# Pooler, Georgia

Pooler is a city in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. According to the official 2020 U.S. census, the population was 25,711, up 34.3% from the 2010 population of 19,140. Pooler is located northwest of Savannah along Interstates 95 and 16. It comprises part of the Savannah metropolitan area.

## History

The city was named for railroad employee Robert William Pooler.
During the Civil War, Pooler was a railway stop called Pooler's Station—the last stop before Savannah on the Central of Georgia Railway. In December 1864, Pooler was a meeting place for Union officers led by William Tecumseh Sherman, who negotiated with Savannah authorities for the strategic port city's peaceful surrender.

## Geography

Pooler is located in northwestern Chatham County at 32°6′17″N 81°15′12″W﻿ / ﻿32.10472°N 81.25333°W﻿ / 32.10472; -81.25333. It is bordered by Port Wentworth to the north, Garden City to the east, Savannah to the north and south, and Bloomingdale to the west. U.S. Route 80 intersects Interstate 95 just east of the city center; US 80 leads 9 miles (14 km) east to downtown Savannah, while I-95 leads north into South Carolina and south 132 miles (212 km) to Jacksonville, Florida.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Pooler has a total area of 30.3 square miles (78.6 km$^2$), of which 29.4 square miles (76.1 km$^2$) is land and 0.97 square miles (2.5 km$^2$), or 3.18%, is water.

## Demographics

Pooler racial composition as of 2020 :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 13,433 | 52.25% |
| Black or African American (non-Hispanic) | 6,820 | 26.53% |
| Native American | 71 | 0.28% |
| Asian | 1,534 | 5.97% |
| Pacific Islander | 39 | 0.15% |
| Other/Mixed | 1,414 | 5.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,400 | 9.33% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,711 people, 8,794 households, and 6,130 families residing in the city.
In the 2010 census, the racial makeup of the city was 65.4% White, 25.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.2% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.6% of the population.
There were 7,300 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 26.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 34.9% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $71,737, and the median income for a family was $78,419. Males had a median income of $53,854 versus $38,401 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,336. About 5.4% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those between ages 18 and 15. 26.1% of those age 65 or over.

## Government

Pooler city government is a council-manager form of municipal government with a weak-Mayor and six at-large city council members. Council and mayor are elected every four years to four-year terms, one year prior to the presidential election year. In 2018, Pooler officially opened a new municipal government complex, including a new city hall & municipal court building.
The 51,500-square-foot city hall is a three-story building housing several of the City’s departments: the Pooler Police Department on the first floor, administrative, financial, & City Clerk offices on the second, and the city council chambers, city manager’s office, and other executive functions on the third. The municipal court building is 6,350-square-foot.
Pooler City Hall was used as the on-screen stand-in for the Chatham County Courthouse in Clint Eastwood's 2024 film, Juror No. 2. While several key scenes were filmed in and around the building, the courtroom and jury room scenes were filmed at a different location.

## Economy

Pooler has successfully attracted major companies, including construction equipment manufacturer JCB, which established its North American headquarters in the city, and Blue Force Gear, a tactical gear producer headquartered in Pooler. Just outside Pooler's limits is Gulfstream Aerospace, near the Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, one of the largest private jet manufacturers in the United States and a significant employer in the Savannah-Pooler area. Additionally, the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, is located 12 miles west along I-16 and is projected to employ at least 8,500 workers upon its completion in 2031 with easy access to/from Pooler via Pooler Parkway, Jimmy DeLoach Parkway, Interstate 16, & U.S. Route 80.
Pooler is also a retail destination, with shopping attractions such as Tanger Outlets in Godley Station, Costco at the Mosaic Center, and a Wawa convenience store set to open in Spring 2025. The city’s low crime rate, small-town charm, and strong community atmosphere have contributed to its rapid growth and appeal in the greater Savannah area. Pooler is one of Georgia's fastest-growing cities.

## Notable people

* Jared Wade, country music singer-songwriter
* Buddy Carter, U.S. representative for 1st district of Georgia