Tybee Island, Georgia - wikipedia Tybee Island, Georgia City in Georgia, United States Tybee Island, Georgia Tybrisa City Tybee Island Lighthouse. Location in Chatham County and the state of Georgia Coordinates : 32 ° 0 ′ 24 '' N 80 ° 50 ′ 58 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 32.00667 ° N 80.84944 ° W ﻿ / 32.00667 ; - 80.84944 Coordinates : 32 ° 0 ′ 24 '' N 80 ° 50 ′ 58 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 32.00667 ° N 80.84944 ° W ﻿ / 32.00667 ; - 80.84944 Country United States State Georgia County Chatham Government Mayor Jason Buelterman Area Total 3.2 sq mi ( 8.3 km ) Land 2.3 sq mi ( 6.0 km ) Water 0.9 sq mi ( 2.3 km ) Elevation 10 ft ( 3 m ) Population ( 2010 ) Total 2,990 Estimate ( 2016 ) 3,113 Density 1,283 / sq mi ( 495.2 / km ) Time zone Eastern ( EST ) ( UTC − 5 ) Summer ( DST ) EDT ( UTC − 4 ) ZIP Code 31328 Area code ( s ) 912 FIPS code 13 - 78036 GNIS feature ID 0333294 Website www.cityoftybee.org Tybee Island is a city and a barrier island located in Chatham County, Georgia, 18 miles ( 29 km ) east of Savannah, United States. Though the name `` Tybee Island '' is used for both the island and the city, geographically they are not identical : Only part of the island 's territory lies within the city. The island is the easternmost point in Georgia. The famous phrase `` From Rabun Gap to Tybee Light, '' intended to illustrate the geographic diversity of Georgia, contrasts a mountain pass near the state 's northernmost point with the coastal island 's famous lighthouse. As of the 2010 census, the city 's population was 2,990. The entire island is a part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area. Officially renamed `` Savannah Beach '' in a publicity move at the end of the 1950s, the city of Tybee Island has since reverted to its original name. ( The name `` Savannah Beach '' nevertheless appears on official state maps as far back as 1952 and as recently as the mid-1970s. ) The small island, which has long been a quiet getaway for the residents of Savannah, has become a popular vacation spot with tourists from outside the Savannah metropolitan area. Tybee Island is home to the first of what would eventually become the Days Inn chain of hotels, the oft - photographed Tybee Island Light Station, and the Fort Screven Historic District. It is one of the few locations where the U.S. Air Force dropped an atomic bomb -- by accident ( during a botched 1958 military training exercise ). Though the `` Tybee Bomb '' did not detonate ( and, according to some reports, was not armed with a fuse ), there has been ongoing concern, since the Mark 15 nuclear bomb lost during the mishap was never found. Contents 1 History 1.1 Lighthouse 1.2 Civil War 1.3 Fort Screven historic district 1.4 Resort period 1.5 Tybee Bomb 1.6 Shark attacks 2 Geography 3 Demographics 4 Events 5 Education 6 Photo gallery 7 See also 8 References 9 External links History Native Americans, using dugout canoes to navigate the waterways, hunted and camped in Georgia 's coastal islands for thousands of years. The Euchee tribe likely inhabited the island in the years preceding the arrival of the first Spanish explorers in the area in the 16th century. Tybee is the Euchee word for `` salt ''. In 1520, the Spanish laid claim to what is now Tybee Island and named it Los Bajos. It was at the northern end of the Guale missionary province of Spanish Florida. During that time the island was frequented by pirates who used the island to hide from those who pursued them. Pirates later used the island 's inland waterways for a fresh water source. After the founding of South Carolina in 1670, warfare increased between the English and their pirate allies and the Spanish and their Native American allies. In 1702, James Moore of South Carolina led an invasion of Spanish Florida with an Indian army and a fleet of militia - manned ships. The invasion failed to take the capital of Florida, St. Augustine, but did destroy the Guale and Mocama missionary provinces. After another invasion of Spanish Florida by South Carolina in 1704, the Spanish retreated to St. Augustine and Pensacola ; the Sea Islands were depopulated, allowing the establishment of new English settlements such as the colony of Georgia. Lighthouse Main article : Tybee Island Light Station Tybee Island Light Station in 2004 Tybee Island 's strategic position near the mouth of the Savannah River has made the island 's northern tip the ideal location for a lighthouse since Georgia 's early settlement period. First built in 1736, the lighthouse was made of brick and wood, and stood 90 feet ( 27 m ) tall, making it the highest structure in America at that time. The original lighthouse has been replaced several times. The second