SavannahNOW Home Finder.com - Savannah's Ultimate Home Buying Guide

Recreation
Tybee Island Beaches & Pavilion
Boating, Marinas, Boat Ramps
Fishing & Hunting
Camping, Wildlife Parks
Nightlife, Live Music
Major Civic Center, Entertainment
Public & Private Available: Golf Courses, Swimming Pools, Tennis Courts

Banks (Savannah MSA)
14 Banks
33+ Branch Locations

Culture
Art Galleries
Telfair Museum of Art
Ballet Company
City Market Art Center
Ga. Historical Society
Historic Forts
Historic Savannah Foundation
Jazz Society
Museums (16)
Theater Companies
Savannah Symphony Orchestra

Schools & Churches
Public Schools: 29 elementary; 8 middle schools; 7 high schools
Private: 27
3 Universities; 2 Colleges
1 Vocational Technical School
250+ Churches

Hospitals & Doctors
3 major Hospitals, 1,170 beds, 500+ doctors
Over 20 Assisted Living & Nursing Facilities

Government:
City of Savannah
Mayor; Alderman (8); City Manager
Chatham County
Chairman; Commissioners (8); County Manager
There are 7 other small municipalities in Chatham County: Bloomingdale, Garden City, Pooler, Port Wentworth, Thunderbolt, Tybee Island & Vernonburg

Military
The U.S. Army had 4,054 soldiers in 1998 at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah. There were 15,328 soldiers stationed at Fort Stewart, Hinesville.

Taxation, 1999
Property Tax
Unincorporated Area: Tax on a $130,000 home is $1,429
City of Savannah: Tax on a $130,000 home is $1,939

Sales Tax/Room Tax
Sales tax is 6% (4% state, 2% local option) on the purchase on all goods and some services.
Room tax is 6%.
Personal Income Tax
Maximum is 6% of net taxable income, from Federal tax return.

Labor - Savannah MSA
Employment Gains:
Total Employment in 1990 was 117,700
In 1998 the total employment was 133,300 for a six-year gain of 17,700 jobs.
Georgia is a "right to work" state.

Transportation
Savannah International Airport has 56 flights daily on AirTran, Continental Express, Corporate Express, Delta, United Express, and US Airways. Foreign Trade Zone #104 is located at the airport.

CSX & Norfolk Southern Railroads
Amtrak
Greyhound
Airport/Amtrak Shuttle Service
Taxis
Local Bus Systems - Chatham Area Transit

Port
Georgia Ports Authority
Ships to over 100 countries; created 7,000 jobs

1998 approximately 1,546 ships per year
50 Steamship lines to 161 countries
100 Motor Carriers
29 Freight Forwarders & 22 Custom Brokers

Highways
U.S. 17, 17A, 80; GA 21, I-16, I-95, I-516
Driving distance to: Atlanta 250 miles - Charleston 110 miles - Jacksonville 140 miles
It is only 15 miles to Tybee Island, Ga & Atlantic Ocean

For more information contact the Chamber of Commerce for a copy of "Economic Trends" ($25 for non-members and $10 for members, prepaid). In addition to more complete data on topics in this brochure, subjects covered are:

Demographics on 6 area counties, including 1980-1998 population, households, age & income brackets.
MPC data sources for zoning, traffic counts
Tourism-economic impact
Savannah Area Economic Indicators from 1990-1998

Economic Development Agencies

Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce
912-644-6400

Savannah Economic Development Authority
912-447-8450