# Garden City, Georgia

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. Garden City is part of the Savannah metropolitan statistical area.

## Geography

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). 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 km$^2$), of which 13.7 square miles (35.5 km$^2$) is land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km$^2$), or 4.35%, is water.

## Demographics

Garden City racial composition as of 2020 :
| 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

* 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

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

### Business

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

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
### Municipal

* 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.
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.

### Other levels of government

Garden City is represented by:
* the 7th and the 8th districts on the boards of the Chatham County Commission and the Savannah Chatham County Public School System
* the 162nd district in the State House
* the 2nd district in the State Senate
* the 1st congressional district in Congress
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 | 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 | Democrat |
| 1993 | 1997 | Eddie DeLoach | Democrat | Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas | Democrat |
| 1997 | 2001 | Eddie DeLoach | Democrat | Dr. Priscilla D. Thomas | Democrat |
| 2001 | 2005 | Dean Kicklighter | 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

The Georgia Department of Corrections operates the Coastal State Prison near Garden City.

## Public education

* 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.
| 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). Originally called Mercer Junior High School, Mercer Middle School first opened on September 4, 1962, and was the first climate-controlled school in Georgia. 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.
Garden City Elementary School was built to serve the consolidated student population of the former Benjamin Sprague and Martin G. Haynes elementary schools.

## Parks and recreation

* 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.
| 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

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
* 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
* 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