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Garden City, Georgia

Coordinates: 32°6′1″N 81°9′54″W / 32.10028°N 81.16500°W / 32.10028; -81.16500
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Garden City, Georgia
City
The 5000 block of the six-lane Augusta Road with George A. Mercer Middle School on the left as well as a few businesses
The 5000 block of the six-lane Augusta Road with George A. Mercer Middle School on the left as well as a few businesses
Flag of Garden City, Georgia
Flag
Official seal of Garden City, Georgia
Seal
Official logo of Garden City, Georgia
Logo
Motto: 
"Faith - Fairness - Family - Freedom - Future"
Location in Chatham County and the state of Georgia
Location in Chatham County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 32°6′1″N 81°9′54″W / 32.10028°N 81.16500°W / 32.10028; -81.16500
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyChatham
Government
 • MayorBruce Campbell
 • City ManagerScott Robider
Area
[1]
 • Total14.47 sq mi (37.48 km2)
 • Land14.32 sq mi (37.08 km2)
 • Water0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2)
Elevation
[2]
16 ft (5 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,289
 • Density718.61/sq mi (277.46/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
31408
31405
Area code912
FIPS code13-32048[3]
GNIS feature ID0331788[2]
Websitewww.gardencityga.org

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 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.[4] Garden City is part of the Savannah metropolitan statistical area.

Geography

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Garden City is located northwest of the center of Chatham County at 32°6′1″N 81°9′54″W / 32.10028°N 81.16500°W / 32.10028; -81.16500 (32.100372, −81.164965).[5] 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 14.3 square miles (37.1 km2), of which 13.7 square miles (35.5 km2) is land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), or 4.35%, is water.[6]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1940734—
19501,557112.1%
19605,451250.1%
19705,7906.2%
19806,89519.1%
19907,4107.5%
200011,28952.3%
20108,778−22.2%
202010,28917.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
Garden City racial composition as of 2020[8]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 3,148 30.6%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 3,956 38.45%
Native American 17 0.17%
Asian 124 1.21%
Pacific Islander 11 0.11%
Other/Mixed 339 3.29%
Hispanic or Latino 2,694 26.18%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,289 people, 3,221 households, and 1,734 families residing in the city.

Economy

[edit]
Located at 701 West U.S. Highway 80, the Savannah State Farmers' Market is one of twelve facilities operated by the State Department of Agriculture and used to support the local economy.
This Georgia Central Railway train transports merchandise at Telfair Road.

Agriculture

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Located at 701 West U.S. Highway 80, the State Farmers Market is a farmers' market run by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.[9]

Business

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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

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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

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Municipal

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The building that is currently used as the Town Center of Garden City was opened to the public in 2009, under the administration of Mayor Andy Quinney.

Garden City operated under a mayor–council form of government until 2009. It has adopted a council-administrator style, and by 2011 it will replace its seven at-large council members by one at-large and five district-elected ones.[10]

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.[11]

Other levels of government

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Garden City is represented by:

In the last three decades, the area's county commissioners have been:

Inauguration Term expiration 7th district
Commissioner		 Party 8th district
Commissioner		 Party
1981 1985   James M. “Jimmie” DeLoach[12] Democrat   L. Scott Stell Jr. Democrat
1985 1989   James M. “Jimmie” DeLoach Democrat   Dorothy Barnes Pelote Democrat
1989 1993   James M. “Jimmie” DeLoach Democrat   Dorothy Barnes Pelote[13] Democrat
1993 1997   Eddie DeLoach[14] Democrat   Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas[15] Democrat
1997 2001   Eddie DeLoach Democrat   Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas Democrat
2001 2005   Dean Kicklighter[16] Republican   Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas Democrat
2005 2009   Dean Kicklighter Republican   Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas Democrat
2009 2013   Dean Kicklighter Republican   Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas Democrat
2013 2017   Dean Kicklighter Republican   Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas Democrat
2017 present   Dean Kicklighter Republican   Chester A. Ellis Democrat

Color code:   Democratic   Republican   Independent

State representation

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The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Coastal State Prison near Garden City.[17][18]

Public education

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Robert W. Groves High School
The Rommel Avenue Catwalk is used by the school kids of George A. Mercer Middle School and other pedestrians to safely cross Augusta Road (State Highway 21).
The Garden City United Methodist Church building is located at 62 Varnedoe Avenue, next to the Senior Citizen Center.
Central Baptist Church
Woodlawn Baptist Church

Three public schools can be found within Garden City limits. They are managed by the Savannah Chatham County Public School System.[19]

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

Groves High School - 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 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 the 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).[20] Originally called Mercer Junior High School, Mercer Middle School first opened on September 4, 1962, and was the first climate-controlled school in Georgia.[21] 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.[22]

Garden City Elementary School was built to serve the consolidated student population of the former Benjamin Sprague and Martin G. Haynes elementary schools.[23]

Parks and recreation

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The Senior Citizens Center was dedicated in January 1996, under the administration of Mayor Roy L. Crager.
Volunteer Park was dedicated in December 1999, under the administration of Mayor Dean Kicklighter.
The Park at Sharon Park was dedicated in December 1999, under the administration of Mayor Dean Kicklighter, and rededicated in 2004, under the administration of Mayor Andy Quinney.
By 1950, the Eastern Star Masonic Hall, located at 131 Rommel Avenue, was listed in R.L. Polk's Savannah City Directory.
The geographical reference of this water tower, located at the intersection of Nelson and Rommel avenues, is 32°6′49.7″N 81°9′16.4″W / 32.113806°N 81.154556°W / 32.113806; -81.154556.

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 Avenue

The 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.[24]

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

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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 facility[25]
  • 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 center[26]
  • 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

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Garden City, Georgia
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Ed Jackson and Charles Pou, "This Day in Georgia History", Digital Library of Georgia, University of Georgia, 2010
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Garden City city, Georgia (revision of 09-07-2012)". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2014.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  9. ^ "MB – State Farmers' Markets Alive and Well, Georgia Department of Agriculture website". Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2010.
  10. ^ "Changes reshaping municipal government in Garden City, Savannah Morning News, March 8, 2009". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  11. ^ Charles Cochran, Race seems like musical chairs, Savannah Morning News, October 3, 2003[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ DeLoach served as Mayor of Garden City in 1973–1979
  13. ^ Dorothy Barnes Pelote resigned in 1990 before the completion of her term of office and was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives.
  14. ^ Eddie DeLoach is the son of James M. “Jimmie” DeLoach.
  15. ^ Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas was elected to complete Dorothy Barnes Pelote's unexpired term and was re-elected to a full term in 1992.
  16. ^ Kicklighter served as Mayor of Garden City in 1998–2000
  17. ^ "City of Savannah Neighborhoods 2008 Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." City of Savannah. Retrieved on September 15, 2010.
  18. ^ "Coastal State Prison." Georgia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 15, 2010.
  19. ^ Savannah Chatham County Public School System official website
  20. ^ "Mercer Middle School". Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  21. ^ Garden City 50th Anniversary Book 1989
  22. ^ Garden City 50th Anniversary Book 1989 p 53
  23. ^ Garden City Elementary School
  24. ^ "Garden City Parks and Recreation Department". Archived from the original on January 14, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2011.
  25. ^ Don Lowery, Staff Writer, Officials Dedicate New Correctional Facility, Savannah Morning News, May 13, 1981
  26. ^ Dotson House Restoration Project: Preserving Garden City's History, Genevieve Rogers, The Spirit Newspapers, August 23, 2007
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