1892 Perron map SAVANNAH, GEORGIA, #67 |
Nice map titled Savannah, from wood engraving with fine detail and clear impression. Overall size approx. 17 x 16.5 cm, image size approx. 10 x 8 cm. From: Les Etats Unis, volume no. 16 of La Nouvelle Géographie universelle, la terre et les hommes, 19 volumes (1875-94), great work of Elisee Reclus. Cartographer is Charles Perron.
Savannah
industrial seaport city, seat (1777) of Chatham county,
southeastern Georgia, U.S., at the mouth of the Savannah River. Savannah was
established in 1733 by James Edward Oglethorpe, the founder of Georgia, who
named it for the river. The city was planned around a system of squares, which
have been made into small parks and planted with semitropical flora; these are
surrounded with buildings in a variety of architectural styles (notably Georgian
Colonial and Greek Revival), and hundreds have been restored. Savannah exceeds
all other Georgia cities in historic interest and is a leading tourist centre.
The birthplace of the Georgia colony, Savannah was the seat of colonial
government and was the capital of the state until 1786. Methodist founders John
and Charles Wesley arrived in 1736 to preach to the colonists and the Native
Americans. Evangelist George Whitefield joined the Wesleys in 1738 and two years
later founded Bethesda, one of the first orphanages in America. During most of
the American Revolution the town was occupied by loyalist forces; it was the
focus of a failed French-American attack (October 9, 1779), during which
colonial army officer Kazimierz Pulaski was mortally wounded.
Port traffic, begun in 1744, increased steadily as Georgia's plantation (tobacco
and cotton) economy grew and transportation infrastructure was developed in the
hinterland. The Savannah, the first steamboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean,
sailed from there to Liverpool, England, in 1819. During the American Civil War,
Savannah was an important supply point for the Confederacy until Fort Pulaski
(on Cockspur Island 15 miles [25 km] east, now a national monument) fell to
Union troops in April 1862. Commerce suffered because of the Union blockade, but
the city—the objective of General William Tecumseh Sherman's march to the
sea—was not captured until December 21, 1864. It recovered fairly rapidly
despite a yellow-fever epidemic in 1876.
Savannah's history since 1900 has revolved largely around its industrialization
and growth as a maritime centre. It is a leading port in the southeastern United
States for manufactured goods; major industries include shipbuilding and the
production of paper, food, chemicals, and aircraft. Army installations (Fort
Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield) are in the vicinity. The city is the seat of
Savannah State (1890) and Armstrong Atlantic State (1935) universities. Savannah
National Wildlife Refuge is 10 miles (16 km) upriver, and Tybee and Wassaw
national wildlife refuges are located along the Atlantic coast adjacent to the
city. Notable Savannah natives include Juliette Low, founder of the Girl Scouts
of America, writers Conrad Aiken and James Alan McPherson, lyricist and composer
Johnny Mercer, and explorer John C. Frémont. Inc. 1789. Pop. (2000) 131,510;
Savannah Metro Area, 293,000; (2010) 136,286; Savannah Metro Area, 347,611.