Brunswick: Heart Of Coastal Georgia

Brunswick is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia, located in the southeast corner of the state. It is the county seat of Glynn County and the principal city of the Brunswick metropolitan area, which comprises Brantley, Glynn, and McIntosh counties. The city is situated on a peninsula, bordered by the East River, the Turtle River, the Brunswick River, and the Mackay River with the Intracoastal Waterway.

Brunswick is a major urban and economic centre, serving as the primary urban and economic hub of the lower southeast portion of Georgia. It is home to a progressive economy based largely on tourism and logistics, with a GDP of $3.9 billion as of 2013. The Port of Brunswick, one of Georgia's two seaports, is a vital part of the city's economy, handling approximately 10% of all U.S. roll-on/roll-off trade.

Brunswick has a rich history, dating back to its establishment as a municipal community in 1771. The city was named after the German Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg, the ancestral home of the House of Hanover. Throughout its history, Brunswick has served as an important port city, playing a strategic role during World War II. The city is also known for its diverse cultural and educational offerings, including the Coastal Symphony of Georgia and the College of Coastal Georgia.

Brunswick's location and boundaries

Brunswick is a city in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the county seat of Glynn County and the principal city of the Brunswick Metropolitan Area, which comprises Brantley, Glynn, and McIntosh counties. The metropolitan area is located along the Lower Coastal Plain and has a total area of 1,300 square miles (3,400 square kilometres).

Brunswick is located on the coast of Georgia, approximately 40 miles (60 kilometres) north of Florida, 80 miles (130 kilometres) south of South Carolina, 75 miles south of Savannah, and 65 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. It is the major urban and economic centre in the southeast corner of Georgia.

The city is situated on a peninsula, with the East River and the Turtle River to the west, the Brunswick River to the south, and the Mackay River with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway to the east. The Intracoastal Waterway separates Brunswick from the Golden Isles, which lie to the east of the city. The East River also separates Brunswick from Andrews Island, a dredge spoil site.

Brunswick is the lowest city in the state of Georgia, with an elevation of only 10 to 14 feet (3 to 4.3 metres) above sea level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Brunswick's land area is 32.4 square miles (83.8 square kilometres), while its total area is 42.4 square miles (109.8 square kilometres).

The Port of Brunswick, one of Georgia's two seaports, is located in the city. The port is recognised as one of the most productive on the East Coast and is a significant contributor to the local economy.

The city's history

Brunswick, Georgia, is a city in and the county seat of Glynn County. It is the principal city of the Brunswick Metropolitan Area, which comprises Brantley, Glynn, and McIntosh counties. The city is located on a peninsula, bordered by the East River and the Turtle River to the west, the Brunswick River to the south, and the Mackay River with the Intracoastal Waterway to the east.

The city was established as "Brunswick" after the German Duchy of Brunswick–Lüneburg, the ancestral home of the House of Hanover. The municipal community was incorporated as a city in 1856. Throughout its history, Brunswick has served as an important port city. During World War II, it served as a strategic military location with an operational base for escort blimps and a shipbuilding facility for the U.S. Maritime Commission.

The area's first European settler, Mark Carr, a Scotsman, arrived in 1738. Carr established a 1,000-acre tobacco plantation, which he 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, with large, public squares at given intervals. The town was named for the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg in Germany, the ancestral home of King George III and the British House of Hanover. The first lot was granted on June 30, 1772, and 179 lots were granted in the first three years.

During the American Revolutionary War, Brunswick lost most of its citizens, many of whom were Loyalists, to East Florida, the Caribbean Basin, and the United Kingdom. In 1783, several of these lots were regranted, and a few families who desired proper education for their children collected in Brunswick. On February 1, 1788, the General Assembly appointed eight town commissioners and chartered Glynn Academy. In 1789, Brunswick was recognized as an official port of entry by an act of the United States Congress. In 1797, the seat of Glynn County was transferred from Frederica to Brunswick.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Port of Brunswick became a major export site for cotton, naval stores, lumber, timber, and various other wood products. However, the Great Depression of the 1930s and the decline of cotton and naval stores production in Georgia severely impacted the port. During both world wars, Brunswick was a site of major shipbuilding efforts. The U.S. Maritime Commission designated it as one of sixteen sites for building cargo ships for World War II. The J.A. Jones Construction Company built eighty-five Liberty ships in Brunswick by the end of the war.

Today, Brunswick is a progressive city with a diverse economy largely based on tourism and logistics. The Port of Brunswick, one of Georgia's two seaports, continues to play a vital role in the city's economy. The city is also home to several major manufacturing and processing companies, including the Georgia-Pacific plant, the Hercules plant, and seafood processors Rich-SeaPak and King and Prince Seafood. Additionally, tourism is the single largest industry in Brunswick and Glynn County, attracted by the area's climate, beaches, golf resorts, and history.

