Georgia (IPA: /'d??rd??/) is a state
in the Southeastern United States and was one of the original Thirteen
Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution.
It was the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established as a
colony, in 1733. It was the fourth state to ratify the United States
Constitution, on January 2, 1788. It seceded from the Union on January
21, 1861 and was one of the original seven Confederate states. It
was the last state readmitted to the Union, on July 15, 1870. Georgia
is the ninth-largest state in the nation by population, with an
estimated 9,544,750 residents as of July 1, 2007. It is also the
third fastest-growing state in terms of numeric gain and fifth in
terms of percent gain, adding 202,670 residents at a rate of 2.2%.www.census.gov
From 2005 to 2006, Georgia had a nation-leading 14 counties among
the 100 fastest-growing counties. Georgia is also known as the Peach
State and the Empire State of the South. Atlanta is the largest
city (by population), and the capital.
Georgia is bordered on the south by Florida; on the east by the
Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina; on the west by Alabama and by
Florida in the extreme southwest; and on the north by Tennessee
and North Carolina. The northern part of the state is in the Blue
Ridge Mountains, a mountain range in the vast mountain system of
the Appalachians. The central piedmont extends from the foothills
to the fall line, where the rivers cascade down in elevation to
the continental coastal plain of the southern part of the state.
The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald, 4,784 feet (1,458
m); the lowest point is sea level.
With an area of 59,424 square miles (153,909 km²), Georgia
is ranked 24th in size among the 50 U.S. states. Georgia is the
largest state east of the Mississippi River in terms of land area,
although it is the fourth largest (after Michigan, Florida, and
Wisconsin) in total area, a term which includes expanses of water
claimed as state territory.[2]
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Boundaries
1.2 Geology and terrain
1.3 Flora and fauna
1.4 Climate
1.5 Protected lands
2 History
2.1 Early history
2.2 Confederate history
2.3 Capitals
3 Cities
3.1 Ten largest cities
4 Noteworthy City
5 Demographics
5.1 Race, language, and age
5.2 Religion
6 Economy
6.1 Agriculture and industry
6.2 Energy use and production
6.3 State taxes
7 Culture
7.1 Fine and performing arts
7.2 Literature
7.3 Entertainment
7.3.1 Music
7.3.2 Film
7.4 Popular culture
8 Health care and education
8.1 Health care
8.2 Education
8.2.1 Colleges and universities
9 Transportation
9.1 Interstate highways
9.2 United States highways
10 Law and Government
10.1 State government
10.2 Local government
10.3 Politics
11 Media
11.1 Television
11.2 Radio
11.3 Newspapers and periodicals
12 Sports and recreation
13 State facts and symbols
14 See also
15 References
16 Further reading
17 External links
[edit] History
Main article: Geography of Georgia (U.S. state)
[edit] Boundaries
Beginning from the Atlantic Ocean, the state's eastern border with
South Carolina runs up the Savannah River, northwest to its origin
at the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It then continues
up the Tugaloo (originally Tugalo) and into the Chattooga River,
its most significant tributary. These bounds were decided in the
1787 Treaty of Beaufort, and tested in the U.S. Supreme Court in
the two Georgia v. South Carolina cases in 1922 and 1989.
The border then takes a sharp turn around the tip of Rabun County,
at latitude 35°N, though from this point it diverges slightly
south (possibly due to later resurveying with better accuracy).
This originally was the Georgia and North Carolina border all the
way back to the Mississippi River, until Tennessee was divided from
North Carolina, and Alabama and Mississippi (the Yazoo Lands) were
taken from Georgia.
The state's western border then departs in another straight line
south-southeastward, at a point southwest of Chattanooga, to meet
the westernmost point of the Chattahoochee River near West Point,
Georgia. It continues down to the point where it ends at the Flint
River (the confluence of the two forming Florida's Apalachicola
River), and goes almost due east and very slightly south, in a straight
line to the origin of the Saint Mary's River, which then forms the
remainder of the boundary back to the ocean.
It should be noted that the water boundaries are still set to be
the original thalweg of the rivers. Since then, several have been
inundated by man made lakes, including the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint
point now under Lake Seminole.
In 2008, Georgia state legislators claimed that the state's border
with Tennessee had been erroneously placed one mile further south
than intended in an 1818 survey, and proposed that the border should
be corrected. This would allow Georgia, in the midst of a significant
drought, to access water from the Tennessee River.[3]
[edit] Geology and terrain
Map of elevations in GeorgiaMain article: Geology of Georgia (U.S.
state)
Georgia is divided into five geologic regions. These include the
Ridge and Valley, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont, the Coastal Plain,
and the Appalachian Plateau. Each region has its own distinctive
characteristics. For instance the Ridge and Valley, which lies in
the northwest corner of the state, includes limestone, sandstone,
shale and other sedimentary rocks, which have yielded construction-grade
limestone, barite, ochre and small amounts of coal. The Blue Ridge
Mountains of northeast Georgia are made up of metamorphic rock as
well as granite and diabase. The geology of the Piedmont includes
schist, amphibolite, gneiss, migmatite, and granite while the primary
resource of the Coastal Plain is kaolin.[4]
[edit] Flora and fauna
Main article: Ecology of Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia has a diverse mix of flora and fauna. The State of Georgia
has approximately 250 tree species and 58 protected plants. Georgia's
native trees include red cedar, a variety of pines, oaks, maples,
sweetgum and scaly-bark and white hickories, as well as many others.
Yellow jasmine, flowering quince, and mountain laurel make up just
a few of the flowering shrubs in the state.
