Richmond Hill, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richmond Hill, Georgia
City
Location in Bryan County and the state of Georgia
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Bryan
Settled	1734
Incorporated	1962
Government
• Type	City Council
Area
• Total	24.60 sq mi (63.72 km2)
• Land	23.78 sq mi (61.59 km2)
• Water	0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2)
Elevation	20 ft (6 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,633
• Density	699.45/sq mi (270.06/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	31324
Area code(s)	912
FIPS code	13-65044
GNIS feature ID	0342353

Richmond Hill is a city in Bryan County, Georgia. The population was 16,633 at the 2020 U.S. Census, an increase of almost 80% from the 2010 population of 9,281. Richmond Hill is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Richmond Hill is located along the eastern border of Bryan County at 31°56′17″N 81°18′49″W / 31.93806°N 81.31361°W / 31.93806; -81.31361 (31.938151, -81.313750). The Ogeechee River forms the eastern edge of the city (and the county line); an outlying portion of the city of Savannah is on the opposite side of the river.

U.S. Route 17 (Ocean Highway) passes through the city north of the original downtown. Interstate 95 passes through the western edge of the city, with access from Exit 87 (US 17) and Exit 90 (Georgia State Route 144/Ford Avenue). Downtown Savannah is 21 miles (34 km) to the north, and Brunswick is 58 miles (93 km) to the south.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Richmond Hill has a total area of 14.6 square miles (37.9 km²), of which 14.4 square miles (37.4 km²) is land and 0.19 square miles (0.5 km²), or 1.42%, is water.

The city limits of Richmond Hill have expanded to the east along S.R. 144, where there are a number of planned developments. This area contains large amounts of marsh and riverfront property. Farther to the east are Fort McAllister Historic Park and the small community of Keller. Residents of the entire South Bryan County area rely on Richmond Hill proper for basic services, and must travel through the city to leave the county, especially when commuting to Savannah via U.S. 17 or I-95. Most South Bryan residents, especially the large percentage of relative newcomers, would likely say they were "from Richmond Hill."

History

Richmond Hill has a historical connection to industrialist Henry Ford. Ford used the town, formerly known as Ways Station, as a winter home and philanthropic social experiment, building the complex known as the Ford Farms along the Ogeechee River in the 1930s. After just one visit he chose this area as his winter home. Ford's dwelling was built on the site of Richmond Plantation, which was burned by elements of General William T. Sherman's army at the conclusion of the "March to the Sea". Ford's holdings eventually totaled 85,000 acres (340 km²) of agricultural and timber lands, most of which is now owned by the State of Georgia or ITT Rayonier, a timber company. Ford was also responsible for the construction of a number of public buildings, including a kindergarten, which now houses the museum of the Richmond Hill Historical Society, and a chapel which now houses St. Anne's Catholic Church. Both are located on Georgia S.R. 144, also known as Ford Avenue within the Richmond Hill city limits. The Ford Plantation has now been redeveloped as a luxury resort, with vacation cottages, a clubhouse, tennis, and golf. When it was suggested that the town be renamed "Ford", Mr. Ford declined, and instead Ways Station was renamed "Richmond Hill" after the site of Ford's home on the banks of the Ogeechee River.

Richmond Hill was incorporated as a city in 1962. The current mayor is Harold Fowler, who took office in 2009. Previously, Richard Davis served in that capacity since 1989. The city is governed by a mayor and a four-member city council.

Richmond Hill was the location of the discovery in 2004 of Benjaman Kyle, a man who suffers from retrograde amnesia as a result of a severe beating. In 2015, he was identified as William Burgess Powell.

Development

Real estate development in Richmond Hill has generally followed trends represented in the United States as a whole. Post-Civil War populations remained relatively stable until the arrival of industrialist Henry Ford in the 1930s. In the early 1970s, subdivisions began to spring up, and the "white flight" from nearby Savannah began a settlement trend that has continued steadily until the present. Subdivisions of varying quality, ranging from starter homes to exclusive, gated golf communities, have emerged.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 16,633 people, 4,334 households, and 3,431 families residing in the city.

