Thunderbolt, Georgia


Thunderbolt is a town located in Chatham County, Georgia, United States, approximately five miles southeast of downtown Savannah. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 2,556. It is part of the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area. Thunderbolt runs along the western shore of the Wilmington River. The town is important to Georgia's shrimping industry, with scores of docks for shrimping trawlers. The town's picturesque atmosphere and seafood restaurants draw many local visitors.

History

An early variant name was "Warsaw". The Georgia General Assembly incorporated the town as "Warsaw" in 1856. Coincidentally, Casimir Pulaski, who was born in Warsaw, Poland, died in Thunderbolt. An act of legislature officially changed the town's name to "Thunderbolt" in 1921.
According to tradition, Thunderbolt was named from an incident when lightning strike caused a spring to open up.
Fort Thunderbolt, colloquially referred to as the Thunderbolt Battery, was built to protect the city of Savannah from invading Union forces advancing from Whitemarsh Island.

Geography

Thunderbolt is located at 32°1'56" North, 81°3'6" West.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles, of which 1.3 square miles is land and 0.2 square mile is water.

Demographics

RaceNum.Perc.
White 1,37653.83%
Black or African American 63925.0%
Native American10.04%
Asian813.17%
Other/Mixed1154.5%
Hispanic or Latino34413.46%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,556 people, 1,091 households, and 516 families residing in the town.