Regarding fauna, white-tailed (Virginia) deer can be found in approximately
50 counties. The mockingbird and brown thrasher are just two of
the 160 bird species that can be found in the state. The eastern
diamondback, copperhead, and cottonmouth as well as salamanders,
frogs, and toads are among 79 species of reptile and 63 amphibians
that make Georgia their home. The most popular freshwater game fish
are trout, bream, bass, and catfish, all but the last of which are
produced in state hatcheries for restocking. Dolphins, porpoises,
whales, shrimp, oysters, and blue crabs are found off the Georgia
coast.[5]
[edit] Climate
Main article: Climate of Georgia (U.S. state)
Map of GeorgiaThe majority of Georgia is primarily a humid subtropical
climate tempered somewhat by occasional polar air masses in the
winter. Hot and humid summers are typical, except at the highest
elevations. The entire state, including the north Georgia mountains,
receives moderate to heavy precipitation, which varies from 45 inches
(1143 mm) in central Georgia[6] to approximately 75 inches (1905
mm) around the Northeast part of the state.[7] The degree to which
the weather of a certain area of Georgia is subtropical depends
not just on the latitude, but also on how close it is to the Atlantic
Ocean or Gulf of Mexico and the altitude. This is especially true
in the mountainous areas in the northern part of the state, which
are further away from ocean waters and can be up to 4500 feet (1350
m) or higher above sea level.
The areas near the Florida/Georgia border, extending from the entire
Georgia coastline west to the Florida panhandle, experiences the
most subtropical weather, similar to that of Florida: hot, humid
summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and mild, somewhat
drier winters. These areas experience snow much less frequently
than other parts of Georgia. The Georgia Piedmont area is somewhat
cooler in winter than the coastal areas. The southern areas of the
Piedmont may receive snow every other year, while areas close to
the foothills get snow several times a year. This part of Georgia
is especially vulnerable to ice storms. The mountains of Georgia
have the coolest climate and most frequent snowfall in the state,
although snowfall is less than any other part of the Appalachian
Mountains.
In spite of having moderate weather compared to many other states,
Georgia has occasional extreme weather. The highest temperature
ever recorded is 112 °F (44.4 °C),[8] while the lowest ever
recorded is -17 °F (-27.2 °C).[9] Georgia is one of the
leading states in incidents of tornadoes. The areas closest to the
Florida border get the same small F0 and F1 tornadoes associated
with summer afternoon thunderstorms. However, it is very uncommon
for tornadoes to become severe (over F3). As it is on the Atlantic
coast, Georgia is also vulnerable to hurricanes, although the Georgia
coastline only rarely experiences a direct hurricane strike. More
common are hurricanes which strike the Florida panhandle, weaken
over land, and bring strong tropical storm winds and heavy rain
to the Georgia interior, as well as hurricanes that come close to
the Georgia coastline, brushing the coast on their recurvature on
the way up to hit The Carolinas.
In 2006 and 2007, however, Georgia has had severe droughts, especially
in 2007. Temperatures over 100 degrees have been recorded.
Monthly average daily high and low temperatures for major Georgia
cities
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Athens 51/11
33/1 56/13
35/2 65/18
42/6 73/23
49/9 80/27
58/14 87/31
65/18 90/32
69/21 88/31
68/20 82/28
63/17 73/23
51/11 63/17
42/6 54/12
35/2
Atlanta 52/11
34/1 57/14
36/2 65/18
44/7 73/23
50/10 80/27
60/16 86/30
67/19 89/32
71/22 88/31
70/21 82/28
64/18 73/23
53/12 63/17
44/7 55/13
36/2
Augusta 56/13
33/1 61/16
36/4 69/21
42/6 77/25
48/9 84/29
57/14 90/32
65/18 92/33
70/21 90/32
68/20 85/29
62/17 76/24
50/10 68/20
41/5 59/15
35/2
Columbus 57/14
37/3 62/17
39/4 69/21
46/8 76/24
52/11 83/28
61/16 90/32
69/21 92/33
72/22 91/32
72/22 86/30
66/19 77/25
54/12 68/20
46/8 59/15
39/4
Macon 57/14
34/1 61/16
37/3 68/20
44/7 76/24
50/10 83/28
59/15 90/32
67/19 92/33
70/21 90/32
70/21 85/29
64/18 77/25
51/11 68/20
42/6 59/15
36/2
Savannah 60/16
38/3 64/18
41/5 71/22
48/9 78/26
53/12 84/29
61/16 90/32
68/20 92/33
72/22 90/32
71/22 86/30
67/19 78/26
56/13 70/21
47/8 63/17
40/4
Temperatures are given in °F/°C format, with highs on top
of lows. [3]
[edit] Protected lands
Main article: Protected areas of Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is home to 63 parks, 48 of which are state parks and 15
that are historic sites, and numerous state wildlife preserves,
under the supervision of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources.[10]
Other historic sites and parks are supervised by the National Park
Service and include the Andersonville National Historic Site in
Andersonville; Appalachian National Scenic Trail; Chattahoochee
River National Recreation Area near Atlanta; Chickamauga and Chattanooga
National Military Park at Fort Oglethorpe; Cumberland Island National
Seashore near Saint Marys; Fort Frederica National Monument on St.
