Chatham County is the northernmost of Georgia’s six coastal counties. Named for William Pitt the Elder, earl of Chatham, it was formed out of Christ Church Parish and St. Phillip Parish in 1777.

It is the fifth oldest county in Georgia and is the home of Savannah, which serves as the county seat. Other incorporated towns include Bloomingdale, Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Thunderbolt, Tybee Island, and Vernonburg.  In addition to Tybee Island, the islands of Little Tybee, Wassaw, and Little Wassaw fall within Chatham’s borders. Situated between the Savannah River and the Ogeechee River, Chatham County is bordered by Effingham County, Bryan County, and the state of South Carolina. On the coast, Chatham County shares St. Catherines Sound with Liberty County.

Chatham County Courthouse
Chatham County Courthouse
Photograph by OZinOH

Although Georgia was originally planned as a colony with no enslaved people, Savannah and Chatham County became a port for the importing of enslaved people after 1750. The port of Savannah was also used to ship cotton, naval stores, and other trade goods.

Chatham County was occupied by the British in 1778, during the American Revolution (1775-83). In October 1779 the British successfully defended Savannah from the colonial and French armies during the Siege of Savannah. After the war Chatham County grew in population along with Savannah, which became one of the South’s most important ports. During the Civil War (1861-65), Chatham County became an important center of trade for the Confederacy, as the multitude of creeks and rivers in the area made the total blockade of the port of Savannah difficult for the Union. Other than the brief attack on Fort Pulaski in April 1862, and a minor skirmish on Whitmarsh Island, the war bypassed Chatham County until the very end, when Union general William T. Sherman occupied the area in December 1864 at the conclusion of his march to the sea. Sherman issued his famous “Forty Acres and a Mule” Field Order No. 15 here on January 16, 1865.

Fort Pulaski National Monument
Fort Pulaski National Monument
Image from Ron Cogswell

Modern Chatham County is an important industrial and transportation center. Major companies like International Paper and Kerr-McGee have plants in the county. The Savannah–Hilton Head International Airport serves both coastal Georgia and South Carolina and is home to Gulfstream Aerospace CorporationThe Savannah River ports of Savannah and Garden City, operated by the Georgia Ports Authority, and Port Wentworth service ships from around the world, handling more than 2,000 different ships in 2002. Tourism has become a major industry in the Savannah-Chatham area as well. The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade through the historic district is one of the largest such events in the United States. The summer months attract visitors to Tybee Island, which has one of the few public beaches in Georgia. The city of Savannah has become a popular location for Hollywood filmmaking. Many movies and television shows have been shot there, including Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997).

Savannah Port
Savannah Port
Photograph by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

In 1912 Juliette Gordon Low established the nation’s first Girl Scout troop in Savannah.

According to the 2020 U.S. census, the population of Chatham County is 295,291, an increase from the 2010 population of 265,128.

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Savannah Historic District

Savannah Historic District

The restored Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is in the heart of Savannah's historic district. In the almost fifty years since the Historic Savannah Foundation began reclaiming the city's historic downtown neighborhoods, historic preservation has increasingly been used in Georgia as the basis for community development.

Chatham County Courthouse

Chatham County Courthouse

The Chatham County courthouse, located in Savannah, was built in 1978. The six-story building is an example of modern architecture.

Photograph by OZinOH

Fort Pulaski National Monument

Fort Pulaski National Monument

The government designated Fort Pulaski a national monument in 1924. Nine years later it became a unit of the National Park Service, which continues to maintain it.

Image from Ron Cogswell

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Savannah Port

Savannah Port

One of the busiest ports in the United States, Savannah handles nearly 10 percent of total U.S. containerized cargo volume.

Photograph by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Savannah Cotton Exchange

Savannah Cotton Exchange

The Cotton Exchange, established in Savannah in 1872, did not get a permanent home until 1886. The building on Bay Street, known to Savannah residents at the time as "King Cotton's Palace," was designed to stand out from its neighboring buildings as a symbol of cotton's importance to the city's economy.

Image from Neal Wellons

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Savannah Skyline

Savannah Skyline

Savannah, the first city in Georgia settled by colonists in 1733, was also one of the first cities in the state to begin a historic preservation program.

Savannah City Market

Savannah City Market

The Savannah City Market, one of the social and commercial hubs of the city, is a popular place for tourists and locals alike, and dates to 1755.

Courtesy of Explore Georgia, Photograph by Geoff L. Johnson.

Savannah River

Savannah River

The Savannah River ports of Savannah, Garden City, and Port Wentworth service ships from around the world, handling more than 2,000 different ships in 2002.

Image from Ron Cogswell

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St. Patrick’s Day Parade

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

A band plays during Savannah's annual St. Patrick's Day parade. Irish Americans continue to flock to Savannah for this celebration.

Image from Jefferson Davis

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