Climate and geography

Brunswick, Georgia is located in the southeast corner of the state, approximately 75 miles south of Savannah and 60-65 miles north of Jacksonville, Florida. It is the county seat of Glynn County and the principal city of the Brunswick metropolitan area, which comprises Brantley, Glynn, and McIntosh counties. The city is situated on a peninsula, bordered on the west by Oglethorpe Bay, the East River, and the Turtle River, on the south by the Brunswick River, and on the east by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in the Mackay River, which separates it from the Golden Isles.

Brunswick has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen classification Cfa). The city experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures often exceeding 90 °F (32 °C), and the humidity resulting in a higher heat index. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer, and the city receives a high amount of rainfall, averaging about 49.6 inches (1,260 mm) annually. The wettest months are August and September, coinciding with the peak of hurricane season. Winters in Brunswick are fairly mild, with average highs of 63 °F (17 °C) and lows of 44 °F (7 °C) in January, the coldest month. Snowfall is rare, with the last recorded snowfall occurring in 1989.

The city is the lowest in Georgia in terms of elevation, with an elevation of only 10 to 14 feet (3.0 to 4.3 m) above sea level. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Brunswick's land area is 32.4 square miles (83.8 square km), and its total area, including water, is 42.4 square miles (109.8 square km).

Demographics

Brunswick is a city in and the county seat of Glynn County in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the principal city of the Brunswick Metropolitan Area, which comprises Brantley, Glynn, and McIntosh counties. The metropolitan area had a population of 113,495 in 2020, while the city of Brunswick had a population of 15,210.

Racial and Ethnic Composition

According to the 2020 census, the racial and ethnic makeup of Brunswick 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, and 9.49% Hispanic or Latino Americans of any race. The top five ancestry groups in the city, as of 2008 estimates, were American (5.3%), English (5.1%), Sub-Saharan African (4.3%), Irish (4.1%), and German (3.6%). Approximately 54.1% of the population reported another ancestry.

Religion

According to Sperling's BestPlaces, approximately 56.3% of Brunswick's population identified with a religion as of 2020. The majority of the religiously affiliated population identified as Christians. Baptists were the largest Christian tradition in the city and metropolitan area, with the National Baptist Convention and Southern Baptist Convention being some of the largest Baptist denominations. The largest single Christian denomination was the Roman Catholic Church and its Diocese of Savannah (6.8%). Methodism was the second-largest tradition (12.3%), and Pentecostalism was the third-largest (8.2%).

The second-largest religion practised or adhered to in the area was Judaism, and Eastern religions such as Buddhism or Hinduism made up 0.3% of the population. The largest Jewish movement within the city has been Reform Judaism, spread throughout the historic Temple Beth Tefilloh, founded in 1886.

Income and Poverty

As of the 2020 census, the median household income in Brunswick was $27,471, with a mean of $57,395. Among families, the median income was $29,953, with a mean of $53,434. Married-couple families had a median income of $63,301, while non-family households had a median income of $22,163 and a mean of $59,980. The median monthly costs for occupied housing units and renter-owned units were $718 in 2020. For homeowners with a mortgage, the median value of their single-family detached homes was $117,400, and the monthly costs were $1,068. The median real estate taxes paid among homeowners in the city were $951.

Education

The Glynn County School System is the governing authority of public schools in Brunswick. The College of Coastal Georgia, with more than 3,000 enrolled students, is a four-year institution established in 1961 as a unit of the University System of Georgia.

Economy and industry

Brunswick, Georgia, is the primary urban and economic centre of the lower southeast portion of Georgia. It is the second-largest urban area on the Georgia coastline after Savannah and is the county seat of Glynn County. The city has a population of 15,210, while the Brunswick metropolitan area's population is 113,495.

Brunswick's economy is largely based on tourism and logistics, with a GDP of $3.9 billion as of 2013.

Port of Brunswick

The Port of Brunswick is one of Georgia's two seaports and forms a vital part of the city's economy. It is one of the most productive ports on the East Coast and is the sixth-busiest automobile port in the U.S. The port handles approximately 10% of all U.S. roll-on/roll-off trade, ranking third in the country, behind only Los Angeles and Newark. The Port of Brunswick is the primary export facility for Ford, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz. It also serves as the central import facility for Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Mitsubishi, Porsche, and Volvo. In addition to automobiles, exports from the port include agricultural products and other bulk cargoes.

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 with their beaches, resorts, shops, and historic sites.

Manufacturing and Processing

Several major manufacturing and processing companies contribute to Brunswick's economy, including:

• Georgia-Pacific: Produces wood pulp, plywood, and paper.
• Hercules: Manufactures products extracted from pine stumps.
• Rich-SeaPak and King and Prince Seafood: Process fish and shellfish.
• Gulfstream Aerospace: Jet aircraft manufacturer with a presence at the city's airport.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), headquartered in Glynco, is a large agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It was identified as the largest employer in Glynn County, with an annual economic impact of over $600 million.

Other Industries and Employers

Other major employers in Brunswick include:

• Southeast Georgia Health System: The largest private employer in Brunswick, providing healthcare services.
• International Auto Processing: One of the town's largest employers, involved in automobile imports and exports.
• GSI Commerce
• Pinova

Frequently asked questions