Ellis Square
Ellis Square, one of Savannah’s earliest squares, layers colonial trade history beneath today’s farmers’ market bustle and everyday urban life.
Originally named Decker Square after Sir Matthew Decker, a Trustee of the Georgia Colony, the square anchors the northernmost row of Savannah’s grid and sits at City Market’s western edge. Its location near the historic port meant it once buzzed with goods—indigo, rice, cotton—shipped via wagons along streets like West St. Julian and Barnard. Today, cobblestones and low brick curbing hint at that early commerce.
Weekly farmers markets bring food vendors, artisans, and locals to the square, turning it into a hub for casual interaction and regional flavors. Benches placed beneath mature trees invite lingering over coffee or local honey, while informational markers note the Thomas Gibbons Range, an 1820 structure that shelters the square’s commercial legacy on its western side.
The square’s open center—once a military parade ground—now holds space for pop-up art, impromptu music, or just a quiet pause between errands. Walking its perimeter reveals how it connects to adjacent squares like Johnson and Franklin, forming part of Savannah’s intricate chain of public green spaces that support both ritual and repose.
