Issue link: http://savannah.uberflip.com/i/1336228
54 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 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 Travel + Leisure as "Best U.S. Cities" (#4),"The South's Best Cities' (#2) by Southern Living and was named #1 for smaller cities in "Best Places to Live and work as a Moviemaker in 2020 by Moviemaker Magazine. 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, Bulloch County of the Statesboro MSA, Wayne County of the Jesup MSA, and portions of South Carolina's Beaufort and Jasper counties. Chatham County, with 289,430 residents is the fifth most populous county in Georgia and serves as the economic hub of the region. Furthermore, over 800,000 people now live, work, and shop in the Savannah Primary Trade Area, which from 2010 to 2019, added about 9,100 net new residents a year. Bryan County was the fastest growing County in 2019 (+4.1%), while Beaufort County added the most people (3,246). All counties in the Savannah primary trade area experienced population growth in 2019. 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 49 and 46 persons per square mile, respectively. Area 2010 2016 2017 2018 2019 2010-2019 Average Annual Growth 2018- 2019 Growth Land Area (square miles)/ Persons Per Sq. Mile Chatham 265,799 288,615 289,309 289,166 289,430 0.99% 0.09% 426/679 Effingham 52,464 58,699 60,086 62,228 64,296 2.51% 3.32% 478/135 Bryan 30,377 35,839 36,999 38,059 39,627 3.38% 4.12% 436/84 Savannah MSA 348,640 377,827 386,394 389,453 393,353 1.42% 1.00% 1,340/294 Liberty 62,765 61,473 61,619 60,606 61,435 -0.24% 1.37% 490/125 Long 14,574 18,372 18,780 19,091 19,559 3.80% 2.45% 400/49 Bulloch 70,559 73,152 75,991 77,242 79,608 1.42% 3.06% 673/118 Wayne 30,074 29,974 29,797 29,810 29,927 -0.05% 0.39% 642/50 Savannah/ Hinesville/ Statesboro CSA 526,612 567,614 572,581 576,202 583,882 1.21% 1.33% 3,545/165 Beaufort (SC) 162,829 183,184 186,497 188,876 192,122 2.00% 1.72% 576/334 Jasper (SC) 24,948 28,085 28,522 29,147 30,073 2.28% 3.18% 655/46 Savannah Primary Trade Area 714,389 778,883 787,600 794,225 806,077 1.43% 1.49% 4,885/165 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 10/26/20. NOTE: The Census Bureau's population estimates are revised: numbers for previous years have been updated. NOTE: Statesboro/Bulloch County added to the CSA in 2013. Jesup/Wayne County added to CSA in 2018.