lighthouse was built in 1742 when beach erosion threatened the first. Part of the third lighthouse at the site, built in 1773, still stands as the bottom 60 feet ( 18 m ) of the present lighthouse. The top 94 feet ( 29 m ) of the current lighthouse were added in 1867. Today, the Tybee Lighthouse is a popular tourist destination, having all of its support buildings on the 5 - acre ( 20,000 m ) site historically preserved. The current black - and - white tower markings are a reversion to its fourth day mark, first used in 1916. The Tybee Island Light Station is one of just a handful of 18th - century lighthouses still in operation in North America. Civil War Robert K. Sneden map showing Union batteries on Tybee Island Main article : Battle of Fort Pulaski During the Civil War, the Union Army placed siege batteries along the north coast of Tybee Island that aided in their successful bombardment and capture of Fort Pulaski on April 10 -- 11, 1862. This was the first significant use of rifled cannons against masonry fortifications and demonstrated that masonry fortifications were obsolete. Recently, the City of Tybee Island has taken action to commemorate Tybee 's historic significance in the Civil War. In 2005, the city obtained a federal grant to acquire two tracts of land where Union soldiers launched their attack against Fort Pulaski. Fort Screven historic District Fort Screven was first commissioned in 1899 and was named for Brigadier General James Screven, a Revolutionary War hero who was killed in action near Midway, Georgia, in 1778. The fort served as a valuable part of coastal defense until it was decommissioned in 1947. Fort Screven is most notable for one of its former commanding officers, General of the Army George C. Marshall, later the architect of the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Western Europe after World War II. Very little remains of the original fort due to redevelopment of the area for housing. One of the most important remaining structures is the Tybee Post Theater which was constructed in 1930. It was one of the first theaters in Georgia to have sound features and was the highlight of recreational activities for the fort. Other remaining buildings include the recently restored guard house, the bakery ( now a private home ), and barracks ( now apartments ). The ruins of the beach fortifications are also extant, and of the six original batteries, Battery Garland ( built in 1899 ) is accessible to the public. Battery Garland houses the Tybee Museum, and several cannon and other military hardware are on display. Another remaining area is Officer 's Row, an impressive group of original homes that have a sweeping ocean view. One of these homes is now a bed and breakfast. Resort period During the late 19th century, at the height of the Industrial Revolution, residents in large, polluted cities frequently sought out remote beaches for summertime getaways. Clear, saltwater breezes were thought to be remedies for numerous ailments, including asthma and certain allergies. Steamships began carrying patients and tourists to Tybee Island just after the Civil War. In 1887, the Central of Georgia Railway completed a line to Tybee Island, opening the island to a wave of summer tourists. The railroad built the Tybrisa Pavilion in 1891, and by the end of the decade, several hundred summer cottages dotted the island. In the 1920s, U.S. Route 80 was completed, connecting Tybee Island via road with the mainland. The Tybrisa Pavilion became a popular stop for big band tours, and development pushed toward the island 's southern tip. By 1940, the island had four hotels, including the Desoto Hotel and Hotel Tybee, and numerous smaller lodges. The Tybrisa Pavilion burned in 1967, and was replaced by the Tybee Pier and Pavilion in 1996. Cecil B. Day opened the first Days Inn on Tybee Island in 1970. Tybee bomb Main article : 1958 Tybee Island B - 47 crash On February 5, 1958, a U.S. Air Force B - 47 Stratojet from Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, jettisoned a nuclear weapon ( specifically, a Mark 15 hydrogen bomb ) off the coast of Tybee Island while conducting training exercises with a USAF F - 86 Sabrejet. Both aircraft collided, with the pilot of the fighter ejecting and the crew of the bomber making an emergency landing at nearby Hunter Air Force Base. The lost weapon, known popularly as the `` Tybee Bomb '', remained a security concern for several years, although the Air Force claims the bomb lacks a nuclear capsule and does not pose a serious threat. In 2004, retired United States Air force Lieutenant Colonel Derek Duke took part in a private search for the bomb. According to an article in the Savannah Morning News, Duke concluded that