Simons Island; Fort Pulaski National Monument in Savannah; Jimmy
Carter National Historic Site near Plains; Kennesaw Mountain National
Battlefield Park near Kennesaw; Martin Luther King Jr National Historic
Site in Atlanta; Ocmulgee National Monument at Macon; Trail of Tears
National Historic Trail.[11]
[edit] History
Main article: History of Georgia (U.S. state)
[edit] Early history
The local moundbuilder culture, described by Hernando de Soto in
1540, completely disappeared by 1560. Early on, in the course of
European exploration of the area, a number of Spanish explorers
visited the inland region of Georgia.
The conflict between Spain and England over control of Georgia
began in earnest in about 1670, when the English founded the Carolina
colony in present-day South Carolina. Nearly a century earlier,
the Spanish of Spanish Florida had established the missionary provinces
of Guale and Mocama on the coast and Sea Islands of present-day
Georgia. After decades of fighting, the Carolinians and allied Indians
permanently destroyed the Spanish mission system during the invasions
of 1702 and 1704. After 1704, Spanish control was limited to St.
Augustine and Pensacola. The Florida peninsula was subjected to
raids as far as the Florida Keys. The coast of Georgia was occupied
by now British-allied Indians such as the Yamasee until the Yamasee
War of 1715-1717, after which the region was depopulated, opening
up the possibility of a new British colony. In 1724, it was first
suggested the British colony there be called Province of Georgia
in honor of King George II.
British interest in establishing a colony below South Carolina
came from varied sources. Spanish Florida was a threat to South
Carolina and a haven for runaway slaves. The French in the 1720s
established a fort near present-day Montgomery, Alabama, also a
threat to British interests in the region. Traders from Charleston,
South Carolina, had established trading posts as far west as the
Ocmulgee River, near present-day Macon, Georgia. The British trading
network kept the Creek Indians allied with them; the French move
threatened to wrest these Indians' trade away from the British.
These strategic interests made the British government interested
in establishing a new colony that would reinforce the British influence
in the border country that had been open to Spanish and French penetration.
Meanwhile, many members of the British Parliament had become concerned
about the plight of England's debtors. A parliamentary committee
investigated and reported on conditions in Britain's debtor prisons.
A group of philanthropists organized themselves to establish a colony
where the "worthy poor" of England could reestablish themselves
as productive citizens. This goal was seen as both philanthropic,
helping these distressed people, and patriotic, simultaneously relieving
Britain of the burden of the imprisoned debtors and augmenting Britain's
vital mercantile empire by planting new, industrious subjects to
strengthen her trade. This goal went unfulfilled as Georgia was
ultimately not settled by debtors or convicts.
In 1732, a group of these philanthropists were granted a royal
charter as the Trustees of the Province of Georgia. They carefully
selected the first group of colonists to send to the new colony.
On 12 February 1733, 113 settlers landed in the HMS Anne at what
was to become the city of Savannah. This day is now known as Georgia
Day, which is not a public holiday but is mainly observed in schools
and by some local civic groups. James Edward Oglethorpe, one of
the trustees of the colony, traveled with the first group of colonists,
laid out the design of the town of Savannah, and acted as governor
of the colony, although technically under the trustees there was
no "governor." Oglethorpe acted as the only trustee present
in the colony. When he returned to Britain, a series of disputes
ended his tenure governing the colony; Georgia was then led by a
series of presidents named by the trustees. In 1752, after the government
failed to renew subsidies that had helped support the colony, the
Trustees turned over control to the crown. Georgia became a crown
colony, with a governor appointed by the British king.[12]
Georgia was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against
British rule in the American Revolution by signing the 1776 Declaration
of Independence, despite a large population of people loyal to the
crown. During the war, nearly one-third of the slaves, more than
5,000 enslaved African Americans, exercised their desire for independence
by escaping and joining British forces, where they were promised
freedom. Some went to Great Britain or the Caribbean; others were
resettled in Canada provinces.[13]
Following the war, Georgia became the fourth state of the United
States of America after ratifying the United States Constitution
on 2 January 1788. Georgia established its first state constitution
in 1777. The state established new constitutions in 1788, 1799,
1861, 1865, 1868, 1877, 1945, 1976, and 1983, for a total of 10
— more constitutions than any other state, except for Louisiana,
which has had 11.
[edit] Confederate history
Main article: Georgia (U.S. state) in the American Civil War
On January 18, 1861, Georgia joined the Confederacy and became a
major theater of the American Civil War. Major battles took place
at Chickamauga, Kennesaw Mountain, and Atlanta.
In December 1864, a large swath of the state from Atlanta to Savannah
was destroyed during General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to
the Sea. This event served as the historical background for the
1936 novel Gone with the Wind and the 1939 film of the same name.
On July 15, 1870, following Reconstruction, Georgia became the
last former Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union.
[edit] Capitals
Georgia has had five official state capitals: colonial Savannah,
which later alternated with Augusta; then for a decade at Louisville
(pronounced Lewis-ville), and from 1806 through the American Civil
War, at Milledgeville. In 1868, Atlanta became the fifth capital
of the state. The state's legislature also met at other temporary
sites, including Macon, especially during the Civil War.
[edit] Cities
See also: Georgia census statistical areas
Downtown Atlanta, Georgia
Midtown Atlanta, Georgia
Macon, GeorgiaAtlanta is located in north-central Georgia, atop
a ridge southeast of the Chattahoochee River. It has been Georgia's
capital city since 1868.
