Savannah, Georgia

City with an estimated 2009 population of 134,669 and an metro area population of 343,092. County seat of Chatham County. Originally populated by Yamacraw Native Americans, the city was founded in 1733 by General James Oglethorpe and a band of settlers from England. It was made capital of the Georgia Colony. Upon Georgia statehood, Savannah became the state capital until 1778, when it was captured by the British during the Revolution. It became state capital again briefly when the British left in 1782, and again from 1784 to 1786. A major port during the Antebellum period, the cotton trade made Savannah one of the wealthiest cities in the south. The city was embargoed by Union naval forces during the Civil War. In 1864 General Sherman's troops captured the city as part of the infamous "march to the sea." The city's economy was crushed by the Civil War but eventually regrew. By the 20th century Savannah became a major tourist destination.
www.savannahga.gov/cityweb/SavannahGaGOV.nsf