SoutheastGeorgia'sLower Coastal Plain, often referred to as the "Coastal Empire", is a subregion that encompasses the lowest-lying areas of theAtlantic coastal plain in the state, containingbarrier islands,marshes, and swampy lowlands, as well as flat plains and low terraces.[1] It differs from Georgia's Upper Coastal Plain in that it is lower in elevation with less relief and wetter soils.[1] TheUnited States Environmental Protection Agency defines the Lower Coastal Plain as an ecoregion, part of the larger, interstate Southern Coastal Plain.[1]
Within the subregion flow the major rivers theAltamaha,Ogeechee,Saint Marys,Savannah,Satilla, andSuwannee (all of which, except the Suwannee River, empty into theAtlantic Ocean); the Saint Marys and Suwannee rivers have their origins in theOkefenokee Swamp. The Coastal Plain is also the home toSavannah, the first capital city which was declared in 1733.
The subregion is somewhat synonymous withCoastal Georgia,[2] and contains the counties ofAtkinson,Bacon,Brantley,Camden,Charlton,Clinch,Echols,Glynn,Lanier,Pierce,Ware, andWayne, south of the Altamaha River; andBryan,Chatham,Effingham,Liberty,Long, andMcIntosh, north of the Altamaha River.[1][3] The three metropolitan areas are those ofBrunswick,Hinesville–Fort Stewart, andSavannah.[4] The largestcensus county divisions, in the order of decreasing population, areSavannah,Hinesville,Pooler–Bloomingdale,Brunswick,Saint Marys,Waycross,Jesup,Richmond Hill,Tybee Island, andEverett.[5] The total population of the eighteen-county subregion is 726,132 (286,271 south of, and 439,861 north of, the Altamaha River), as of the 2010 U.S. census.[5]
75. Southern Coastal Plain (e-j)[dead ftp link](To view documents seeHelp:FTP)