The Atlanta metropolitan area has a population of 5,138,223 (2006
census estimate), and the city is the central city of the Atlanta-Sandy
Springs-Gainesville, Ga.-Ala. combined statistical area.[14]
The state of Georgia has twenty metropolitan and micropolitan areas
with populations above fifty-thousand. In descending order, they
are Atlanta, Augusta, Savannah, Columbus, Macon, Athens, Gainesville,
Albany, Dalton, Warner Robins, Valdosta, Brunswick, Rome, Hinesville,
LaGrange, Statesboro, Dublin, Milledgeville, Waycross, and Calhoun.[15]
[edit] Ten largest cities
Atlanta - 498,109
Augusta - 195,182
Columbus - 188,660
Savannah - 128,500
Athens - 111,580
Macon - 97,606
Sandy Springs - 85,771
Roswell - 79,334
Albany - 76,939
Johns Creek - 62,049
[edit] Noteworthy City
Suwanee - 16,000 Top 10 Small Town in America - Money Magazine 2007
[edit] Demographics
Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1790 82,548 —
1800 162,686 97.1%
1810 251,407 54.5%
1820 340,989 35.6%
1830 516,823 51.6%
1840 691,392 33.8%
1850 906,185 31.1%
1860 1,057,286 16.7%
1870 1,184,109 12.0%
1880 1,542,181 30.2%
1890 1,837,353 19.1%
1900 2,216,331 20.6%
1910 2,609,121 17.7%
1920 2,895,832 11.0%
1930 2,908,506 0.4%
1940 3,123,723 7.4%
1950 3,444,578 10.3%
1960 3,943,116 14.5%
1970 4,589,575 16.4%
1980 5,463,105 19.0%
1990 6,478,216 18.6%
2000 8,186,453 26.4%
Est. 2007 9,544,750 16.6%
In 2006, Georgia had an estimated population of 9,363,941 which
was an increase of 231,388 from the previous year, and an increase
of 1,177,125 since 2000. This includes a natural increase since
the last census of 438,939 people (that is 849,414 births minus
410,475 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 606,673 people
into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted
in a net increase of 228,415 people, and migration within the country
produced a net increase of 378,258 people.
As of 2006, Georgia is the 9th most populous state. Its population
has grown 44.5% (2,885,725) since 1990, making it one of the fastest-growing
states in the country. Beginning with the 1990s, Georgia took over
as the fastest-growing state in the South with a 26% population
increase during the decade, surpassing its neighbor Florida which
had held the title for every decade in the 20th century prior to
the 90s. More than half of the state's population lives in the Atlanta
metro area. Nineteen Georgia counties were among the 100 fastest
growing counties from 2004 to 2005.[16] The center of population
of Georgia is located in Butts County, in the city of Jackson.[17]
Demographics of Georgia (csv)
By race White Black AIAN Asian NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native — NHPI is Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2000 (total population) 68.34% 29.38% 0.66% 2.46% 0.12%
2000 (Hispanic only) 4.82% 0.39% 0.10% 0.05% 0.03%
2005 (total population) 67.00% 30.29% 0.67% 3.01% 0.14%
2005 (Hispanic only) 6.57% 0.43% 0.12% 0.07% 0.04%
Growth 2000–2005 (total population) 8.65% 14.23% 11.72% 36.02%
25.41%
Growth 2000–2005 (non-Hispanic only) 5.43% 14.12% 7.43% 35.82%
21.99%
Growth 2000–2005 (Hispanic only) 50.99% 22.30% 36.34% 45.53%
36.55%
[edit] Race, language, and age
The state's five largest ancestries are reported as African, American,
English, German, and Irish . As of 2000, 90.1% of Georgia residents
age 5 and older speak only English at home and 5.6% speak Spanish.
French is the third most spoken language at 0.9%, followed by German
at 0.8% and Vietnamese at 0.6%. As of 2004, 7.7% of its population
was reported as under 5 years of age, 26.4% under 18, and 9.6% were
65 or older. Also as of 2004, females made up approximately 50.6%
of the population and African Americans made up approximately 29.6%.
Historically, about half of Georgia's population was composed of
African Americans who, prior to the Civil War, were almost exclusively
enslaved. The Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of blacks
from the rural South to the industrial North from 1914-1970 reduced
the African American population. This population has since increased,
with some African Americans returning to the state for new job opportunities.[citation
needed] Today, African Americans remain the most populous race in
many rural counties in middle, east-central, southwestern, and Low
Country Georgia, as well as in the city of Atlanta and its core
southern suburbs. According to census estimates, Georgia ranks fourth
in terms of the percent of the total population that is African
American.
As of 2005, approximately 2.7% of Georgia's population was Asian
American. Georgia is home to the nation's third-fastest growing
area for Asians, behind only Nevada and North Carolina. Asian buying
power in the state was $8.1 billion this year, up from $1.1 billion
in 1990, according to statistics from the University of Georgia's
Selig Center for Economic Growth.[citation needed]
White Georgians, like other Southerners, usually describe their
ancestry on the census questionnaire as "American", "United
States", or simply "Southern". The colonial settlement
of large numbers of Scots-Irish Americans in the mountains and piedmont,
and coastal settlement by English Americans and African Americans,
have strongly influenced the state's culture. The concentration
of Africans imported to coastal areas in the 18th century repeatedly
from rice growing regions of West Africa led to the development
of Gullah-Geechee language and culture in the Low Country among
African Americans. They share a unique heritage in which African
traditions of food, religion and culture were continued more than
in some other areas. Their foodways had a strong influence on all
Southern cooking in the Low Country.[18]
[edit] Religion
Georgia Population Density MapLike most other Southern states, Georgia
is largely Protestant Christian. The religious affiliations of the
people of Georgia are as follows:
Christian – 85%
Protestant – 76%
Baptist – 39%
Methodist – 12%
Presbyterian – 3%
Pentecostal – 3%
Other Protestant – 19%
Roman Catholic – 8%
Other Christian – 1%
Other Religions – 2%
Non-Religious – 13%[19]
Georgia shares its Protestant heritage with much of the Southeastern
United States. However, the number of Roman Catholics is growing
in the state because of the influx of Northeasterners resettling
in the Atlanta metro area and also because of large Hispanic immigration
into the state.
