Issue link: http://savannah.uberflip.com/i/452234
31 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2015 Economic Trends 10 Demographics: Population Dynamic population growth, a robust business climate, and a thriving artistic and cultural community come together 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 and Leisure as, "A World's Best City for United States & Canada (#3)", received the "Award of Excellence" from Corporate & Incentive Travel and was named one of the "World's Friendliest Cities (#16)" by Condé Nast Traveler. 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 in the Hinesville/Ft. Stewart MSA and portions of Beaufort and Jasper counties in South Carolina. Chatham County, with close to 280,000 residents is the fifth most populous county in Georgia and serves as the economic hub of the region. Furthermore, over 645,000 people now live, work, and shop in the Savannah Primary Trade Area, which from 2000 to 2013, added about 10,600 net new residents a year. Jasper County, South Carolina, was the fastest growing County in 2013 (+2.9%), while Beaufort County, South Carolina, added the most people (3,822). All counties but Liberty County experienced population growth in 2013. Chatham County continues to be the most densely populated county, with 654 persons per square mile. Long County and Jasper counties are the least densely populated counties with 42 and 41 persons per square mile respectively. Area 2000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2000- 2013 Average Annual Growth 2012- 2013 Growth Land Area (square miles)/ Persons Per Sq. Mile Chatham 232,048 266,019 272,101 276,832 278,434 1.54% 0.58% 426/654 Effingham 37,535 52,435 52,648 53,359 54,456 3.47% 2.06% 478/114 Bryan 23,417 30,407 31,247 32,250 33,157 3.20% 2.81% 436/76 Savannah MSA 293,000 348,861 355,996 362,441 366,047 1.92% 0.99% 1340/273 Liberty 61,610 62,678 65,162 65,461 64,135 0.32% -2.03% 490/131 Long 10,304 14,651 15,194 16,170 16,624 4.72% 2.81% 400/42 Savannah/ Hinesville/ Ft. Stewart CMSA 364,914 426,190 436,352 444,072 446,806 1.73% 0.62% 2230/200 Beaufort (SC) 120,937 162,963 164,217 168,016 171,838 3.24% 2.27% 576/298 Jasper (SC) 20,678 24,939 25,360 25,879 26,629 2.21% 2.90% 655/41 Savannah Primary Trade Area 506,529 614,092 625,929 637,967 645,273 2.11% 1.15% 3461/186 Population* Savannah MSA, CMSA, and Primary Trade Area County Estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Annual Population Estimates retrieved 09/26/2014. NOTE: *The Census Bureau's population estimates are revised: numbers for previous years have been updated.