Issue link: http://savannah.uberflip.com/i/1514376
32 11 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2024 Economic Trends 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 "10 Most Romantic Places in the US" by Paper Blog English, "The South's Best Cities" (#2) by Southern Living and was named #1 for "Top Hotels in the U.S." (Perry Lane) on TripAdvisor, May 2023. 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 301,107 residents is the fifth most populous county in Georgia and serves as the economic hub of the region. Furthermore, over 847,000 people now live, work, and shop in the Savannah Primary Trade Area, which from 2010 to 2022, added over 10,000 net new residents a year. Long County was the fastest growing county in 2022 (+7.0%). Chatham County, GA added the most people (4,778) from 2021 to 2022. All nine counties in the Savannah primary trade area experienced population growth in 2022. Population growth in 2021 to 2022 was higher than 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 707 persons per square mile. Long County is the least densely populated with 46 persons per square mile. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Population Estimates program, retrieved 11/22/23. Data for 2010 to 2019 are "vintage" 2019, while data for 2020 to 2022 are "vintage" 2022 data. NOTE: Statesboro/Bulloch County added to CSA in 2013. Jesup/Wayne County added to CSA in 2018.