Georgia's Jewish community dates to the settlement of 42 mostly
Sephardic Portuguese Jews in Savannah in 1733. Atlanta also has
a large, old, and established Jewish community.
[edit] Economy
Savannah's River Street is a popular destination among tourists
visiting coastal Georgia.
Map showing land use in GeorgiaGeorgia's 2006 total gross state
product was $380 billion.[20] Its per capita personal income for
2005 put it 10th in the nation at $40,155. If Georgia were a stand-alone
country, it would be the 18th largest economy in the world.[21][unreliable
source?]
There are 15 Fortune 500 companies and 26 Fortune 1000 companies
with headquarters in Georgia, including such names as Home Depot,
UPS, Coca Cola, Delta Air Lines, AFLAC, Southern Company, and SunTrust
Banks. Georgia has over 1,700 internationally headquartered facilities
representing 43 countries, employing more than 112,000 Georgians
with an estimated capital investment of $22.7 billion.
[edit] Agriculture and industry
Georgia's agricultural outputs are poultry and eggs, pecans, peaches,
peanuts, rye, cattle, hogs, dairy products, turfgrass, and vegetables.
Its industrial outputs are textiles and apparel, transportation
equipment, food processing, paper products, chemical products, electric
equipment. Tourism also makes an important contribution to the economy.
Georgia is home to the Granite Capital of the World (Elberton).
Atlanta has been the site of enormous growth in real estate, service,
and communications industries.
Atlanta has a very large effect on the state of Georgia and the
Southeastern United States. The city is an ever growing addition
to communications, industry, transportation, tourism, and government.
Food is also a major industry in Georgia.
Industry in Georgia is now quite diverse. Major products in the
mineral and timber industry include a variety of pines, clays, stones,
and sands. Textile industry is located around the cities of Rome,
Columbus, Augusta, and Macon. Atlanta is a leading center of tourism,
transportation, communications, government, and industry. Some industries
there include automobile and aircraft manufacturing, food and chemical
processing, printing, publishing, and large corporations. Some of
the corporations headquartered in Atlanta are: Arby's, Chick-fil-A,
The Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Pacific, ING Americas, Cox, and Delta
Air Lines. Major corporations in other parts of the state include:
Aflac, CareSouth, Home Depot, Newell Rubbermaid, Primerica Financial
Services, United Parcel Service, Waffle House and Zaxby's.
Several United States military installations are located in Georgia
including Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield, Naval Submarine Base
Kings Bay, Fort Benning, Moody Air Force Base, Robins Air Force
Base, Naval Air Station Atlanta, Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem, Fort
Gordon, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany and Dobbins Air Reserve
Base. However, due to the latest round of BRAC cuts, Forts Gillem
and McPherson will be closing and NAS Atlanta will be transferred
to the Georgia National Guard.
[edit] Energy use and production
Georgia's electricity generation and consumption are among the highest
in the United States, with coal being the primary electrical generation
of fuel. However, the state also has two nuclear power plants which
contribute one fourth of Georgia's electricity generation. The leading
area of energy consumption is the industrial sector due to the fact
that Georgia "is a leader in the energy-intensive wood and
paper products industry".[22]
[edit] State taxes
Georgia's personal income tax ranges from 1% to 6% within six tax
brackets. There is a 6% state sales tax, which is not applied to
prescription drugs, certain medical devices, and groceries. Each
county may add up to a 2% SPLOST. Counties participating in MARTA
have another 1%; MARTA is the only major metropolitan rapid transit
authority in the U.S. not to receive state funding. The city of
Atlanta (in two counties, roughly 90% in Fulton and 10% in Dekalb)
has the only city sales tax (1%, total 8%) for fixing its aging
sewers. Local taxes are almost always charged on groceries but never
prescriptions. Up to 1% of a SPLOST can go to homestead exemptions
(the HOST). All taxes are collected by the Georgia Department of
Revenue and then properly distributed according to any agreements
that each county has with its cities.
[edit] Culture
Main article: Culture of Georgia (U.S. state)
[edit] Fine and performing arts
Georgia's major fine art museums include the Georgia Museum of Art,
the High Museum of Art, the Michael C. Carlos Museum, the Morris
Museum of Art and the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art.[23] The
Atlanta Opera is a full time company that brings opera to Georgia
stages.[24] The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is the most widely recognized
orchestra and largest arts organization in the southeastern United
States.[25] Moreover, almost all of the universities, colleges,
and junior colleges in Atlanta provide some musical instruction.[26]
[edit] Literature
Georgia literature is distinct among the literature of other places
in the world in its historical and geographical context and the
values it imparts to people who enjoy the state's literature. Dramas
such as the play-turned-movie Driving Miss Daisy are one example
of Georgia's literary culture while more well known fiction novels
such as Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind and The Color Purple
by Alice Walker are other examples. Georgia's poets, such as Sidney
Lanier and nonfiction writers like humorist Lewis Grizzard also
have a place in the state's literary background.[27]
[edit] Entertainment
[edit] Music
Main article: Music of Georgia (U.S. state)
Music in Georgia ranges from folk music to rhythm and blues, rock
and roll, country music and hip hop. The Georgia Music Hall of Fame,
located in Macon is the state's museum of music. Georgia's folk
musical traditions include important contributions to the Piedmont
blues, shape note singing and African American music. The Sacred
Harp, compiled and produced by Georgians Benjamin Franklin White
and Elisha J. King, was published in 1844. The Sacred Harp system
use notes expressed with shapes to make it easy for people to learn
to sight-read music and performed complex pieces without a lot of
training.[28]
The Black Crowes are a group out of Marietta, Georgia that fuse
blues, rock, and gospel into a Southern-soul-driven hard-rockin'
extravaganza with tones of Zeppelin-power and Sunday morning inspiration.
