Savannah’s Squares

Presented by

Larry Smith

James Edward Oglethorpe laid out a 2.2 square mile tract in 1733 as the site of Savannah. Once this was done, he began laying out the city using a system of wards. From 1733 to 1856, a total of 24 wards were laid out.

Tything

(10 Lots)

Tything

(10 Lots)

Tything

(10 Lots)

Tything

(10 Lots)

Trust Lots

(2)

Trust Lots (2)

In the Peter Gordon View, 1734, Savannah’s city plan has already assumed the form with which we are

familiar today. Derby Ward, Percival Ward, Decker Ward, Heathcote Ward and their squares formed the

nucleus around which the city would be built.

Montgomery Street

Franklin Ward, Franklin Square (Benjamin Franklin):

A lost square, Franklin was later reclaimed.

Liberty Ward, Liberty Square (freedom, Liberty Boys):

Liberty is a lost square.

Elbert Ward, Elbert Square (Samuel Elbert, patriot & governor of Georgia):

Elbert is a lost square.

Barnard Street

Decker Ward, Ellis Square (1733- Sir Matthew Decker, trustee, and Henry Ellis, GA’s 2nd royal governor): Once the site of City Market, Ellis Square has been a parking garage since 1954.

Heathcote Ward, Telfair Square (1733- George Heathcote, trustee, and the Telfair family): Telfair Square was originally St. James’s Square. It is one of two squares whose names were changed.

Jackson Ward, Orleans Square (1815- Andrew Jackson, Battle of New Orleans):

This square has a fountain and decorative stone benches.

Pulaski Ward, Pulaski Square (1837- Gen. Casimir Pulaski).

Chatham Ward, Chatham Square (1840s- William Pitt, Earl of Chatham).

Bull Street

Derby Ward, Johnson Square (1733- James Derby, trustee, and Robert Johnson, SC’s royal governor):

The Nathaniel Greene Monument is located in this square.

Percival Ward, Wright Square (1733- first president of the trustees, and James Wright, GA’s 3rd royal governor): Originally Egmont Square, Wright square holds the William Washington Gordon Monument and Tomochichi’s Rock.

Brown Ward, Chippewa Square (1815- Gen. Jacob Jennings Brown, Battle of Chippewa): The Oglethorpe Monument, created by Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon, is located in Chippewa Square.

Jasper Ward, Madison Square (1837- Sgt. William Jasper, President James Madison): A monument honoring Sgt. William Jasper is located in Madison Square. Cannon marking the colonial road to Darien are also located here.

Monterey Ward, Monterey Square (1847- Mexican War battle): Monterey Square holds the Pulaski Monument. Pulaski, like Jasper, fell during the Siege of Savannah.

Abercorn Street

Reynolds Ward, Reynolds Square (1734- John Reynolds, 1st royal governor of GA): Reynolds Square is the site of the Wesley Monument which honors the founder of Methodism.

Anson Ward, Oglethorpe Square (1742- Admiral George Anson, General James Edward Oglethorpe).

An interruption to the city plan occurs on Abercorn Street.

Lafayette Ward, Lafayette Square (1837- Revolutionary War hero):

A sundial and fountain are found in Lafayette Square.

Calhoun Ward, Calhoun Square (1851- John C. Calhoun, senator and Secretary of War under President Madison).

Habersham Street

An interruption to the city plan occurs on Habersham Street.

Warren Ward, Warren Square (1790- Gen. Joseph Warren, killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill).

Columbia Ward, Columbia Square (1799- figurative name for America). Columbia Square holds a fountain relocated from Wormsloe Plantation.

Troup Ward, Troup Square (1851- George Michael Troup, GA governor & US senator): Troup Square features an armillary sphere. This is one of only two squares named for living persons.

Wesley Ward, Whitefield Square (1851- John Wesley, Founder of Methodism and George Whitefield, founder of Bethesda): This square is the location of a gazebo.

Colonial ParkCemetery

Abercorn Street Habersham Street

Colonial Park Cemetery

occupies the space which should have

been the third squares on

Abercorn and Habersham

Streets.

Houston Street

Washington Ward, Washington Square (1791- President George Washington).

Greene Ward, Greene Square (1791- Gen. Nathanael Greene).

Crawford Ward, Crawford Square (1841- William Harris Crawford, US senator, minister to France, Secretary of the Treasury, and presidential candidate). Sometimes called “the Playground Square,” Crawford Square contains playground equipment and basketball courts.

Whitefield

Troup

Columbia

Warren

Crawford

Greene

Wash-ington

Reynolds

Oglethorpe

Lafayette

CalhounMonterey

Madison

Wright

Johnson

Chatham

Pulaski

Orleans

Telfair

Ellis

Elbert

Liberty

Franklin

ChippewaColonial Park

Cemetery

Savannah’s Wards and Their Squares

Montgomery

Street

Barnard

Street

Bull

Street

Abercorn

Street

Habersham

Street

Houston

Street

Franklin 1790

Liberty 1799

Elbert 1801

Decker 1733

Heathcote 1733

Jackson 1815

Pulaski 1837

Chatham 1840

Derby 1733

Percival 1733

Brown 1815

Jasper 1837

Monterey 1847

Reynolds 1734

Anson 1742

Lafayette 1837

Calhoun 1851

Warren 1790

Columbia 1799

Troup 1851

Wesley 1851

Washington 1791

Greene 1791

Crawford 18411752

The McKinnon Map showing the first six wards, the five-acre garden plots, and the 40-acre garden plots.