was named one of the "25 Most Romantic North American Destinations" (#2) by USAToday. Growing Population Spurs Economic Growth Savannah's local market region extends in a 40-mile radius from its historic downtown. Commuters, shoppers, students, visitors, and others are economically and socially linked in a primary trade area that includes Liberty and Long counties as part of the Hinesville MSA in addition to portions of South Carolina's Beaufort and Jasper counties. Chatham County, with 289,195 residents is the sixth most populous county in Georgia and serves as the economic hub of the region. Furthermore, almost 765,000 people now live, work, and shop in the Savannah Primary Trade Area, which from 2010 to 2018, added about 11,245 net new residents a year. Effingham County was the fastest growing County in 2018 (+3.6%), while Beaufort County added the most people (2,223). All counties except Chatham and Liberty experienced population growth in 2018. Chatham County continues to be the most densely populated county, with 679 persons per square mile. Long County and Jasper counties are the least densely populated counties with 47 and 44 persons per square mile, respectively. Area 2010 2015 2016 2017 2018 2010-2018 Average Annual Growth 2017-2018 Growth Land Area (square miles)/ Persons Per Sq. Mile Chatham 265,792 285,959 288,633 289,260 289,195 1.10% -0.02% 426/679 Effingham 52,465 57,086 58,692 60,058 62,190 2.32% 3.55% 478/130 Bryan 30,378 34,792 35,836 37,019 38,109 3.18% 2.94% 436/87 Savannah MSA 348,635 377,837 383,161 386,337 389,494 1.46% 0.82% 1,340/291 Liberty 62,765 61,640 61,551 61,745 61,497 -0.25% -0.40% 490/126 Long 14,559 17,646 18,347 18,773 18,998 3.81% 1.20% 400/47 Bulloch 70,562 73,152 74,708 76,084 77,296 1.19% 1.59% 673/115 Savannah/ Hinesville/ Statesboro CSA 496,521 530,275 537,767 542,939 547,285 1.28% 0.80% 2,903/189 Beaufort (SC) 162,846 179,825 183,217 186,492 188,715 1.99% 1.19% 576/328 Jasper (SC) 24,931 27,428 28,029 28,398 28,971 2.03% 2.02% 655/44 Savannah Primary Trade Area 684,298 737,528 749,013 757,829 764,971 1.47% 0.93% 4,134/184 Savannah MSA, CSA, and Primary Trade Area County Estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau. Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Annual Population Estimates retrieved 10/14/19. NOTE: *The Census Bureau's population estimates are revised: numbers for previous years have been updated. NOTE: *Statesboro was added to the CSA in 2013 and now includes Bulloch County.