Brunswick, Georgia: A Coastal Gem

Brunswick, Georgia is a city in and the county seat of Glynn County. It is the primary urban and economic centre of the lower southeast portion of Georgia and is located on the coast, approximately 75 miles south of Savannah and 60-65 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. The city is the gateway to the Golden Isles: St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island. Brunswick has a population of 15,210, and the wider metropolitan area has a population of 113,495. The city is named after the German Duchy of Brunswick–Lüneburg, the ancestral home of the House of Hanover. Brunswick has a progressive economy largely based on tourism and logistics, with a GDP of $3.9 billion as of 2013.

Brunswick's location and boundaries

Brunswick is a city in and the county seat of Glynn County, Georgia. It is located on the coast in the southeast corner of the state, approximately 75 miles south of Savannah and 60-65 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. It is the primary urban and economic centre of the lower southeast portion of Georgia and the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline.

Brunswick is situated on a peninsula, with the East River and the Turtle River forming its western boundary, the Brunswick River to the south, and the Mackay River with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to the east. The city is bordered by Oglethorpe Bay, the East River, and the Turtle River to the west, and by the Brunswick River to the south. The Intracoastal Waterway separates Brunswick from the barrier islands of Jekyll and St. Simons, which lie to the east. The East River also separates Brunswick from Andrews Island, a dredge spoil site.

The city is the lowest in Georgia, with an elevation of only 10 to 14 feet above sea level. It has a land area of 32.4 square miles and a total area of 42.4 square miles, including water. Brunswick's climate is classified as humid subtropical, with hot, humid summers and fairly temperate winters. The city receives a high amount of rainfall annually, and it is surrounded by coastal marshlands, rivers, and streams.

Brunswick is the gateway to the Golden Isles, which lie to the east across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. These include St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island. The Turtle River and the South Brunswick River split through the centre of Glynn County, with the majority of the population, business, and industry located in the eastern two-thirds of the county. The western part of the county is primarily forest agriculture, with trees harvested for the paper industry.

The city's history

Brunswick, Georgia, has a rich history that dates back to the 18th century. The city was established as "Brunswick" after the German Duchy of Brunswick–Lüneburg, the ancestral home of the House of Hanover. The area's first European settler, Mark Carr, a Scotsman, arrived in 1738 and established a 1,000-acre tobacco plantation called "Plug Point" along the East and Brunswick rivers. In 1771, the Province of Georgia purchased Carr's fields and laid out the town of Brunswick in a grid plan similar to that of Savannah.

During the American Revolutionary War, Brunswick lost many of its citizens, who were Loyalists, to East Florida, the Caribbean Basin, and the United Kingdom. In 1789, Brunswick was recognised as an official port of entry by the United States Congress. The town continued to grow and develop, and in 1797, the seat of Glynn County was transferred from Frederica to Brunswick, solidifying its importance in the region.

In the 19th century, Brunswick continued to prosper and was officially incorporated as a city in 1856. The city became a centre of civil strife as powerful interests, led by state representative Jacob Moore, conspired to control local real estate. This conflict culminated in a deadly encounter between Moore and attorney Carey Wentworth Styles, who had sided with the citizenry. Styles eventually became the mayor of Brunswick in 1858, but later moved to Atlanta, where he founded The Atlanta Constitution.

Brunswick played a significant role during World War II, serving as a strategic military location with an operational base for blimps and a shipbuilding facility for the U.S. Maritime Commission. The city's port has served various economic purposes throughout its history, including being one of Georgia's two seaports today.

The city has also faced several natural disasters, including a yellow fever epidemic in 1893 and hurricanes in 1893 and 1898 that caused significant damage and loss of life. Despite these challenges, Brunswick has persevered and grown into a thriving community with a diverse economy based on tourism and logistics.

Today, Brunswick is known for its historic sites, vibrant cultural scene, and beautiful natural landscapes. The city is a popular tourist destination, offering a range of attractions, including the Ritz Theatre, Howard Coffin Park, and Lover's Oak, a 900-year-old live oak tree. Brunswick is also known for its seafood industry, particularly its shrimping and crabbing industries, and its annual festivals, such as the Brunswick Rockin' Stewbilee.

