Skidaway Island, Georgia
Unincorporated community
Census-designated place
Location in Chatham County and the state of Georgia
Location in Chatham County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 31°55′39″N 81°2′33″W / 31.92750°N 81.04250°W / 31.92750; -81.04250
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia
CountyChatham
Area
[1]
 • Total17.86 sq mi (46.26 km2)
 • Land16.49 sq mi (42.71 km2)
 • Water1.37 sq mi (3.55 km2)
Elevation
[2]
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total9,310
 • Density564.55/sq mi (217.97/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code13-71184[3]
GNIS feature ID1867245[2]

Skidaway Island is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Chatham County, Georgia, and lies on a barrier island of the same name. Located south of Savannah, Skidaway Island is known for its waterfront properties and golf courses within The Landings, one of the largest gated communities in the country. The population was 9,310 at the 2020 census.[1] For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Skidaway Island as a census-designated place (CDP). A separate area of the island hosts the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, a research institution operated by the University of Georgia. It receives scholars and researchers from several other Georgia universities as well, including Georgia Tech, Savannah State University, and the College of Coastal Georgia. Skidaway Island is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.

It is uncertain why the name "Skidaway" was applied to this island; the name may be derived from a word in Yamacraw or another Native American Creek language. In his 1967 publication How Georgia Got Her Names, Hal E. Brinkley stated that the name might be an Anglicized form of Scenawki, the wife of the Yamacraw chief Tomochichi, for whom Georgia's founder James Oglethorpe named the island.[4]

In a March 2019 referendum, Skidaway Island voters overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would have incorporated their community as the City of Skidaway Island. The island remains unincorporated.[5]

Geography

Skidaway Island is located at 31°55′39″N 81°2′33″W / 31.92750°N 81.04250°W / 31.92750; -81.04250 (31.927434, -81.042505).[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.9 square miles (46 km2), of which 16.4 square miles (42 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (8.45%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19801,264—
19904,495255.6%
20006,91453.8%
20108,34120.6%
20209,31011.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1960-1980[8] 1990 U.S. Census[9]
1980 U.S Census[10]

Skidaway Island was first listed as a CDP in 1980 U.S. Census.[8]

Skidaway Island racial composition as of 2020[11]
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 8,605 92.43%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 97 1.04%
Asian 184 1.98%
Other/Mixed 217 2.33%
Hispanic or Latino 207 2.22%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,310 people, 4,272 households, and 3,014 families residing in the CDP.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Skidaway Island, Georgia
  3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. pp. 206–207. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  5. ^ "Skidaway Island incorporation vote". WTOC-TV, Savannah GA. March 19, 2019. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  8. ^ a b "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - Georgia" (PDF). US Census Bureau. 1980.
  9. ^ "1990 Census of Population" (PDF). Census.gov. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  10. ^ "1980 Census of Population" (PDF). Census.gov. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  12. ^ "Nursingtheories.info".
  13. ^ "Farmers' Almanac TV bankrupt".
  14. ^ Fox and Weeks: Funeral Directors: Obituary for Robert Thomson, accessed August 21, 2010 Archived July 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Paid obituary for Bobby Thomson, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, August 21, 2010, p. B-4, accessed August 21, 2010

External links

Municipalities and communities of Chatham County, Georgia, United States
Categories