The city of Athens, Georgia, home to the University of Georgia has
been a fertile field for alternative rock bands since the late 1970s.
Notable bands from Athens include R.E.M.,[29] The B-52s, Widespread
Panic, Drive-By Truckers, as well as bands from the Elephant 6 Recording
Company most notably Neutral Milk Hotel.
Rhythm and Blues is another important musical genre in Georgia.
Augusta native James Brown and Macon native Little Richard, two
important figures in R&B history, started performing in Georgia
clubs on the Chitlin' Circuit, fused gospel music with blues and
boogie-woogie to lay the foundations for R&B and soul music,
and rank among the most iconic musicians of the 20th century. In
the 1960s, Atlanta native Gladys Knight proved one of the most popular
Motown recording artists, while Otis Redding, born in the small
town of Dawson but raised in Macon, defined the grittier Southern
soul sound of Memphis-based Stax Records.[30] Opera singer Jessye
Norman is native to Augusta.[31]
Collective Soul, a hard rock band known for their song "Shine",
are from Stockbridge, Georgia.
[edit] Film
Hundreds of feature films have been located in Georgia. By 2007
more than $4 billion had been generated for the state's economy
by the film and television industry since the 1970s.[32] Some of
these films include Deliverance; Smokey and the Bandit; Driving
Miss Daisy and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.[32] Due
to the success of Deliverance, Jimmy Carter established a state
film commission, now known as the Georgia Film, Video and Music
Office, in 1973 to market Georgia as a shooting location for future
projects. The commission has recruited more than 550 major projects
to the state by 2007.[32] Julia Roberts is also from Georgia
[edit] Popular culture
Stereotypical Georgian traits include manners known as "Southern
hospitality", a strong sense of community and shared culture,
and a distinctive Southern dialect. Georgia's Southern heritage
makes turkey and dressing a traditional holiday dish during both
Thanksgiving and Christmas. Movies like Gone with the Wind and the
book If I Ever Get Back to Georgia, I'm Gonna Nail My Feet to the
Ground by Lewis Grizzard lampoon (and celebrate) Georgia culture,
speech and mannerisms.
[edit] Health care and education
[edit] Health care
See also: List of hospitals in Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgians can find medical and dental care "via 151 general
hospitals, more than 15,000 doctors and nearly 6,000 dentists."[33]
The state is ranked forty-first in the percentage of residents who
engage in regular exercise.[34]
[edit] Education
Georgia Tech's Tech Tower
The Emory University Candler Library
Anderson Hall at Savannah College of Art and DesignGeorgia boasts
almost 70 public colleges, universities, and technical colleges
around the state in addition to over 45 private institutes of higher
learning.
The HOPE scholarship, funded by the state lottery, is available
to all Georgia residents who have graduated from high school with
a 3.0 or higher grade point average and who attend a public college
or university in the state. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition
and provides a stipend for books for up to 120 credit hours. If
the student does not maintain a 3.0 average while in college they
may lose the scholarship in which case they will have the chance
to get it back by bringing their grade point average above a 3.0
with in a period of 30 credit hours. This scholarship has had a
significant impact on the state university system, increasing competition
for admission and increasing the quality of education.
See also: List of colleges and universities in Georgia (U.S. state),
List of high schools in Georgia, and List of school districts in
Georgia
[edit] Colleges and universities
Private schools
Agnes Scott College † in Decatur
American Intercontinental University
in Dunwoody
in Buckhead (Atlanta)
Andrew College † in Cuthbert
Art Institute of Atlanta in Atlanta
Atlanta Christian College † in Atlanta
Atlanta College of Art in Atlanta
Beacon University in Columbus
Berry College in Mount Berry
Brenau University in Gainesville
Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon
Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta
Covenant College † in Lookout Mountain
Emmanuel College † in Franklin Springs
Emory University † in Atlanta
LaGrange College † in LaGrange
Life University in Marietta
Mercer University † in Macon and Atlanta
Morehouse College in Atlanta
Morris Brown College in Atlanta
Oglethorpe University in Atlanta
Paine College † in Augusta
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine at Atlanta
Piedmont College † in Demorest and Athens
Reinhardt College † in Waleska
Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah and Atlanta
Shorter College † in Rome
South University in Savannah (and in other states)
Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville
Spelman College in Atlanta
Thomas University in Thomasville
Toccoa Falls College† in Toccoa
Wesleyan College † in Macon
Young Harris College † in Young Harris
† denotes schools affiliated with religious organizations
(incomplete) University System of Georgia
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton
Albany State University in Albany
Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah
Augusta State University in Augusta
Bainbridge College in Bainbridge
Clayton State University in Morrow
Coastal Georgia Community College in Brunswick
Columbus State University in Columbus
Dalton State College in Dalton
Darton College in Albany
East Georgia College in Swainsboro
Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley
Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville
Georgia Military College in Milledgeville
Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville
Georgia Highlands College in Rome
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta
Georgia Perimeter College
Georgia Southern University in Statesboro
Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus
Georgia State University in Atlanta
Gordon College in Barnesville
Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw
Macon State College in Macon
Medical College of Georgia in Augusta
Middle Georgia College in Cochran and Dublin and Eastman
North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega
Savannah State University in Savannah
Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta
University of West Georgia in Carrollton
University of Georgia in Athens
Valdosta State University in Valdosta
(incomplete list, 34 total, plus tech colleges)
[edit] Transportation
Atlanta is still a major railroad hub for CSX and Norfolk Southern,
in addition to being a major airport hub now as well; Atlanta's
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the principal
hub for AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines. Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest passenger airport,
serving over 84 million passengers in 2006. Several highways and
short line railroads also traverse the state.