there were `` high levels of radiation and unusual magnetometer readings '' at a specific point in Wassaw Sound, just off the Tybee coast. Duke concluded, from these readings, that the bomb might be present `` at a point just off the southern tip of Little Tybee, '' an undeveloped barrier island near Tybee Island. In response, the Air Force launched a nine - month search for the Tybee bomb in 2004. The search team specifically investigated the area of Wassaw Sound in which Duke had located high radiation levels. The Air Force reported to the media in 2005 that the source of the high radiation is likely to be monazite, a mineral which is naturally high in radiation. The Savannah Morning News headline ran `` Duke Found Dirt ''. Shark attacks On June 15, 2016, the Tybee city council voted 4 - 1 to withhold shark attack numbers where the attacks did not result in loss of life. According to an article in the `` Savannah Morning News '', the vote was a direct result of pressure from local businesses which had seen a decline in tourism due to recent reported shark activity. Geography The view south from atop the Tybee Lighthouse Tybee Island is located at 32 ° 0 ′ 24 '' N 80 ° 50 ′ 58 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 32.00667 ° N 80.84944 ° W ﻿ / 32.00667 ; - 80.84944 ( 32.006672, - 80.849374 ). The island is the northeastern-most of Georgia 's Sea Islands, which comprise the outer section of the state 's Lower Coastal Plain region. Like the other Sea Islands, Tybee consists of a sandy beach on its eastern shore and a tidal salt marsh on its western shore. The interior consists of a maritime forest ( the density of which has been reduced by development ) and freshwater sloughs. The Savannah River empties into the Atlantic Ocean just north of Tybee Island, placing the island in a historically strategic location. To the west, the marsh - lined Lazaretto Creek splits the island off from McQueens Island ( the 2 - mile ( 3 km ) stretch between the main western shore of Tybee Island and Lazaretto Creek is mostly marshland ). Tybee Creek flows along the south shore of Tybee Island and joins the Atlantic at the island 's southeastern tip. Little Tybee Island, which consists mostly of protected wetlands, lies across Tybee Creek to the southwest. The size of the sandy beach at the southern tip of Tybee Island varies considerably in response to tidal changes. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.2 miles ( 8.3 km ). Of this, 3.7 miles ( 6.0 km ) is land and 1.4 miles ( 2.3 km ), or 27.2 %, is water. The entire island ( as distinguished from the city of the same name ) has a land area of 21.871 square miles ( 56.65 km ). Demographics Historical population Census Pop. % ± 1900 381 -- 1910 786 106.3 % 1920 117 − 85.1 % 1930 202 72.6 % 1940 644 218.8 % 1950 1,036 60.9 % 1960 1,385 33.7 % 1970 1,786 29.0 % 1980 2,240 25.4 % 2,842 26.9 % 2000 3,392 19.4 % 2,990 − 11.9 % Est. 2016 3,113 4.1 % U.S. Decennial Census The Tybee Island pier 's annual fireworks show As of the census of 2010, there were 2,990 people, 1,360 households, and 772 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,107 / sq mi ( 428 / km ). There were 3,366 housing units at an average density of 1,247 / sq mi ( 481 / km ). The racial makeup of the city was 93.5 % White, 3.1 % African American, 0.5 % Native American, 1.2 % Asian, 0.5 % from other races, and 1.1 % from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.5 % of the population. There were 1,360 households out of which 12.6 % had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5 % were married couples living together, 6.5 % had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.2 % were non-families. 32.1 % of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1 % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.65. In the city, the population was spread out with 11.9 % under the age of 18, 6.0 % from 18 to 24, 18.0 % from 25 to 44, 41.3 % from 45 to 64, and 22.8 % who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $53,732, and the median income for a family was $67,202. Males had a median income of $41,974 versus $43,382 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,109. About 1.5 % of families and 4.2 % of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9 % of those age 65 or over. Events Every year since 1987, Tybee Island has had an annual Beach Bum parade, traditionally held in May the weekend before Memorial Day weekend. The parade route comes down the main road in Tybee, Butler Avenue, and when parade floats come by onlookers have been known to shoot each other with water - guns. Tybee Pirate Fest, which began in 2005, is typically held the weekend prior to Columbus Day. Education Tybee Island is