True Island Stories

Brunswick, Georgia and the corresponding island of St. Simons, Georgia are in the middle of a construction boom. Large amounts of previously undeveloped land are being bought up and developed by large scale commercial and residential developers at a staggering pace. One of the largest developments, Liberty Harbor, a 1.5 billion dollar development with price ranges from $305,000-$2 Million for property recently broke ground on the site of a mostly abandoned shipping yard beneath the Sidney-Lanier bridge.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $58,475, and the median income for a family was $73,580. Males had a median income of $50,725 versus $32,351 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $37,256. About 2.4% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over. However these numbers are skewed by a staggeringly large upper class that alone hold an median average of $100,000+, rendering a middle class median average of around $30,000+ per house hold and a lower class average of almost half of that. Divisions of this magnitude have been a factor in violent crime rising dramatically in the last year. Local news sources find themselves printing a steady stream of headlines dealing with the crime issue, leaving a constant stain on the communities struggling image.

Many new opportunities are being created for upper class housing and industry all over the island and mainland, leaving mid-low income residents and business owners feeling cut off. While many locals and new comers alike welcome expansive growth and a proposed revitalization, there are also many people who feel the heritage and community structure are in jeopardy.