Immigrants from Portugal arrived in Brunswick after World War I, from about 1919 through the 1930s. Many settled in what is now known as the Old Town Historic District of downtown Brunswick, around Hanover Square near St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. The Portuguese played a major role in the fishing and seafood industry in Brunswick and surrounding communities. The Blessing of the Fleet in Brunswick arose from Portuguese culture and faith. The event, which takes place around Mother's Day, honors mothers and Our Lady of Fátima, the patron saint of Portugal.
A 1905 postcard of Hanover Park, also known as Hanover Square, in the Old Town Historic District of Brunswick, Georgia.