part of the Chatham County School District. Dr. Thomas Lockamy is the Superintendent of Schools. For the 2009 to 2010 school year, there were approximately 34,668 students in the district. There is also a public charter school on the island. Photo gallery Sunrise from the Tybee Pier Fort Screven and the North Beach, viewed from the Tybee Lighthouse Tybee Pier and Pavilion Tybrisa Street Tybee Island Pier in Savannah, Georgia The south tip of Tybee Island at low tide Lazaretto Marsh, off the western shore of Tybee Island Sunrise over north beach Entrance to The Crab Shack, a popular spot on Tybee Island See also State of Georgia portal Burton 4 - H Center Battle of Fort Pulaski References ^ Jump up to : `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. Jump up ^ `` US Board on Geographic Names ''. United States Geological Survey. 2007 - 10 - 25. Retrieved 2008 - 01 - 31. ^ Jump up to : `` Geographic Identifiers : 2010 Demographic Profile Data ( G001 ) : Tybee Island city, Georgia ''. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved July 21, 2014. Jump up ^ `` GeorgiaInfo -- Carl Vinson Institute of Government ''. Cviog.uga.edu. Archived from the original on August 28, 2008. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 08. Jump up ^ `` Tybee Island Beach Management Plan. '' Page 3. Retrieved : 9 September 2008. Jump up ^ Mary Landers, City wants to buy two Civil War battery sites. Retrieved : 22 January 2009. Jump up ^ Adrienn Mendonca, `` Tybee Island. '' New Georgia Encyclopedia. Retrieved : 9 July 2011. ^ Jump up to : `` Tybee Island Beach Management Plan. '' Retrieved : 9 September 2008. Jump up ^ Tybee Island Pier & Pavilion. '' Retrieved : 9 September 2008. Jump up ^ https://books.google.com/books?id=8TfhLiBMFEYC&q=%22days+inn%22+%22tasty+world%22&dq=%22days+inn%22+%22tasty+world%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=pwxgUdGKHcXK4APBsICICg&ved=0CGAQ6AEwCQ Jump up ^ Air Force Nuclear Weapons and Counterproliferation Agency, `` Air Force Search & Recovery Assessment of the 1958 Savannah GA - B47 Accident. '' 12 April 2001. Retrieved : 11 September 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` SavannahNOW Air Force : Duke found dirt - 06 / 17 / 2005 ''. Old.savannahnow.com. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 08. Jump up ^ `` SavannahNOW Sharks bad for business - 06 / 17 / 2016 ''. Old.savannahnow.com. Retrieved 2010 - 05 - 08. Jump up ^ `` US Gazetteer files : 2010, 2000, and 1990 ''. United States Census Bureau. 2011 - 02 - 12. Retrieved 2011 - 04 - 23. Jump up ^ Adrienn Mendonca, `` Tybee Island. '' New Georgia Encyclopedia, 3 June 2005. Retrieved : 9 September 2008. Jump up ^ `` Census of Population and Housing ''. Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015. Jump up ^ Savannah Now, 8 / 19 / 2010. http://savannahnow.com/do/2010-05-19/annual-beach-bum-parade-tybee-island-friday Jump up ^ `` 8th Annual Tybee Island Pirate Fest ''. Key to Savannah. Retrieved 21 October 2016. Jump up ^ `` Chatham County Schools ''. Chatham County Schools. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 16. Jump up ^ `` Chatham County School District ''. World Media Group, LLC. Retrieved 2012 - 06 - 16. Jump up ^ http://tybeeislandmaritimeacademy.com/ External links Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Tybee Island. City of Tybee Island official website TybeeIsland.com Municipalities and communities of Chatham County, Georgia, United States County seat : Savannah Cities Bloomingdale Garden City Pooler Port Wentworth Savannah Tybee Island Towns Thunderbolt Vernonburg CDPs Dutch Island Georgetown Henderson Isle of Hope Montgomery Skidaway Island Talahi Island Whitemarsh Island Wilmington Island Unincorporated communities Bethesda Pin Point Sandfly White Bluff Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tybee_Island,_Georgia&oldid=839837602 '' Categories : Cities in Georgia ( U.S. state ) Barrier islands of Georgia ( U.S. state ) Cities in Chatham County, Georgia Savannah metropolitan area Populated coastal places in Georgia ( U.S. state ) Islands of Chatham County, Georgia Forts in Georgia ( U.S. state ) Hidden categories : Articles with short description Coordinates on Wikidata All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage تۆرکجه Bân - lâm - gú Cebuano Čeština Chamoru Dansk Deutsch Español Euskara فارسی Français Ido Italiano Kreyòl ayisyen മലയാളം मराठी Nederlands नेपाल भाषा Polski Português Русский Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Українська اردو Volapük 18 more Edit links This page was last edited on 6 May 2018, at 00 : 53. 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Question: where did the name tybee island come from
Answer: the Euchee word for "salt"