Richmond Hill, Georgia

2025-10-26T13:02:25Z

2600:8802:4800:6D50:2C65:2FF7:511B:4ED3:

{{Other uses|Richmond Hill (disambiguation){{!}}Richmond Hill}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement

| name = Richmond Hill, Georgia
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| motto = 
| image_skyline =
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| image_flag = Flag of Richmond Hill, Georgia.png
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| image_seal = Seal of Richmond Hill, Georgia.png
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| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Richmond Hill, Georgia.png
| blank_emblem_type = Logo
| blank_emblem_size =
| image_map = Bryan_County_Georgia_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Richmond_Hill_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location in [[Bryan County, Georgia|Bryan County]] and the state of [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
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| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Georgia (U.S. state)|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Bryan County, Georgia|Bryan]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 = 
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = City Council
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Russ Carpenter
| leader_title1 = Councilwoman
| leader_name1 = Kristi Cox
| leader_title2 = Councilman
| leader_name2 = Robbie Ward
| leader_title3 = Councilman
| leader_name3 = Les Fussell
| leader_title4 = Councilman
| leader_name4 = Steve Scholar
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1734
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 = Incorporated
| established_date3 = 1962

| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_13.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 18, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 63.72
| area_land_km2 = 61.59
| area_water_km2 = 2.13
| area_total_sq_mi = 24.60
| area_land_sq_mi = 23.78
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.82
| area_water_percent =
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 16,633
| population_density_km2 = 270.06
| population_density_sq_mi = 706.4
| population_metro =
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| timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| coordinates = {{coord|31|56|17|N|81|18|49|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 6
| elevation_ft = 20

| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code = 31324
| area_code = [[Area code 912|912]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 13-65044<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0342353<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|www.richmondhill-ga.gov}}
| pop_est_as_of =
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| population_est =
}}

'''Richmond Hill''' is a city in [[Bryan County, Georgia]], United States. The population was 16,633 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. census]], an increase of almost 80% from the 2010 population of 9,281.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1365044| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212180904/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1365044| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Richmond Hill city, Georgia| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 7, 2013}}</ref> Richmond Hill is part of the [[Savannah, Georgia|Savannah]] [[Savannah metropolitan area|metropolitan statistical area]].

== History ==
Richmond Hill has a historical connection to industrialist [[Henry Ford]].<ref>{{cite book | url=http://www.kenkrakow.com/gpn/r.pdf| title=Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins | publisher=Winship Press | author=Krakow, Kenneth K. | year=1975 | location=Macon, GA | page=188 | isbn=0-915430-00-2}}</ref> 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 "[[Sherman's March to the Sea|March to the Sea]]". Ford's holdings eventually totaled {{convert|85000|acre|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", he declined, and instead Ways Station was renamed "Richmond Hill" after the site of Ford's home on the banks of the Ogeechee River.

Another plantation, [[Myrtle Grove Plantation, Georgia|Myrtle Grove]], has been used in several movie and television productions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Kyle |title=Richmond Hill: Coming Soon to a screen near you |url=https://www.wtoc.com/2021/05/10/richmond-hill-coming-soon-screen-near-you/ |access-date=2022-07-09 |website=WTOC11 |date=18 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Richmond Hill Plantation, Ford Mansion, East of Richmond Hill on Ford Neck Road, Richmond Hill vicinity (Bryan County, Georgia).jpg|thumb|Richmond Hill Plantation, Ford Mansion]]
Richmond Hill was incorporated as a city in 1962.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=REtEXQNWq6MC&pg=PA243 | title=Historical Gazetteer of the United States | publisher=Routledge | date=May 13, 2013 | access-date=30 November 2013 | author=Hellmann, Paul T. | page=243| isbn=978-1135948597 }}</ref> The current mayor is Russ Carpenter. The previous mayor, Richard Davis served in that capacity since 1989. The city is governed by a mayor and a four-member city council.

===Development===
Real estate development in Richmond Hill has generally followed trends represented in the United States as a whole. Post-[[American Civil War|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 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. Locals attribute population growth to the nearest military base, Fort Stewart.

