Located in Georgia, Fort Stewart spans 5 counties spread across 280,000 acres and is a census-designated place (CDP). The closest airport to the base is Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, just under an hour away.
Quick Facts
| Coordinates | 31° 52' 12.92" N 81° 36' 52.76" W |
|---|---|
| City | Liberty, GA 31313 |
| Phone | 912-767-1411 |
| DSN | — |
History
Fort Stewart, originally called Camp Stewart, was named after Brigadier General Daniel Stewart, a Georgia native and Revolutionary War hero. In the summer of 1940, the first 5,000 acres of land that would become Fort Stewart were purchased; eventually, those 5,000 acres would grow to 280,000.
Fort Stewart had a Prisoner of War (POW) area on base where German and Italian POW's were held. POW's were used to carry out the daily tasks that kept Fort Stewart running such as construction and farming. During peak wartime preparation, Fort Stewart was home to over 55,000 soldiers who were awaiting deployment for D-Day.
As soldiers were shipped off to Europe, Fort Stewart no longer had the need for an anti-aircraft unit on base and the program came to an end. By 1945, only the POW section of the installation was still operational. Post World War II, this base acted as a separation center for soldiers and in 1945, Fort Stewart was temporarily deactivated.
In 1950, Fort Stewart once again opened to provide training and support for the Korean War. National Guard soldiers were the first troops on site after the reopening. As the Korean War neared its end, the original name of Camp Stewart was changed to Fort Stewart and the site became a full-time operational military installation.
Even with the designation of being a permanent base, Fort Stewart once again faced deactivation in 1961. However, new weapon technology provided Fort Stewart with a new mission and the base remained open and fully active.
In 1962, the 1st Armored Division was sent to Fort Stewart to make preparations during Cuban Missile Crisis; in two weeks, the number of personnel on site went from 3,500 to more than 30,000. After the Crisis, John F. Kennedy visited Fort Stewart and it caused a commotion--the existing conference room was renovated as its previous condition was deemed unworthy for the President.
More recently, Fort Stewart acts as a mobilization station and training site, hosting a two week annual National Guard training program. Fort Stewart is known as "An Army Community of Excellence" and often works with Hunter Army Airfield to provide soldiers with training that allows for immediate deployment to any location in the world.
Commissary / Exchange
The Fort Stewart Commissary can be reached at (912) 767-2076. The address is: 200 Vilseck Rd, Fort Stewart, GA 31314. Note: You must be accompanied by an authorized user to shop in the commissary if you're not authorized yourself.
The Fort Stewart PX is located at 345 Lindquist Rd, Fort Stewart, GA 31314 and can be called at (912) 876-2850.
Housing / Lodging
Fort Stewart Family Homes offers on-base housing in two-, three-, four-, and five-bedroom homes in three styles: single-home, townhouse and apartment. This housing development provides 24-hour maintenance, lawn care and community events. The leasing office can be contacted at (855) 623-7865.
Hotels within three miles of Fort Stewart include:
- Econo Lodge Hinesville
- Quality Inn Hinesville
- Hampton Inn Hinesville
- Holiday Inn Express Hinesville
All of these hotels can be reached at (800) 916-4508.
Things To Do
Fort Stewart is close to a lot of outdoor activities such as beaches and hiking and biking trails. You can fish at the Holbrook Pond Recreation Area or work on your swing at Taylors Creek Golf Course.
A visit to the Midway Museum will provide a lesson in Georgia's history in addition to a close up look at artifacts, furnishings and historical documents donated by local families and their ancestors ranging all the way back from colonial times.
Savannah is an hour northeast of Fort Stewart and is perfect for day trips as well as extended stays. You can visit the city's historic district, many parks and gaze at the structural beauty of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. You can end your visit to Savannah with a stop at one of many coffee shops or restaurants before heading back to Fort Stewart.
Schools
Fort Stewart schools are part of the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). The following schools are located on base:
- Diamond Elementary School (Pre-K-5), 912-876-6094
- Kessler Elementary School (Pre-K-6), 912-368-3598
- Murray Elementary School (Pre-K-5), 912-369-1576
To attend a Fort Stewart School, you must be living on base or be on a waitlist for on site housing within 90 days. Fort Stewart's School Liaison Office can be reached at (912) 767-6533.
Students in grades 7-12 attend school within the Liberty County School System.
Higher Education
Local colleges and universities include: Central Texas College (912) 876-4045 and Webster University (912) 876-8080. Both Central Texas and Webster are located on base at Fort Stewart.
Central Texas offers seven Associate's degree programs and Webster offers undergraduate and graduate degree studies in addition to online programs.
Banks
Heritage Bank (912) 408-6430 is located on site. GeoVista Credit Union (912) 876-5156 and Wells Fargo (912) 876-7141 are also nearby, within 15 minutes of Fort Stewart.
Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Fort Stewart's MWR facilities offer various programs including fitness centers, outdoor recreation, community events and travel and lodging services to name a few. The MWR office can be reached at (912) 870-5133.