[edit] Interstate highways
Interstate 16, Interstate 516
Interstate 20, Interstate 520
Interstate 59, Interstate 24
Interstate 75, Interstate 475,
Interstate 575, Interstate 675
Interstate 85, Interstate 185, Interstate 985
Interstate 95
Interstate 285 (the perimeter around Atlanta)
Interstate 3 (proposed)
Interstate 14 (proposed)
[edit] United States highways
North-south routes East-west routes
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 301
U.S. Route 11
U.S. Route 411
U.S. Route 17
U.S. Route 19
U.S. Route 319
U.S. Route 221
U.S. Route 23
U.S. Route 123
U.S. Route 25
U.S. Route 27
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 129
U.S. Route 41
U.S. Route 341
U.S. Route 441
U.S. Route 76
U.S. Route 78
U.S. Route 278
U.S. Route 378
U.S. Route 80
U.S. Route 280
U.S. Route 82
U.S. Route 84
[edit] Law and Government
[edit] State government
The Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta with the distinctive
gold dome.The capital of Georgia is Atlanta. As with all other U.S.
States and the federal government, Georgia's government is based
on the separation of legislative, executive and judicial power.[35]
Executive authority in the state rests with the governor, currently
Sonny Perdue (until 2011) (Republican). Perdue is the first Republican
governor since Reconstruction.[36] (See List of governors of Georgia).
Both the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on separate
ballots to four-year terms of office. Unlike the federal government,
but like many other U.S. States, most of the executive officials
who comprise the governor's cabinet are elected by the citizens
of Georgia rather than appointed by the governor.
Legislative authority resides in the General Assembly, composed
of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Lieutenant Governor
presides over the Senate, while the House of Representatives selects
their own Speaker. The Georgia Constitution mandates a maximum of
56 senators, elected from single-member districts, and a minimum
of 180 representatives, apportioned among representative districts
(which sometimes results in more than one representative per district);
there are currently 56 senators and 180 representatives. The term
of office for senators and representatives is two years.[37]
State judicial authority rests with the state Supreme Court and
Court of Appeals, which have statewide authority.[38] In addition,
there are smaller courts which have more limited geographical jurisdiction,
including State Courts, Superior Courts, Magistrate Courts and Probate
Courts. Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of
Appeals are elected statewide by the citizens in non-partisan elections
to six-year terms. Judges for the smaller courts are elected by
the state's citizens who live within that court's jurisdiction to
four-year terms.
See also: List of governors of Georgia and Georgia elected officials
[edit] Local government
Georgia has 159 counties, the most of any state except Texas (with
254).[39] Before 1932, there were 161, with Milton and Campbell
being merged into Fulton at the end of 1931. Counties have been
named for prominent figures in both American and Georgia history.
Counties in Georgia have their own elected legislative branch, usually
called the Board of Commissioners, which usually also has executive
authority in the county.[40] Georgia's Constitution provides all
counties and cities with "home rule" authority, and so
the county commissions have considerable power to pass legislation
within their county as a municipality would.
Further information: list of Georgia counties
Besides the counties, Georgia only defines cities as local units
of government. Every incorporated town, no matter how small, is
legally a city. Georgia does not provide for townships or independent
cities (though there is a movement in the Legislature to provide
for townships) but does allow consolidated city-county governments
by local referendum. So far, only Columbus, Augusta, Athens, and
Cusseta have done this. Conyers is studying possibly becoming consolidated
with Rockdale County. Recently, Savannah has consolidated its police
department with the county police department and is currently studying
possible consolidation with Chatham County.
There is no true metropolitan government in Georgia, though the
Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Regional Transportation
Authority do provide some services, and the ARC must approve all
major land development projects in metro Atlanta.
[edit] Politics
Presidential elections results Year Republican Democratic
2004 57.97% 1,914,254 41.37% 1,366,149
2000 54.67% 1,419,720 42.98% 1,116,230
1996 47.01% 1,080,843 45.84% 1,053,849
1992 42.88% 995,252 43.47% 1,008,966
1988 59.75% 1,081,331 39.50% 714,792
1984 60.17% 1,068,722 39.79% 706,628
1980 40.95% 654,168 55.76% 890,733
1976 32.96% 483,743 66.74% 979,409
1972 75.04% 881,496 24.65% 289,529
1968* 30.40% 380,111 26.75% 334,440
1964 54.12% 616,584 41.15% 522,557
1960 37.43% 274,472 62.54% 458,638
*State won by George Wallace
of the American Independent Party,
at 42.83%, or 535,550 votes
Until recently, Georgia's state government had the longest unbroken
record of single-party dominance of any state in the Union. For
over 130 years, from 1872 to 2003, Georgians only elected Democratic
governors, and Democrats held the majority of seats in the General
Assembly. However, most of the Democrats elected throughout these
years were Southern Democrats or Dixiecrats who were very conservative
by national standards, even after the 60s segregationist period.
