The Royce School – Visit Savannah
Welcome to Savannah
Georgia’s first city. Nearly 300 years of history, 22 oak-shaded public squares, and a community known for welcoming people from everywhere. If you’re relocating to the area, this is a good place to start.
1733
Year Founded
22
Historic Squares
2.5 mi
National Historic Landmark District
~150K
City Residents
Founded 1733
A City Born from Vision
In 1733, British General James Oglethorpe sailed up the Savannah River and established Georgia’s first colonial settlement on a bluff above the water. His goal was ambitious – create a planned city that would serve as a buffer between Spanish Florida and the Carolina colonies, while offering opportunity to England’s working poor and religious refugees.
Oglethorpe’s city plan was unlike anything else in colonial America. He designed Savannah around a repeating system of public squares – open green spaces surrounded by homes, churches, and civic buildings. Of the original 24 squares, 22 survive today, giving Savannah one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States.
Those squares are still the defining feature of daily life here. They’re where families have picnics, kids play after school, and neighbors stop to talk. If you’ve never lived somewhere with public squares on every block, it takes about a week to understand why people who move here rarely want to leave.
Nearly 300 Years of History
Centuries of Significance
Savannah has been at the center of American history from the very beginning. Here’s what happened on these streets – and why so much of it is still standing.
Colonial Era
America’s Planned City
Savannah grew rapidly as a port city and commercial center, attracting settlers from England, Scotland, Germany, and Jewish refugees from Portugal – one of the most diverse early American cities.
In 1779, the Siege of Savannah – one of the Revolutionary War’s bloodiest battles – was fought on these streets. A French and American force attempted to retake the city from British control.
Antebellum and Civil War
Sherman’s Christmas Gift
Savannah became one of the wealthiest cities in the South through the cotton trade, and its antebellum mansions and churches still line the squares today.
In December 1864, Union General William Sherman completed his March to the Sea and captured Savannah – then sent President Lincoln a telegram offering the city as a “Christmas gift.” Sherman found the city so beautiful he chose not to burn it, sparing the architecture that defines Savannah today.
20th Century and Beyond
Saved, Not Demolished
By the mid-20th century, many of Savannah’s historic buildings faced demolition. A group of determined women founded the Historic Savannah Foundation in 1955 and began buying and restoring threatened properties – a preservation movement that saved hundreds of buildings still standing today.
That preservation effort is why Savannah looks the way it does – and why people come from around the world to walk its streets.
Modern Savannah
Savannah Today
Savannah has grown into a diverse, internationally connected city with a strong economy, world-class arts institutions, and an exceptional quality of life for families.
Architecture and Outdoors
Hundreds of restored 18th and 19th century homes, churches, and civic buildings line the streets. Forsyth Park – 30 acres in the heart of the city – anchors a park system connected by tree-canopied squares. Tybee Island beach is 18 miles away. The Spanish moss hanging from every live oak is not actually moss – it’s an air plant, and it’s native to coastal Georgia.
Arts, Culture, and Education
The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has transformed the city into a creative hub, operating galleries, theaters, and museums throughout the historic district. Year-round festivals celebrate jazz, film, food, and St. Patrick’s Day – one of the largest celebrations in the United States. The Telfair Museums, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, and Georgia State Railroad Museum offer world-class programming for families.
A Growing International Economy
The Port of Savannah is one of the busiest container ports in the United States, making the city a major logistics and trade hub. Hyundai Motor Group’s EV manufacturing plant in nearby Bryan County has brought a significant international presence to the region. Tourism, healthcare, technology, and the creative economy round out a diverse and stable workforce.
For Families New to the Area
A Community That Cares
Savannah has welcomed newcomers since 1733 – it’s genuinely part of the city’s character. Military families arriving at Fort Stewart or Hunter Army Airfield, and international families relocating for Hyundai or port-related work, tend to find Savannah easier to settle into than they expected.
The city is walkable, the neighborhoods are distinct and livable, and the cost of living remains accessible compared to most coastal metro areas. Families routinely say the pace of life, the access to outdoor space, and the genuine friendliness of neighbors caught them off guard – in a good way.
Students at Royce walk streets where Revolutionary War soldiers once marched. Families picnic in squares designed nearly 300 years ago. The history here isn’t behind glass – it’s the backdrop of daily life, and it gives children a remarkable sense of place.
The Royce School – Savannah, Georgia
Proud to Be Part of This City
The Royce School has been part of the Savannah community since 1970. If you’re new to the area and looking for the right school for your child, we’d love to meet you. Come see what we do.