Coastal Georgia | |
|---|---|
Region | |
 DowntownSavannah | |
.png) Coastal Georgia highlighted in light blue | |
 Location ofGeorgia in theUnited States | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| Largest city | Savannah |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 731,630 |
| Demonym | Coastal Georgian |
| Website | georgia |
Coastal Georgia is a ten-county region in theU.S. state ofGeorgia, borderingSouth Carolina andFlorida.[1] It comprises a substantial portion of the state'sLower Coastal Plain. The region's largest city and metropolitan area isSavannah. Coastal Georgia's total population was 731,630 according to the2020 United States census.
Coastal Georgia forms part of theLower Coastal Plain, alongsideSoutheast Georgia. It consists of ten counties, according to theGeorgia Department of Economic Development:Bryan,Bulloch,Camden,Chatham,Effingham,Glynn,Liberty,Long,McIntosh, andScreven.[1] Coastal Georgia also includes theGolden Isles.
The region counts three metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs): theSavannah metropolitan area, theHinesville metropolitan area, and theBrunswick metropolitan area. Both the Savannah and Hinesville MSAs form theSavannah–Hinesville–Statesboro-Jesup combined statistical area. WithCamden County, theJacksonville–St. Marys–Palatka, FL–GA CSA is included.
According to the2020 United States census, the counties forming Coastal Georgia's population numbered 731,630 residents.
Racially and ethnically, Coastal Georgia has been inhabited byEuropean American andAfrican American settlers since colonization, in common with most of the present-day state. Among its racial and ethnic makeup, theGullah-Geechee people have maintained a historic presence along the coastal plains of the region.[2][3]
Since the migration of settlers from other states beginning in the 21st century, the Gullah-Geechee community and culture have been declining in the region due to development by private companies and state officials throughout the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.[4][5][6]
In terms of religious beliefs and observance, Coastal Georgia is a part of theBible Belt. In 2020, theAssociation of Religion Data Archives determinedBaptists,non-denominational Protestants,Methodists,Catholics,Holiness, andPentecostals were the largest Christian groups operating in the region.[7]
The single largest Christian denominations were theSouthern Baptist Convention,United Methodist Church,Catholic Church,National Missionary Baptist Convention of America,Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee),National Baptist Convention (USA), andAfrican Methodist Episcopal Church. Other notable dominations with a presence have included theEpiscopal Church andnontrinitarianChurch of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Non-Christian religions accounted for a minority of the region's religious landscape. The largest non-Christian religion wasJudaism. Following,Hinduism andIslam were the other prominent non-Christian religious groups in Coastal Georgia.Buddhism and theBaha'i Faith also had small communities in the area.[7] Among the Gullah-Geechee community, Lowcounty Voodoo orHoodoo has been traditionally practiced among the population.
Coastal Georgia's economy, according to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, is stimulated by manufacturing, agriculture, ports, the government and military, tourism, and film. ThePort of Savannah andPort of Brunswick are Georgia's two seaports.[1] As of 2007, the Port of Brunswick was the sixth-busiest automobile port in the United States.[8][9][10]
Education has also remained a dominant part of the regional economy, andGeorgia Southern University's flagship campus in Statesboro is by far the largest institution in terms of campus enrollment. Along with itsArmstrong and Hinesville campuses, Georgia Southern's combined economic impact surpasses $1.1 billion annually.[11] Other leading institutions in the region areSavannah State University,[12]South University,Georgia Tech Savannah,Savannah Technical College,[13]Ralston College, andSavannah College of Art and Design, all contributing to Coastal Georgia's development.[14] In the southern part of the region, theCollege of Coastal Georgia servesBrunswick and its metropolitan economy.[15]
Coastal Georgia is mainly served by two airports:Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport andBrunswick Golden Isles Airport. Brunswick's airport provides flights toHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, served byDelta Air.
In the southern part of the region, three federal highways pass through metropolitan Brunswick:U.S. Route 17,U.S. Route 341, andU.S. Route 25. In the Savannah area of Coastal Georgia, interstates16,95, and516 run through the city;U.S. Route 80 and U.S. Route 17 also both run through Savannah. Additionally,Amtrak provides rail services throughout the region.
Savannah State had a regional economic impact of $184 million in FY 2018.