Community

Events

Richmond Hill hosts a number of community events at J.F. Gregory Park. Throughout the year the community comes together for supporting special events and causes, such as:

• Annual Easter Extravaganza
• Annual Jazz Festival
• Annual Memorial Day Observance
• Annual First Day of Summer Prayer Breakfast
• National Night Out
• Old Time Family 4 July Festival & Fireworks
• Annual Pumpkin Patch
• Annual Veterans Day Observance
• Annual Chili Cook-off
• Annual Rodeo
• Winter Scavenger Hunt. Scavengers Assemble

Religion

Richmond Hill is home to over 20 churches of all denominations. Many of these organizations participate cooperatively in outreach programs that benefit the community as a whole. The "Food for the Soul" soup kitchen, based out of the Richmond Hill United Methodist Church's and manned by ten separate churches rotating on a weekly basis, delivers over 350 hot meals to families in need within Richmond Hill. The Way Station, another multiple church outreach program, has been in operation for over twenty years providing food, clothing, and other items that enhance the lives of families in the community.

Community service groups

• Richmond Hill Rotary Club
• Richmond Hill Exchange Club
• Richmond Hill Lions Club
• Richmond Hill Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 7331
• Richmond Hill Garden Club - Senior's Center
• Richmond Hill Sons of Confederate Veterans
• Bryan Lodge #303 F&AM

Newcomers & Neighbors Guide

Produced by the Bryan County News, the "Newcomers & Neighbors" guide is a source for local information about events, government, education, and healthcare. The guide is produced annually, and free printed copies are available at the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce. Richmond Hill also has a community website, Richmond Hill Live, where local citizens share their information and showcase their community to neighbors and newcomers.

Economy

Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees provide 93% of the employment.

Major employers

Shopping areas

• Ford Plaza (S.R. 144 - Ford Ave.) - the largest shopping area in Richmond Hill, with two bookstores, Curves, three restaurants, two bars, sporting goods, flooring, real-estate, and attorneys.
• Station Exchange (S.R. 144 - Ford Ave.) - currently in foreclosure; most businesses have moved out.
• Parker Square (S.R. 144 - Ford Ave.) - built by Greg Parker; includes a deli, upscale clothing consignment shop, chiropractor, karate studio, and a dentist.
• Saw Mill Plaza (S.R. 144 - Ford Ave.) - remodeled in 2011; has a dance studio, pizza parlor, barber shop, hair salon, motor cycle repair, and the only laundromat in Richmond Hill.
• Publix Shopping Center (S.R. 144 - Ford Ave.) - anchored by Publix grocery store, with three restaurants (Asian, Breakfast, and Subway), liquor store, nail salon, chocolate shop, UPS Store, and ice cream shop
• Exchange Plaza (S.R. 144 - Ford Ave.) - has Verizon, AT&T Mobility, Pizza Hut, credit union, tanning salon, and urgent care center, as well as a small Mexican restaurant.

Education

Bryan County School District serves Richmond Hill. The city has six public schools for students between the ages of five to 21 (21 in cases of challenged high-school students). They are Richmond Hill Primary School (RHPS), Richmond Hill Elementary School (RHES), George Washington Carver Upper Elementary School (GWCUES), McAllister Elementary School (MES), Richmond Hill Middle School (RHMS), and Richmond Hill High School (RHHS). Of the two high schools, Richmond Hill High has the highest scores in Bryan County. The city is currently expanding its schools due to a large spike in the number of people migrating to the city during the last thirty years. Two new elementary and middle schools have been built recently. Richmond Hill is expected to grow exponentially in the next few years based on the trend of the increasing population since the early-1990s.

Notable people

• Nick Fitzgerald, college football quarterback
• Dominique Rikhi, cricketer

Images for kids

• 

  Richmond Hill Plantation, Ford Mansion

• 

  The Martha Mary Chapel

See also

In Spanish: Richmond Hill (Georgia) para niños