Port Wentworth, Georgia

Known variously as “Savannah’s Front Porch” and the “Gateway to Georgia History”, Port Wentworth is a city steeped in tradition, environment and resources. Founded in 1733 and incorporated in 1957, its historic roots stem from the native Indian tribes and the first colonial settlers. Rice and cotton plantations thrived off the rich land and to this day, some of the most historic river plantations can be found here.

In 1916, the next big industry to foster Port Wentworth’s economic growth was developed. A four story, 872,000 sq. ft. sugar refinery opened on 30 acres of land fronting the Savannah River and became known as the Savannah Sugar Refining Corporation, also known as the Dixie Crystals refinery. It was the second largest sugar refinery in the United States and the largest employer in Port Wentworth. Lumber, shipbuilding, brick kilns and naval stores added to the industry of Port Wentworth. In 1958, the Kraft Power Plant, currently owned and operated by Georgia Power, came online with three coal-fired units designed to meet the increased demand that arrived with the introduction of air conditioners. Today, Savannah’s “little sister” city is an economically-attractive area and continues to grow with new residents, largely thanks to the presence of major employers such as Weyerhauser, International Paper, Gulfstream, Georgia Power and Georgia Pacific Corp.

Asbestos exposure and related diseases including malignant mesothelioma are a problem for many cities across the southeastern Atlantic region. We have confirmed that the city of Port Wentworth has numerous jobsites where asbestos exposure has occurred. If you have been exposed to asbestos, you may be at risk to develop mesothelioma.

Large Jobsites in Port Wentworth where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance has compiled information obtained from a number of sources to identify the following large job sites in Port Wentworth where asbestos exposure was known to have occurred. These sites are listed below. Click on them to get more detailed information.

Other Jobsites in Port Wentworth where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

These additional jobsites in Port Wentworth, GA have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.