Port Wentworth was named for Lady Wentworth of England. It is steeped in tradition, environment and resources. Founded in 1733 and incorporated in 1957, its history arises out of the native Indian tribes and first settlers of the Trust Colony of Georgia. From this background came plantations that extended out from the Savannah River and provided the foundation for the future development of the industrial complex that is now the city and its environs.
Local industry includes lumber (pulp and paper), railroad, ship building, sugar refinery, banking and brick kilns that produce what is known today as "Savannah Gray Brick". It was in this area that Eli Whitney revolutionized the South by inventing the cotton gin in 1793.
The city, located in Eastern Georgia at 32° 9' 52" North, 81° 10' 48" West, is 11.22 square miles with a total population of 3,276 (according to a 2000 census). This Chatham County town is conveniently located near neighboring counties (Effingham and Bryan). Port Wentworth is minutes from the Savannah / Hilton Head International Airport, Tybee Island beach, Historic Savannah District and the Georgia Ports Authority. It can be reached by taking the northern most exit on Interstate 95 (Exit 109) in Georgia. Extending in both directions on Highway 21 at the base of that exit, the center of town is 3 miles to the south.
Port Wentworth is a quaint, southern town that offers a view of Georgia's past and present. We invite you to discover this city's rich history and be part of its bright future.
|