Brunswick's economy

Brunswick, Georgia, is a city and the county seat of Glynn County. It is the primary urban and economic centre of the lower southeast portion of Georgia and the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline. The city has a progressive economy largely based on tourism and logistics, with a metropolitan GDP of $3.9 billion as of 2013.

Tourism

Tourism is the single largest industry in the city and county. Brunswick and the Golden Isles are a year-round resort community, attracting visitors from around the world to their beaches, resorts, shops, and historic sites. The city is also home to a variety of arts and cultural events, such as productions by the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and performances at the historic Ritz Theatre.

Logistics

The Port of Brunswick, one of Georgia's two seaports, is a vital part of the city's economy. It handles approximately 10% of all US roll-on/roll-off trade and is the sixth-busiest automobile port in the country. The port serves as the primary export facility for Ford, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz, and as the central import facility for Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Porsche, and Volvo. In addition to automobiles, exports include agricultural products and other bulk cargoes.

Other Industries

Other major employers in Brunswick include King & Prince Seafood, GSI Commerce, Pinova, and Gulfstream Aerospace. Wood pulp is produced by the Georgia-Pacific mill, which has been in operation since 1937 and is the largest single-site fluff production facility in the world. Hercules, a manufacturer and marketer of chemical specialties, operates a production facility in the city, and jet aircraft manufacturer Gulfstream Aerospace has a presence at the Brunswick airport. Southeast Georgia Health System is the largest private employer in Brunswick.

Climate and weather

Brunswick, Georgia, has a humid subtropical climate. During the summer, temperatures often exceed 90 °F (32 °C), but the humidity makes it feel even hotter. Summer mornings have an average humidity of 90%, dropping to around 60% in the afternoon. Scattered thunderstorms are common in the summer. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Brunswick was 106 °F (41 °C) in 1986.

Winters in Brunswick are mild, with January, the coldest month, having an average high of 63 °F (17 °C) and an average low of 44 °F (7 °C). Snowfall is extremely rare, with the last recorded snowfall in Brunswick in 1989. The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was 5 °F (−15 °C) in 1985.

Brunswick receives a high amount of rainfall, with an annual average of about 49.6 inches (1,260 mm). The wettest months are August and September, which is also the peak of hurricane season. The city has experienced hurricane conditions several times due to storms passing through Florida or brushing the area from the north or south in the Atlantic. Despite this, Brunswick has suffered less damage from hurricanes than most other East Coast cities, as a major hurricane hasn't made landfall on the Georgia coast since 1898.

The best times of year to visit Brunswick for warm-weather activities are from early April to late May and from early October to early November.

Demographics

Brunswick, Georgia, is a city in and the county seat of Glynn County. It is the primary urban and economic centre of the lower southeast portion of Georgia and is located on the coast, approximately 75 miles south of Savannah and 60-65 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. The city is the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline, with a population of 15,210 as of the 2020 census. The Brunswick metropolitan area's population, however, was 113,495 in 2020.

Brunswick was established and named after the German Duchy of Brunswick–Lüneburg, the ancestral home of the House of Hanover. The city was incorporated in 1856 and has a long history as an important port. During World War II, it served as a strategic military location with a shipbuilding facility and a base for escort blimps.

The racial and ethnic makeup of Brunswick as of the 2020 census was:

• 56.2% Black or African American
• 30.39% non-Hispanic White
• 0.16% American Indian or Alaska Native
• 0.36% Asian
• 0.04% Pacific Islander
• 3.36% multiracial
• 9.49% Hispanic or Latino Americans of any race

The median household income in Brunswick in 2020 was $27,471, with a mean of $57,395. The city has a progressive economy largely based on tourism and logistics, with a GDP of $3.9 billion as of 2013. The Port of Brunswick is one of Georgia's two seaports and handles approximately 10% of all US roll-on/roll-off trade.

Brunswick is located on a peninsula and is bounded by several rivers, including the Brunswick River to the south, the East River and Turtle River to the west, and the Mackay River with the Intracoastal Waterway to the east. The city is the lowest in Georgia, with an elevation of only 10 to 14 feet above sea level.

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