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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Skidaway Island, Georgia
Skidaway Island is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Chatham County, Georgia, and lies on a barrier island of the same name. Located south of Savannah, Skidaway Island is known for its waterfront properties and golf courses within The Landings, one of the largest gated communities in the country. The population was 9,310 at the 2020 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Skidaway Island as a census-designated place (CDP). A separate area of the island hosts the Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, a research institution operated by the University of Georgia. It receives scholars and researchers from several other Georgia universities as well, including Georgia Tech, Savannah State University, and the College of Coastal Georgia. Skidaway Island is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area.

It is uncertain why the name "Skidaway" was applied to this island; the name may be derived from a word in Yamacraw or another Native American Creek language. In his 1967 publication How Georgia Got Her Names, Hal E. Brinkley stated that the name might be an Anglicized form of Scenawki, the wife of the Yamacraw chief Tomochichi, for whom Georgia's founder James Oglethorpe named the island.

In a March 2019 referendum, Skidaway Island voters overwhelmingly rejected a bill that would have incorporated their community as the City of Skidaway Island. The island remains unincorporated.

Geography

Skidaway Island is located at 31°55′39″N 81°2′33″W / 31.92750°N 81.04250°W / 31.92750; -81.04250 (31.927434, -81.042505).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.9 square miles (46 km), of which 16.4 square miles (42 km) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km) (8.45%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19801,264—
19904,495255.6%
20006,91453.8%
20108,34120.6%
20209,31011.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1850-1870 1870-1880
1890-1910 1920-1930
1940 1950 1960
1970 1980 1990
2000 2010 2020

Skidaway Island was first listed as a CDP in 1980 U.S. Census.

2020

Skidaway Island, Georgia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop. 2000 Pop. 2010 Pop. 2020 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,703 7,954 8,605 96.95% 95.36% 92.43%
Black or African American alone (NH) 33 65 97 0.48% 0.78% 1.04%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1 7 0 0.01% 0.08% 0.00%
Asian alone (NH) 95 154 184 1.37% 1.85% 1.98%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 3 0 0.00% 0.04% 0.00%
Some other race alone (NH) 3 13 24 0.04% 0.16% 0.26%
Mixed race or multiracial (NH) 26 33 193 0.38% 0.40% 2.07%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 53 112 207 0.77% 1.34% 2.22%
Total 6,914 8,341 9,310 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 9,310 people, 4,272 households, and 3,014 families residing in the CDP.

Notable people

  • Dorothea Orem, nursing theorist, who died at her home on Skidaway Island on June 22, 2007.
  • Ron Senkowski, founder of Farmer's Almanac TV.
  • Bobby Thomson, baseball player, who died at his home there on August 16, 2010.

See also