==Geography==
Richmond Hill is located along the eastern border of Bryan County.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> 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]]/[[Henry Ford|Ford]] Avenue). Downtown Savannah is {{convert|21|mi}} to the north, and [[Brunswick, Georgia|Brunswick]] is {{convert|58|mi}} to the south.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Richmond Hill has a total area of {{convert|37.9|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|37.4|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.5|km2|disp=flip}}, or 1.42%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1970= 826
|1980= 1177
|1990= 2934
|2000= 6959
|2010= 9281
|2020= 16633
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Richmond Hill racial composition as of 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=Explore Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US1365044&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|access-date=2021-12-14|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
!Race
!Num.
!Perc.
|-
|[[White (U.S. Census)|White]] (non-Hispanic)
|10,072
|60.55%
|-
|[[African American (U.S. Census)|Black or African American]] (non-Hispanic)
|2,936
|17.65%
|-
|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]]
|43
|0.26%
|-
|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]
|665
|4.0%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]]
|14
|0.08%
|-
|[[Race (United States Census)|Other/Mixed]]
|1,095
|6.58%
|-
|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]]
|1,808
|10.87%
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 16,633 people, 4,334 households, and 3,431 families residing in the city.

==Economy==
Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees make up 93% of the employers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.richmondhill-ga.gov/EconomicDevelopment/tabid/333/Default.aspx |title=Economic Development |website=Richmondhill-ga.gov |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012085654/http://www.richmondhill-ga.gov/EconomicDevelopment/tabid/333/Default.aspx |archive-date=12 October 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Major employers ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!#
!Employer
|-
|1
|[[Hobart Corporation]]
|-
|2
|City of Richmond Hill
|-
|3
|[[South State Bank]]
|-
|4
|[[Allied Van Lines]]
|-
|5
|[[Kroger]]
|-
|6
|South Coast Medical
|-
|7
|[[Publix]]
|}

==Education==
[[Bryan County School District]] serves Richmond Hill. The town has seven public schools for students between the ages of five and 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 (GWCES), McAllister Elementary School (MES), France Meeks Elementary School (FMES) Richmond Hill Middle School (RHMS), and [[Richmond Hill High School (Georgia)|Richmond Hill High School]] (RHHS). Of the two high schools, Richmond Hill High has the highest scores in Bryan County.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/georgia/districts/bryan-county-109163|title=High Schools in Bryan County District|website=Usnews.com|access-date=1 February 2022}}</ref> 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.{{when|date=October 2020}} 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.
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.richmondhillga.com/|title=Richmond Hill, GA|website=Richmondhillga.com}}</ref>

==Healthcare==
In 2011, Winn Army Community Hospital opened to serve the large military population in the area. It serves military retirees and their families only. For the general public, the nearest emergency room is located in Savannah at St. Joseph's Hospital, about {{convert|15|mi}} away.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bryancountynews.com/archives/17638/ |title=Bryan County News, bryancountynews.net – news and sports for Fort Stewart, Richmond Hill and Pembroke |website=Bryancountynews.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107001916/http://www.bryancountynews.com/archives/17638/ |archive-date=7 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==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 Memorial Day Observance
*Annual First Day of Summer Prayer Breakfast
*[[National Night Out]]
*Old Time Family [[Fourth of July]] Festival & Fireworks
*Annual Pumpkin Patch
*[http://www.goseafoodfestival.com Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival], with c. 35,000 attendees<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eventsinamerica.com/events/13th-annual-ogeechee-seafood-festival/ev4d7a60716be88/ |title=Top Trade Shows - Supplier Directory, Exhibitor Tool |publisher=Events in America |access-date=2019-07-08}}</ref>
*Annual Veterans Day Observance
*Annual Chili Cook-off

===Religion===
[[File:GA Richmond Hill Martha-Mary Chapel01.jpg|thumb|The Martha Mary Chapel]]
While a small majority of citizens in Richmond Hill are non-religious, [[Christianity]] is the second largest. Christianity denominations include [[Protestant]] and [[Catholic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.city-data.com/city/Richmond-Hill-Georgia.html|title=Richmond Hill, Georgia (GA 31324) profile: population, maps, real estate, averages, homes, statistics, relocation, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, moving, houses, news, sex offenders|website=City-data.com}}</ref> Richmond Hill is home to over 20 churches of various denominations.

Many church organizations participate cooperatively in outreach programs that benefit the community as a whole. The "Food for the Soul" [[soup kitchen]], staffed by individuals from ten separate churches that rotate on a weekly basis, delivers 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

== Notable people ==
* [[Nick Fitzgerald (American football)|Nick Fitzgerald]], college football quarterback

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Richmond Hill, Georgia}}
* [https://www.richmondhill-ga.gov/ City of Richmond Hill official website]
* [http://www.rhbcchamber.org/ Richmond Hill - Bryan County Chamber of Commerce]

{{Bryan County, Georgia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1962 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Cities in Bryan County, Georgia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1962]]
[[Category:Savannah metropolitan area]]

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Richmond Hill, Georgia