Garden City is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, United States, located just northwest of Savannah. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 10,289. Part industrial and part residential, the city is home to much of the heavy industry in Chatham County. It is part of the Savannah metropolitan area. It hosts the largest and busiest ocean terminal of the Port of Savannah, the flagship operation of the Georgia Ports Authority.
Garden City was created in 1939 as Industrial City Gardens, a community intended to house the large workforce required by the new factories and chemical plants just west of downtown Savannah.Ed Jackson and Charles Pou, "This Day in Georgia History", Digital Library of Georgia, University of Georgia, 2010 Garden City is part of the Savannah metropolitan statistical area.
Geography Garden City is located northwest of the center of Chatham County at (32.100372, −81.164965). It is bordered to the southeast by the city of Savannah, to the west by the city of Pooler, and to the north by the city of Port Wentworth. To the northeast in unincorporated land is the Port of Savannah and the Savannah River.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Garden City has a total area of , of which is land and , or 4.35%, is water.
Demographics
2020 census As of the 2020 census, Garden City had a population of 10,289. The median age was 35.7 years. 24.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 12.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.7 males age 18 and over.
97.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.3% lived in rural areas.
There were 4,064 households in Garden City, of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 32.1% were married-couple households, 26.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 1,734 families residing in the city.
There were 4,521 housing units, of which 10.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.5%.
+Garden City racial composition as of 2020RaceNum.Perc.White (non-Hispanic)3,14830.6%Black or African American (non-Hispanic)3,95638.45%Native American170.17%Asian1241.21%Pacific Islander110.11%Other/mixed3393.29%Hispanic or Latino2,69426.18% Economy
Agriculture Located at 701 West U.S. Highway 80, the State Farmers Market is a farmers' market run by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Business Commercial activities are traditionally concentrated near the junction of U.S. Highway 80, U.S. Highway 17 and State Highway 21 (an area once known as Traffic Circle), as well as along Augusta Road (Highway 21), where several long-term-stay hotels, franchise and independently owned fast food restaurants, financial institutions, pawn shops, strip shopping malls, gas stations, car repair shops and automotive retail stores are located.
Industry Garden City's industry is located primarily on its waterfront, as is the case for surrounding communities. The Georgia Ports Authority operates a terminal, located at 2 Main Street. Garden City is also home to numerous trucking and railway companies. Other industries are:
Politics
Municipal
Garden City operated under a mayor–council form of government until 2009. It has adopted a council-administrator style, and by 2011 it planned to replace its seven at-large council members by one at-large and five district-elected ones.
For a list of past and present mayors and council members of Garden City, see List of mayors of Garden City, Georgia.
As of 2010, Garden City has never collected property taxes.
Other levels of government Garden City is represented by:
the 7th and the 8th districts on the boards of the Chatham County Commission and the Savannah Chatham County Public School System the 162nd district in the State House the 2nd district in the State Senate the 1st congressional district in Congress
In the last three decades, the area's county commissioners have been:
InaugurationTerm expiration7th districtcommissionerParty8th districtcommissionerParty19811985 James M. “Jimmie” DeLoachDeLoach served as Mayor of Garden City in 1973–1979Democrat L. Scott Stell Jr.Democrat19851989 James M. “Jimmie” DeLoachDemocrat Dorothy Barnes PeloteDemocrat19891993 James M. “Jimmie” DeLoachDemocrat Dorothy Barnes PeloteDorothy Barnes Pelote resigned in 1990 before the completion of her term of office and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.Democrat19931997 Eddie DeLoachEddie DeLoach is the son of James M. “Jimmie” DeLoach.Democrat Dr. Priscilla D. ThomasDr. Priscilla D. Thomas was elected to complete Dorothy Barnes Pelote's unexpired term and was re-elected to a full term in 1992.Democrat19972001 Eddie DeLoachDemocrat Dr. Priscilla D. ThomasDemocrat20012005 Dean KicklighterKicklighter served as Mayor of Garden City in 1998–2000Republican Dr. Priscilla D. ThomasDemocrat20052009 Dean KicklighterRepublican Dr. Priscilla D. ThomasDemocrat20092013 Dean KicklighterRepublican Dr. Priscilla D. ThomasDemocrat20132017 Dean KicklighterRepublican Dr. Priscilla D. ThomasDemocrat2017present Dean KicklighterRepublican Chester A. EllisDemocrat
Color code:
State representation The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Coastal State Prison near Garden City."City of Savannah Neighborhoods 2008 ." City of Savannah. Retrieved on September 15, 2010."Coastal State Prison." Georgia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 15, 2010.
