About Georgia
Georgia
Located in the southeastern region of the United States, Georgia is bordered by Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, as well as North and South Carolina.
Historic High Country
Immerse yourself in fascinating history, captivating scenery and genuine hospitality in Northwest Georgia’s Historic High Country, the “the enchanted land” of the Cherokee Indians. Explore the region’s mystique on numerous driving, walking, pedaling or riding trails that lead you through the area’s Native American roots, historic districts and homegrown attractions.
Northeast Georgia Mountains
The Northeast Georgia mountain region offers an outdoor retreat, with its foothills and mountains serving as the gateway to the Appalachian Mountains and Chattahoochee River. The Chattahoochee National Forest provides a vast protected, scenic and recreational playground with nearby cabins and cottages for visitors.
Atlanta Metro
Dynamic and bustling, the Atlanta Metro area has attractions as diverse as the four million people who call its many communities home. Discover antique treasures or go mall hopping; visit world-class museums or fine art galleries; enjoy the great outdoors or an amusement park; stroll historic sites.
Historic Heartland
Enjoy true Southern hospitality in Georgia’s Historic Heartland, just south and east of Atlanta. From charming towns and authentic antiques to quaint little shops along scenic byways, the Historic Heartland offers the warmth of yesteryear in quintessential Southern style. The Heartland extends from south of Macon up to Athens, the home to the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
Classic South
The Classic South region is located in east central Georgia, less than 2 hours from Atlanta. Here, the gentle hills of Georgia’s piedmont meet the beginnings of the coastal plain, creating a backdrop of natural beauty that accentuates the region’s history and heritage.
Presidential Pathways
Georgia's Presidential Pathways region is 19-county area in west central Georgia that is deeply rooted in American history. Visitors today soak up reflections from the antebellum era, Civil War years, proud heritage of two U.S. presidents and birth of the modern South.
Magnolia Midlands
Taste a slower, simpler lifestyle along the back roads of Georgia with a visit to the Magnolia Midlands in southeastern Georgia. The region provides a backdrop of beautiful scenery for any adventure you might seek, from outdoor sports to local festivals, from great food to a rich agricultural history.
Plantation Trace
The rural southwestern region of Georgia is full of stories in each of its intriguing small towns, its woodlands and its rivers. Tour plantations and historic farms and relive Georgia’s historic past.
The Georgia Coast
The Georgia Coast stretches approximately 100 miles between the Savannah and St. Marys Rivers. In this region you can wander isolated beaches, tranquil marshes and cobblestone streets. Sample low country delicacies like soft-shelled crabs and Brunswick stew, or sway to the soulful beat of a Gullah-Geechee song.
Georgia
Located in the southeastern region of the United States, Georgia is bordered by Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, as well as North and South Carolina.
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Georgia Facts
Founded February 12, 1733 by James Oglethorpe as the 13th colony, Georgia became the 4th US state on January 2, 1788. Today, Georgia is the third fastest-growing state in the U.S and the center for business and tourism in the southeast.
- State Capital: Atlanta, since 1868
- State Motto: "Wisdom, justice, and moderation"
- State Nicknames: Peach State; Empire State of the South
- State Symbols
- State song: Georgia on my Mind
- State tree: Live Oak
- State bird: Brown thrasher
- State flower: Cherokee rose
- State fruit: Peach
- State crop: Peanut
- State vegetable: Vidalia sweet onion
- Famous Georgians: President Jimmy Carter, Ted Turner, Martin Luther King Jr., Ambassador Andrew Young, Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, Juliette Gordon Low, Ty Cobb, Ray Charles, Bill Elliot, Julia Roberts and Travis Tritt.
Population
Georgia is the 9th largest state in the US with 9,363,941 residents. The Atlanta metropolitan area alone has a population of 5,138,223 and is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States.
Geography
Travel across the state and discover Georgia’s abundant scenic beauty that’s as rich as its famous red clay. Explore the coastal plains, salt marshes and barrier islands of the east, the pine-forested, fertile fields of the Piedmont or the foothills and rugged mountains of the north, and find what makes Georgia such a geographical center.
- Geographic Scenery & Terrain
- Area: At 59,441 square miles, Georgia is the 24th largest state
- Mountains: North Georgia includes scenic ranges linked to the Cumberland Range and the Blue Ridge, as well as the southern end of the Appalachian Trail. Georgia’s highest point is Brasstown Bald at 4,784 ft.
- Coastline: 100 miles of pristine beaches, huge marshes and exotic barrier islands fill the coast with a complex ecosystem like no other
- Fields & Forrest: Through middle and south Georgia, you’ll find endless fields of cotton, soybeans and more; extending to timber that lines your trip through the state
- Lakes, Rivers and Waterfalls: Georgia is home to many major water systems including the Chattahoochee, Savannah and Suwannee Rivers, as well as lakes Lanier, Clark Hill, West Point and Hartwell
- Largest Cities
- Atlanta (State Capital) - 498,109 (The Atlanta metropolitan area has a population of 5,138,223)
- Augusta - 195,182
- Columbus - 188,660
- Savannah - 128,500
- Athens - 111,580
History
Georgia was founded in 1733 as one of the original 13 colonies when British General James Oglethorpe landed on its coast, and was established to provide a military buffer between the Spanish in Florida and the King of England’s South Carolina territory. On a bluff overlooking a river, Oglethorpe also established what would be America’s first planned city, Savannah.
Few states were as impacted by the Civil War as Georgia, losing many lives and suffering immense destruction. Reminders of that historic time can be found all across the state, telling the tales of both sides of the conflict. Andersonville, site of the Confederacy’s largest Union prison camp, is now home to the National Prisoner of War Museum. Visit any of the memorials, museums, battlefields and cemeteries across Georgia, and you’ll step into the history of our nation.
You’ll also find the soul of Georgia in its rich African American heritage and culture. This is where the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born, where he preached from the pulpit and where his memorial, The King Center, continues to project freedom and justice today. Another inspiring Civil Rights landmark is Macon’s Tubman African American Museum, a must-see destination that you’ll never forget.
