Georgia - The Peach State

About Georgia

Georgia is a southeastern state with a population of nearly 11 million, making it the eighth-most populous state. The state capital and largest city is Atlanta, a major economic and cultural hub with a metropolitan area exceeding 6 million people. Georgia was one of the original Thirteen Colonies and the fourth state to ratify the US Constitution on January 2, 1788. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain.

Georgia played a complex and significant role in American history. As a slave state, Georgia was central to the plantation economy growing cotton and other crops. During the Civil War, Georgia was a Confederate state and experienced major battles and Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864. In the 20th century, Georgia became the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, with Atlanta as its center. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta, and the city served as headquarters for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.

Today, Georgia has a diverse, robust economy ranked 10th nationally in GDP. Atlanta serves as a global business center, home to 18 Fortune 500 companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, and UPS. The state leads the nation in peanut, pecan, and blueberry production. Georgia is also known as "the Hollywood of the South" due to its booming film and television production industry. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic.

Major Cities

Civil Rights History

Georgia was at the center of the American Civil Rights Movement:

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Born in Atlanta on January 15, 1929; led the movement from Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church
• Southern Christian Leadership Conference: Founded in Atlanta in 1957 with King as first president
• Albany Movement: Major desegregation campaign in Albany, Georgia (1961-1962)
• Atlanta Student Movement: Student-led sit-ins and protests in Atlanta during 1960s
• Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park: Preserves King's birth home and church in Atlanta
• Political Progress: Andrew Young became first African American congressman from Georgia since Reconstruction (1972)
• Legacy: Atlanta became known as "the city too busy to hate" and model for integration

Economy & Industry

Georgia has a large, diversified economy with major sectors:

• Transportation & Logistics: Hartsfield-Jackson Airport (world's busiest), Port of Savannah (4th largest in US), Delta Air Lines, UPS
• Film & Entertainment: Major film production hub with $4+ billion industry, numerous studios, tax incentives
• Corporate Headquarters: Home Depot, Coca-Cola, UPS, Delta, Southern Company, NCR, and 16 other Fortune 500 companies
• Agriculture: Top producer of peanuts, pecans, blueberries, broilers (chickens), cotton, peaches
• Manufacturing: Automotive (Kia), aerospace, food processing, textiles, paper products
• Technology: Growing tech sector in Atlanta, cybersecurity, fintech, health tech
• Tourism: Stone Mountain, Savannah historic district, beaches, mountains, aquarium

History & Culture

Georgia was founded as a British colony in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, the last of the Thirteen Colonies. Originally established as a buffer against Spanish Florida and a haven for debtors, Georgia quickly developed a plantation economy. After the Revolutionary War, Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the Constitution.

During the Civil War, Georgia was a major Confederate state and site of significant battles including the Atlanta Campaign (1864) and Sherman's March to the Sea. The war devastated Georgia's economy, but the state rebuilt during Reconstruction and the 20th century. Atlanta emerged as the commercial capital of the "New South," while maintaining connections to Southern culture and traditions.

Georgia's cultural contributions include a rich musical heritage spanning gospel, blues, country, rock, and hip-hop. Notable Georgians include musicians Ray Charles, James Brown, Outkast, and R.E.M., authors Margaret Mitchell and Flannery O'Connor, and political figures Jimmy Carter (39th US President) and Stacey Abrams.

Interesting Facts

Neighboring States

Also borders: Atlantic Ocean (Southeast)