Public education
Three public schools can be found within Garden City limits. They are managed by the Savannah Chatham County Public School System.Savannah Chatham County Public School System official website
School Location Year established Number of students Garden City Elementary School 4037 Kessler Avenue 1996 575 George A. Mercer Middle School 201 Rommel Avenue 1962 880 Robert W. Groves High School 100 Priscilla D. Thomas Way 1958 1,454
Long known as "the pride of the Westside", Groves High School has a rich community tradition that dates back to its founding in 1958. Established to serve the young people and families of West Chatham County, the school is named for Robert W. Groves, a prominent business and civic leader in the county. Besides his role in business and his many commercial and community activities, Groves took particular concern for the youth of the area and their educational needs.
Groves High School is the home of the Fighting Scottish Rebels football and basketball teams. Campus points of interest include the Woodville-Tompkins Annex, where the automotive and construction programs are offered; and Cumming Field, named to honor Second Lieutenant Britt C. Cumming, a World War II veteran who was killed in action.
Mercer Middle School serves grades six through eight and is a part of the Savannah Chatham County School System (SCCPSS). Originally called Mercer Junior High School, Mercer Middle School first opened on September 4, 1962, and was the first climate-controlled school in Georgia.Garden City 50th Anniversary Book 1989 Mercer was named for George Anderson Mercer, an attorney who served as the president of the Board of Education from 1883 until his death in 1907.Garden City 50th Anniversary Book 1989 p 53
Garden City Elementary School was built to serve the consolidated student population of the former Benjamin Sprague and Martin G. Haynes elementary schools.Garden City Elementary School
Parks and recreation
Services to the citizens of Garden City include:
Facility Location Garden City Branch of the Live Oak Public Libraries 104 Sunshine Avenue Port City Branch of the Live Oak Public Libraries 3501 Houlihan Avenue Garden City Community & Senior Citizens 78 Varnedoe AvenueThe Garden City Parks and Recreation Department has year-round programs available for citizens. Youth sports include baseball, girls' fast pitch softball, T-ball, football, cheerleading, soccer, gymnastics and basketball. The city also provides non-team activities such as a summer day camp (Camp Eagle), roller skating, after-school programs, and a center for senior citizens. Garden City is home to five public parks. All are managed by the municipal City Parks & Recreation Department, headquartered at 160B Priscilla D. Thomas Way.
Park Location Primary use Monuments/facilities Bazemore Park 1 Bud Brown Drive Recreational Baseball complex Griffin Park 500 Griffin Road Recreational Playground The Park at Sharon Park 507 Sharon Park Drive Recreational Two playgrounds, gazebo, pond and hiking trail Town Green 100 Central Avenue Esthetic Fountain and benches Volunteer Park 5100 Augusta Road (State Highway 21) Commemorative Fountain and benches
Other landmarks Other landmarks located in Garden City include:
The Air National Guard facility at 1401 Robert B. Miller Jr. Road Coastal State Prison, located at 200 Gulfstream Road and dedicated on May 12, 1981; it replaced the Chatham Correctional Institution as the local-based state-run correctional facilityDon Lowery, Staff Writer, Officials Dedicate New Correctional Facility, Savannah Morning News, May 13, 1981 The Dotson House (the oldest residence in Garden City), built in 1850 and moved from the surroundings of George A. Mercer School to the site of the current town centerDotson House Restoration Project: Preserving Garden City's History, Genevieve Rogers, The Spirit Newspapers, August 23, 2007 Fire Department Station No. 1, 160 Main Street Fire Department Station No. 2, 2406 U.S. Highway 80 West The Order of the Eastern Star's local branch, located at 131 Rommel Avenue Hillcrest Abby West Cemetery, located on Dean Forest Road
References
External links Garden City official website