Savannah

the chief seaport of Georgia. It is situated on the Savannah River, about fifteen miles from the ocean. The city has a total water frontage of six miles. It was settled by Oglethorpe in 1733. It repelled an attack of the British in 1776, but was taken by them two years later. During the Civil War it was an important center of supplies for the Confederate army. Sherman's famous march to the sea, December 21, 1864, terminated with the capture of the city. In addition to steamship connections with the Atlantic ports, Savannah is the terminus of several lines of railway. The city has many creditable public buildings and has an excellent reputation for the management of municipal affairs. Since the Civil War it has become a manufacturing center of no little importance. There are oil mills, foundries, sawmills, sash and door factories, and flour mills on an extensive scale. The manufacture of artificial ice is an important industry. It is the largest market in the world for naval stores. Immense quantities of tar, pitch, and turpentine are shipped. It is also the greatest cotton port on the Atlantic coast. Rice, lumber, tobacco, and fertilizers are important exports. In 1909 the population was 72,000. See Oglethorpe; Georgia