Isle of Hope, Georgia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Isle of Hope is a census-designated place (CDP) in Chatham County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,605 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Isle of Hope is located at 31°59′0″N, 81°3′20″W (31.983380, -81.055686)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.5 km² (2.1 mi²). 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (9.95%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,605 people, 1,001 households, and 783 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 529.4/km² (1,373.2/mi²). There were 1,038 housing units at an average density of 210.9/km² (547.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.27% White, 0.84% African American, 0.35% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 1,001 households out of which 36.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.6% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.7% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.6% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $75,274, and the median income for a family was $79,586. Males had a median income of $52,175 versus $38,468 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $34,067. None of the families and 0.2% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

[edit] History

Early maps refer to Isle of Hope in French as L'Isle Desperance. Legends abound of pirates using the island to hide their booty, and generations of children have gone digging for treasure there. Legend also says that the island was used as a place of refuge for French Huguenots fleeing persecution.

In 1733, when the Georgia colony was founded by General James Edward Oglethorpe, one of the original settlers that accompanied him was a surveyor named Noble Jones. Jones was granted a tract on the island that was eventually named Wormsloe, possibly after an English estate of that name but more probably due to the mulberry trees that were grown there, the worms of which, it was hoped, would form the basis of a silk industry. A revolutionary-era earthwork fort was built at the Skidaway Narrows end of the estate, and today can be visited as part of Wormsloe Historic Site State Park.

Jones, along with James Fallowfield and Henry Parker, settled for good on the island. During nearby Savannah's not-infrequent yellow fever epidemics, the island was host to Savannahians fleeing the miasma of the city's fevers. As more people discovered the beautiful island, the former plantation lands were subdivided and lots sold, and it became a fashionable summer retreat. Several homes from the antebellum period remain, including the 1820 former caretaker's cottage of Carsten Hall plantation — the plantation itself burned in the early 20th century, and the family moved into the caretaker's cottage overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.

In the early 20th century, with better transportation options, the summer resort became the year-round home of many, and the terrapin farm at Barbee's Pavilion became world famous for the export of terrapins for stew, including to the major restaurants of New York City and even to the Czar of Russia. It was also the destination of dashing race car drivers from around the world for the International Grand Prix races, and the old course can be picked out by the knowledgable observer.

Isle of Hope Methodist Church is another historic spot on the island. Built before the Civil War, the property was used as a Confederate encampment and the church building was used as a hospital. Soldiers who used the pews for makeshift beds carved their initials there during their recuperation. When the old church burned down during a renovation in 1988, the old pews had been removed and so were saved. Thirty-three Confederate soldiers are buried in the churchyard.

The island's beauty and history has attracted a number of Hollywood movie productions, including the Oscar-winning Glory, the original Cape Fear, The Last of the Belles, and Forrest Gump.