A look at growth in Chatham, Bryan and Effingham GA

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 results proved what most have known for the past decade: Savannah and her neighboring communities are growing in almost every way.

Chatham County saw 11% population growth between 2010 and 2020, rising to 295,291 people. The boom is focused in West Chatham and has spilled into neighboring counties, according to a Savannah Morning News analysis of the census data.

Bryan County was a standout for the region. Its population boom is the largest in the state, outpacing Forsyth and Oconee counties to the north, according to data nonprofit Redist.

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Bryan, Effingham and Chatham counties continued to see minority growth, with Hispanic and Asian populations growing in the commuter communities. Multiracial people also swelled to represent about 7% of the three-county population.

Questions arise of how the diversification of all communities, not just Savannah, will drive redistricting conversations in the months to come and push rural communities to wrestle with how a multicultural community will challenge the conservative strongholds, the News’ analysis found.

Quick hits: Chatham County population jumps double digits; highest growth in Pooler, Port Wentworth

The Coastal Empire was in line with statewide demographic changes, which saw a rise in Hispanic, multiracial and Black populations.

Statewide, the white majority fell from 58% to 52%, contrasting with Savannah’s influx of white families. This points towards the Hostess City’s increasingly unaffordable housing, which is reflected in census tract-level race data.

In Port Wentworth and Garden City, the rise in Hispanic and Black populations is indicative of two trends: the ballooning port operations and the affordability crisis in Savannah. The small cities will face questions of culture, politics and infrastructure strain as their populations swell.

Savannah’s Black population migrates west

While Chatham County saw 11% population growth last decade, it was concentrated in Savannah’s neighboring municipalities. The county seat grew less than 2%, with Asians, Hispanics and multiracial people seeing the most growth.

African Americans were the only group to see a decline in the city’s population, decreasing by 10,000 from 2010’s count. In census tracts in the midtown and downtown regions, Black residency fell by up to 50%, particularly the eastside and westside neighborhoods above Victory Dr.

Savannah Mayor Van Johnson said the numbers weren’t surprising.

“As we become a more regional community, you’ll probably find the corresponding increases in our neighbors,” he said.

Johnson is correct. Pooler, Bloomingdale and Port Wentworth saw explosions in their Black populations last decade. The West Chatham cities are slightly more affordable and offer jobs at retail, ports and warehouses along the I-95 and I-16 corridors.

GDOT: One more year of construction at the I-16, I-95 interchange in Chatham County

“We’ve said for for quite some time that Savannah was becoming too expensive for Savannahians to live,” Johnson said. “And so, the high-end construction was going to displace some folks.”

Across all demographics, population in the historic district declined, pointing towards the rise of short-term vacation rentals and temporary student rentals taking over the market. The neighborhoods south of Forsyth Park and north of Ardsley Park (a popular area for SCAD students) saw an 8% drop in population from 2010. That neighborhood is increasingly becoming one of the most sought-after and expensive in the city, rental data shows.

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With Black residents moving outside city limits, Savannah and the entire county has been presented a number of logistical and infrastructure problems to solve. Roads will be more trafficked with commuters and the growing ports’ freight trucks; those without reliable transportation will be limited

On the islands, where housing is less affordable and available, the Black population has plummeted 34% since 2010.

Johnson blamed the exodus on Savannah’s appeal to outsiders, particularly those who see the area as a place to retire, own a second home or work remotely. “Some of our blessings have been our curse,” he said.

The white population remained steady at 38% of Savannah’s 154,000 people. The city also saw the county’s slowest diversification, pointing to its growth as being most suitable for affluent white families.

“We’ve thoroughly attracted people here and … have portrayed Savannah as an open and welcoming community,” Johnson said. He added that the city will need to ensure it continues to bridge gaps along racial and wealth classes to ensure the increasingly multicultural region is inclusive, not merely diverse.

Bryan County diversifies amidst population boom

The traditionally rural county to Savannah’s south saw the area’s biggest surge in population, according to the census. Overall growth was 48%, meaning more than 14,000 people were added to Bryan County since 2010.

The boom was concentrated on the south end of the county in Richmond Hill and the Belfast area, but Pembroke saw substantial gains as well.

Minority growth outpaced the growth of the white population, which is still the county’s majority at 72%.

Where the Black population has dropped in its share of Savannah’s population, it grew in Bryan, increasing more than 50% to make up about 15% of the county’s population.

More: $61 million purchase of Bryan County megasite finalized, marking largest project in GA history

Asians, multiracial groups and Hispanics more than doubled their population shares. People of two or more races quadrupled their numbers in Bryan, rising from fewer than 800 people to 3,795 in 2020, census numbers show.

The county is poised to grow even more.

The state’s purchase of a manufacturing mega-site will bring in hundreds of jobs and business.

A $190 million interchange on Interstate 95 will revolutionize travel through the rural land, easing commuter times and increasing the viability of Richmond Hill as a suburb for Savannah workers.

A new high school will replace the current building and increase the school district’s capacity.

Two manufacturers – Medline Industries and Preci-Dip – announced plans to establish operations in Bryan County in coming months, bringing hundreds of jobs and the potential for further expansions of the county’s manufacturing workforce.

‘We were counted,’ Hispanic population sees major growth

One of the biggest stories to come out the census data — both locally and nationally — was the boom of the Hispanic and Latino populations.

Hispanics’ presence grew in nearly every county and municipality in the Savannah area, with growth concentrated in Pooler, Garden City, Port Wentworth and Bryan and Effingham Counties.

“We got counted,” said Alphonso Ribot, the president of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and candidate for Port Wentworth city council who worked with the U.S. Census Bureau on Hispanic outreach last year.

Ribot said the region’s booming ports and hospitality industry fueled the growth.

“This region, probably five years ago, opened its arms to the Hispanic community,” Ribot said.

More: New nonprofit Migrant Equity Southeast advocates for migrants and refugees in Chatham

Garden City saw the Hispanic population grow to 26% of its total population, gaining on the white and Black populations. In Bryan and Effingham counties, the Hispanic presence more than doubled.

In places where the Hispanic population soared past 10% — the entire State of Georgia, Garden City and Pooler – the government is now obligated to provide Spanish-language materials. Ribot said this will be a crucial step in helping Hispanic families move here and get acclimated.

The past decade has proven the region is a good place for jobs, Ribot added. “So now people are like, ‘Okay, so it’s a Hispanic-friendly region.’ And that’s what’s still driving the growth,” he said.

Zoe covers growth and how it impacts communities in the Savannah area. Find her at znicholson@gannett.com, @zoenicholson_ on Twitter, and @zoenicholsonreporter on Instagram.

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