During the 1960s and 1970s Georgia made significant changes in
civil rights, governance, and economic growth focused on Atlanta
and was a bedrock of the emerging "New South." This characterization
was solidified with the election of former Georgia Governor Jimmy
Carter to the U.S. Presidency in 1976.
The political dominance of Democrats ended in 2003, when then-Governor
Roy Barnes was defeated by Sonny Perdue, a state legislator and
former Democrat himself, in what was regarded as a stunning upset.
While Democrats retained control of the State House, they lost their
majority in the Senate when four Democrats switched parties. They
lost the House in the 2004 election; currently, Republicans control
all three partisan elements of the state government.
Many conservative Democrats, including former U.S. Senator and
governor Zell Miller, have decided to support Republicans in recent
years. The state's socially conservative bent results in wide support
for such measures as restrictions on abortion. Even before 2003,
the state had become increasingly friendly to Republicans at the
national level. It has only supported a Democrat for president three
times since 1960. In 1976 and 1980, native son Jimmy Carter carried
the state; in 1992, Bill Clinton narrowly won the state. Generally,
Republicans are strongest in the suburban areas (especially the
Atlanta suburbs) and the southeast, while Democrats do best in the
cities, rural areas and among African-American voters. Many of these
areas were represented by conservative Democrats at the state level
well into the 21st century.
As of the 2001 reapportionment, the state has 13 seats in the U.S.
House of Representatives, which are currently held by 7 Republicans
and 6 Democrats.
See also: United States presidential election, 2004, in Georgia
[edit] Media
[edit] Television
See also: List of television stations in Georgia
Georgia is home to Ted Turner, who founded TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon
Network, CNN and Headline News, among others. The CNN Center, which
houses the news channel's world headquarters, is located in downtown
Atlanta, facing Marietta Street, while the home offices of the Turner
Entertainment networks are located in midtown, near the Georgia
Tech campus, on Techwood Drive. A third Turner building is on Williams
Street, directly across Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 from the
Techwood Drive campus and is the home of Adult Swim and Williams
Street Studios.
The Weather Channel's headquarters are located in the Smyrna area
of metropolitan Atlanta in Cobb County.
WSB-TV was the state's first television station, and the southeastern
United State's second. WSB-TV signed on Channel 8 in 1948, and moved
to its present day location on Channel 2 in 1952.
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) operates nine major educational
television stations across the state as Georgia Public Broadcasting
Television.[41]
[edit] Radio
See also: List of radio stations in Georgia
WSB-AM in Atlanta was the first radio station in the southeastern
United States, signing on in 1922. The station currently broadcasts
a news/talk format. WSB-FM signed on in 1948 on 104.5 FM, and moved
to 98.5 FM in 1952. The station broadcasts today, still with the
WSB-FM callsign, but is known as "B98.5FM".
Georgia Public Radio has been in service since 1984 and, with the
exception of Atlanta, it broadcasts daily on several FM (and one
AM) stations across the state. 1984.[42][43] Georgia Public Radio
reaches nearly all of Georgia (with the exception of the Atlanta
area, which is served by WABE), as well as portions of Alabama,
Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
[edit] Newspapers and periodicals
See also: List of newspapers in Georgia (U.S. state)
There are several major newspapers in Georgia. Among them are the
Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Augusta Chronicle. Other media
publications in the state include business magazines; entertainment
media such as Southern Voice; and various sports magazines.[44]
[edit] Sports and recreation
Main article: Sports in Georgia (U.S. state)
See also: Tour de Georgia and The Masters Tournament
Sports in Georgia include professional teams in all major sports,
Olympic Games contenders and medalists, collegiate teams in major
and small-school conferences and associations, and active amateur
teams and individual sports. The State of Georgia has a team in
eight major professional leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, ABA, AFL,
IL, and ECHL). Georgia has an abundance of outdoor recreational
activities. Outdoor activities include, but are not limited to,
hiking along the Appalachian Trail; Civil War Heritage Trails; rock
climbing and whitewater paddling.[45][46][47][48] Other outdoor
activities include hunting and fishing. Less rustic activities are
trips to Callaway Gardens; circuses; Rattlesnake Roundups; and Zoo
Atlanta.[49][50][51][52]
[edit] State facts and symbols
Georgia's nicknames include Peach State and Empire State of the
South .The state song, "Georgia On My Mind" by Hoagy Carmichael,
was originally written about a woman of that name, but after Georgia
native Ray Charles sang it, the state legislature voted it the state
song on 24 April 1979. Ray Charles sang it on the legislative floor
when the bill was passed. This act was significant in that it symbolized
to many the move away from segregation and racism. The state commemorative
quarter was released on 19 July 1999.[53] The first houses in Georgia
to be designated historic state landmarks are the Owens Thomas House
and the Sorrel Weed House, in the Savannah historic district. Here
is a list of the state symbols:
State tree: Live Oak (Quercus virginiana)
State bird: brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
State flower: Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata)
State game bird: Bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus)
State wildflower: Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
State fruit: peach (Prunus persica)
State fish: Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)
State marine mammal: Right whale
State reptile: Gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
State amphibian: green tree frog (Hyla cinerea)
State 'possum: Pogo Possum[54]
State insect: Honey bee (Apis mellifera)
State butterfly: eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)
State mineral: Staurolite
State seashell: Knobbed whelk (Busycon carica)
State gem: quartz
State crop: peanut
State vegetable: Vidalia sweet onion
State fossil: the shark tooth
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