Hutchinson Island, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Hutchinson Island is a river island in the Savannah River
, north of downtown Savannah
in Chatham County
, Georgia
, United States
. The island is formed where the Back River breaks off to the north from the Savannah River. Historically, Hutchinson Island's land use has been primarily industrial, much of which supported the Port of Savannah
, one of the busiest containerization
cargo ports in the world. The island is roughly 7 miles long and 1 mile wide at its widest point.
. After capturing Atlanta, Georgia
, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
turned his army East, toward the Atlantic Ocean
, and arrived in Savannah in December 1864. Rather than destroying Savannah, Sherman elected to demand the city's surrender. Confederate Gen. William J. Hardee
led his troops under the dark of night across the Savannah River on a makeshift pontoon bridge
, across Hutchinson Island and into the South Carolina wilderness.
On the Back River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers formerly maintained a tidal control system that slowed the natural filling in of the main river's shipping channel. The tide gate was abandoned after studies showed that it had increased saltwater intrusion
into the upriver freshwater Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
.
Totaling approximately 2000 acres (8.1 km²), Hutchinson Island was targeted as the site for a public-private partnership to build a convention center and hotel. Chatham County voters approved spending $63 million in public special-purpose local-option sales tax
money for the trade center and $10 million for the road system on the island. The Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort were built. In addition, the state of Georgia provided $18 million, and former land owner CSX railroad donated 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) for the public trade center.
Public monies also helped build a sanctioned Champ Car
-style road race track, and sanctioned Indy Lights races were organized. The track closed, but has recently been reworked and reopened.
One of the first events to use the reopened Hutchinson Island track is the Hilton Head Concours.
While much of Hutchinson Island has been trade convention and resort-oriented in the past, the island's first residential community is under way, The Reserve at Savannah Harbor
, and plans are being drawn to develop the riverfront into a mixed-use, urban extension of Savannah.
The Georgia Ports Authority
and International Paper
still own undeveloped tracts of land on the far west end of Hutchinson Island.
, and from the north, in South Carolina
, via U.S. Highway 17.
Savannah River
The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. Two tributaries of the Savannah, the Tugaloo River and the Chattooga River, form the northernmost part of the border...
, north of downtown Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
in Chatham County
Chatham County, Georgia
Chatham County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The county seat and largest city is Savannah. In the official US Census of 2010, Chatham County had a total population of 265,128 . Chatham is the most populous Georgia county outside the Atlanta metropolitan area...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The island is formed where the Back River breaks off to the north from the Savannah River. Historically, Hutchinson Island's land use has been primarily industrial, much of which supported the Port of Savannah
Port of Savannah
The Port of Savannah is a major U.S. seaport located at Savannah, Georgia. Its extensive facilities for oceangoing vessels line both sides of the Savannah River approximately from the Atlantic Ocean...
, one of the busiest containerization
Containerization
Containerization is a system of freight transport based on a range of steel intermodal containers...
cargo ports in the world. The island is roughly 7 miles long and 1 mile wide at its widest point.
History
Hutchinson Island also played a major role in the capture of Savannah during the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After capturing Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Union Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
turned his army East, toward the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, and arrived in Savannah in December 1864. Rather than destroying Savannah, Sherman elected to demand the city's surrender. Confederate Gen. William J. Hardee
William J. Hardee
William Joseph Hardee was a career U.S. Army officer, serving during the Second Seminole War and fighting in the Mexican-American War...
led his troops under the dark of night across the Savannah River on a makeshift pontoon bridge
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
, across Hutchinson Island and into the South Carolina wilderness.
On the Back River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers formerly maintained a tidal control system that slowed the natural filling in of the main river's shipping channel. The tide gate was abandoned after studies showed that it had increased saltwater intrusion
Saltwater intrusion
Saltwater intrusion is the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers. Most often, it is caused by ground-water pumping from coastal wells, or from construction of navigation channels or oil field canals. The channels and canals provide conduits for salt water to be brought into fresh...
into the upriver freshwater Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
Savannah National Wildlife Refuge
The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge is a 29,175 acre National Wildlife Refuge located in Chatham and Effingham counties in Georgia and Jasper County in South Carolina. Of the total area, is in Georgia and is in South Carolina...
.
Facilities
Special-purpose local-option sales tax
In the U.S. state of Georgia, a special-purpose local-option sales tax can be levied by any county, for the purpose of funding the building and maintenance of parks, schools, roads, and other public facilities...
money for the trade center and $10 million for the road system on the island. The Savannah International Trade and Convention Center and the Westin Savannah Harbor Resort were built. In addition, the state of Georgia provided $18 million, and former land owner CSX railroad donated 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) for the public trade center.
Public monies also helped build a sanctioned Champ Car
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
-style road race track, and sanctioned Indy Lights races were organized. The track closed, but has recently been reworked and reopened.
One of the first events to use the reopened Hutchinson Island track is the Hilton Head Concours.
While much of Hutchinson Island has been trade convention and resort-oriented in the past, the island's first residential community is under way, The Reserve at Savannah Harbor
Reserve at Savannah Harbor
The Reserve at Savannah Harbor is the first neighborhood community on Hutchinson Island, Georgia, , a river island located directly across the Savannah River from historic downtown Savannah, Georgia and now being developed with commercial and residential components...
, and plans are being drawn to develop the riverfront into a mixed-use, urban extension of Savannah.
The Georgia Ports Authority
Georgia Ports Authority
The Georgia Ports Authority is the administrative agency of the U.S. state of Georgia that oversees the development, maintenance and operation of two deepwater seaports and two inland ports in the state. The GPA was established in 1945 by State Ports Authority Act #422 and is currently...
and International Paper
International Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
still own undeveloped tracts of land on the far west end of Hutchinson Island.
Access
Ferry boats take visitors and residents across the Savannah River on a regular, daily schedule. The island can also be accessed by car, from the south via the Talmadge Memorial BridgeTalmadge Memorial Bridge
The Talmadge Memorial Bridge is a bridge in the United States that spans the Savannah River between downtown Savannah, Georgia, and Hutchinson Island.-History:...
, and from the north, in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, via U.S. Highway 17.