on that date, along with the colony of Georgia. Because of the friendship between Oglethorpe and Tomochici, Savannah was able to flourish unhindered by the warfare that marked the beginnings of many early American colonies. According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary (with etymologies), the name "Savannah" means "Shawnee"; it derives from a Muskoghean Indian worda variant of Sawanoki, the native name of the Shawnees. Georgia colonists adopted this name for the Savannah River and then for the city. Economy River Street shops and restaurants Like most cities, agriculture was the background of Savannah's economy in its first two centuries. Silk and indigo production, both in demand in England, were early export commodities; by 1767 almost a ton of silk was exported annually to England. The Savannah region's mild climate offered perfect conditions for growing cotton, which became the dominant commodity after the American Revolution. Its production (under the plantation system) helped the city's European immigrants to achieve wealth and prosperity. The port of Savannah was one of the most frequented in the United States and Savannah's inhabitants had the opportunity to consume the world's finest goods, imported by foreign merchants. Savannah grew to be one of the richest cities in the United States. Cotton was exported to places all over the world. Savannah's port has always been a mainstay of the city's economy. In the early years of U.S. history, goods produced in the New World had to pass through ports such as Savannah's before they could be shipped to England. For years, Savannah was the home of Union Camp, which housed the world's largest paper mill. The plant is now owned by International Paper, and it remains one of Savannah's largest employers. Savannah is also home to the famous Gulfstream Aerospace company, maker of private jets, as well as various other large industrial interests such as Great Dane Trailers. Some FamousPeople from Savannah Conrad Aiken, (1889-1973), poet Big Boi, rapper from the group OutKast Camoflauge, (1981-2004), rapper Charles Coburn, (1877-1961), actor Young Smerrf, (1992), rapper Col.William,Alexander Marcus,William Marcus,Alexander(Sr.,Jr. & III)Barbee, (1748-Present), Family owners of Barbee's Pavilion on the Isle of Hope Bucky Dent, (b.1951), nemesis of 1978 Red Sox season Al Jaffee, (b. 1921), writer and artist for Mad Magazine Stacy Keach, (b. 1941), actor J. Curtis Lewis, Jr., [3] (1926-2005), businessman, philanthropist, former Mayor Juliette Gordon Low, (1860-1927), founder of Girl Scouts of the USA Johnny Mercer, (1909-1976), songwriter James Moody, (b.1925), jazz musician (saxophone, flute), composer, actor Ward Morehouse, (1899 - 1966), theater critic and newspaper columnist Bobby Norfleet - NASCAR driver Flannery O'Connor, (1925-1964), writer Kenny Rogers, (b.1964), baseball player Billy Joe Royal, 1960s singer Diana Scarwid, (b. 1955), actor Al Seeger, boxing - superbantam weight IBA world title holder Moxley Sorrel, (1838-1901), youngest General in the Confederate Army Clarence Thomas, (b. 1948), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States James Moore Wayne, (1790-1867), Congressman and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States The Lady Chablis, (b.1957), entertainer Tommy Kiene World Bantam Weight Boxing Champion Mammy Lou, worlds oldest actress Savannah in literature The 1994 non-fiction novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (known to locals as "The Book") is set in Savannah, and in 1997 was made into a film, directed by Clint Eastwood. Savannah resident N.Y.W. Peacocke has completed two books of a trilogy that deal with the war of independence in Georgia, and particularly Savannah. Savannah Spell (ISBN 1-898030-51-0) and Mirror My Soul (ISBN 1-898030-61-8) weave a love triangle around the events of the Revolution in Georgia and Carolina. E.L. Doctorow's historical novel, The March (ISBN 0-357-50671-3), is about Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's 1864 scorched-earth campaign in which he marched 60,000 troops eastward from Atlanta to Savannah and into the Carolinas during the American Civil War (1861-65). Chris Fuhrman authored the book The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, which depicted his life as a Catholic schoolboy growing up in Savannah and attending a local parochial school. Fuhrman actually attended Blessed Sacrament School in Savannah and graduated in 1974. He was also a graduate of the University of Georgia in Athens, where his book was published. Fuhrman died in 1990 of cancer at the age of 30. Fifth-generation Savannahian Murray Silver is the author of "Great Balls of Fire: The Uncensored Story of Jerry Lee Lewis" (Morrow 1981), adapted to the big screen by Orion in 1989 (Dennis Quaid, Winona Ryder). Silver is also the author of the bestselling "Behind the Moss Curtain and Other Great Savannah Stories," (Bonaventure, 2002)now in its sixth printing and the subject of his next motion picture. His latest book, "When Elvis Meets the Dalai Lama" (Bonaventure 2005) is the author's favorite stories about how he started out in life as a rock concert promoter and became an assistant to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Savannah in television and film The following is based on a list assembled by the Savannah Film Commission 2005 The Colbert Report (District 1 was the first featured in "Better Know a District" segment) The Haunted Mansion Undertow The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys The Gift The Legend of Bagger Vance Forces of Nature The General's Daughter The Gingerbread Man Kiss of Fire Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Savannah Wild America Something to Talk About Now and Then Camilla Forrest Gump Flight of the Intruder Goldenboy Love Crimes Glory The Rose and the Jackal 1969 The Judas Project The Return of Swamp Thing My Father, My Son War Stories Pals Solomon Northup Odyssey All My Children Tales of Ordinary Madness East of Eden Mother Seton The Slayer When the Circus Came to Town White Death Carny Gold Bug Hopscotch The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd Orphan Train The Double McGuffin The Lincoln Conspiracy Roots Gator Savannah Georgia homes Pooler Georgia homes Pooler Ga homes Richmond Hill Ga homes New homes Pooler Ga Savannah, Ga homes and real estate real estate homes real estate agent condominiums real estate agent condos real estate townhomes real estate land in savannah ga rincon georgia real estate agent pooler georgia real estate richmond hill ga real estate agent tybee island real estate agent historic savannah real estate agent savannah ga real estate agent |