Lower Coastal Plain (Georgia) facts for kids
The Lower Coastal Plain is a special part of Georgia in the southeastern United States. It's often called the "Coastal Empire." This area is very flat and close to the Atlantic Ocean. Here, you'll find barrier islands (long, narrow islands that protect the coast), marshes (wet, grassy areas), and swampy lowlands. There are also wide, flat plains and low, raised areas called terraces. This part of Georgia is different from the Upper Coastal Plain because it's lower to the ground and has wetter soil. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sees the Lower Coastal Plain as its own special natural area, or "ecoregion." It's part of a bigger area called the Southern Coastal Plain, which stretches across several states.
Rivers and Waterways
Many important rivers flow through the Lower Coastal Plain. These include the Altamaha, Ogeechee, Saint Marys, Savannah, Satilla, and Suwannee rivers. All of these rivers, except for the Suwannee, eventually flow into the Atlantic Ocean. The Saint Marys and Suwannee rivers actually start in the huge Okefenokee Swamp, a famous wetland in Georgia.
Cities and Counties
The Lower Coastal Plain is also home to Savannah, which was Georgia's very first capital city, founded in 1733. This area is often thought of as the same as Coastal Georgia.
Many counties are part of this region. South of the Altamaha River, you'll find Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Echols, Glynn, Lanier, Pierce, Ware, and Wayne counties.
North of the Altamaha River are Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, Liberty, Long, and McIntosh counties.
The three largest city areas, called metropolitan areas, are Brunswick, Hinesville–Fort Stewart, and Savannah.
Population and Communities
The biggest communities in this region, based on how many people live there, are Savannah, Hinesville, Pooler–Bloomingdale, Brunswick, Saint Marys, Waycross, Jesup, Richmond Hill, Tybee Island, and Everett.
In 2010, about 726,132 people lived in these eighteen counties. About 286,271 people lived south of the Altamaha River, and 439,861 people lived north of it.
