Issue link: http://savannah.uberflip.com/i/1489710
42 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2023 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 as one of "The World's Greatest Places of 2021" by Time Magazine, "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 2022 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 South Carolina's Beaufort and Jasper counties. Chatham County, with 296,329 residents is the sixth most populous county in Georgia and serves as the economic hub of the region. Furthermore, over 823,000 people now live, work, and shop in the Savannah Primary Trade Area, which from 2010 to 2021, added about 10,000 net new residents a year. Bryan County was the fastest growing county in 2021 (+13.6%). Beaufort County, SC added the most people (4,057) from 2020 to 2021. All nine counties in the Savannah primary trade area experienced population growth in 2021. Population growth in 2020 to 2021 more than doubled the previous ten-year annual average for all major regional areas (MSA, CSA, Trade Area). Chatham County continues to be the most densely populated county, with 696 persons per square mile. Long County is the least densely populated with 43 persons per square mile. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Population Estimates program, retrieved 12/30/22. Data for 2010 to 2019 are "vintage" 2019, while data for 2020 and 2021 are "vintage" 2021 data. NOTE: Statesboro/Bulloch County added to CSA in 2013. Jesup/Wayne County added to CSA in 2018.