Savannah's Midnight Hour: Boosterism, Growth, and Commerce in a Nineteenth-Century American City

Savannah's Midnight Hour argues that Savannah's development is best understood within the larger history of municipal finance, public policy, and judicial readjustment in an urbanizing nation. Lisa Denmark adds constructive complexity to the conventional Old South/New South dichotomous narrative, showing that Savannah's fiscal experience in the antebellum and postbellum years echoes a larger national experience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 30 October 2022
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Savannah's Midnight Hour presents a compelling argument that the city's development must be understood within the broader context of municipal finance, public policy, and judicial readjustment in an urbanizing nation. Lisa Denmark's book adds a valuable layer of complexity to the conventional Old South/New South dichotomy, which often dominates the analysis of economic development. By providing a comprehensive account of municipal decision-making about improvement investment throughout the nineteenth century, Denmark offers a nuanced perspective on the continuity and change of policies in this pivotal urban setting.

In the 1820s and 1870s, Savannah's government leaders embarked on an ambitious project to establish transportation links and construct a modern infrastructure. Recognizing the potential of these projects to stimulate the city's economy, the city/municipal government invested in a wide range of endeavors, including canals, railroads, harbor improvements, and drainage. This ideology of over-optimistic risk-taking, deeply rooted in the antebellum period, persisted even after the Civil War and eventually led Savannah to the brink of bankruptcy.

The struggle to strike the right balance between using public policy and public money to promote economic development while ensuring a sound fiscal footing remains a challenge for governments today. Savannah's experience serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the importance of responsible financial management and the need for policymakers to consider the long-term consequences of their decisions.

In conclusion, Savannah's Midnight Hour provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of urban development and fiscal policy. By examining the city's history within the broader context of national trends, Denmark offers a nuanced perspective on the continuity and change of policies in this pivotal urban setting. The book's lessons are relevant to policymakers and urban planners alike, as we navigate the challenges of promoting economic growth and maintaining a sound fiscal footing in the ever-changing landscape of urbanization.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820363660