Georgia Facts & Information
Georgia is located in the southeastern United States.
It was the last of the original 13 colonies and the fourth state to officially join the Union.
The state is an interesting blend of historic and modern, and cities like Atlanta and Savannah have their own unique “personalities.”
Georgia is home to beaches, farmland, and mountains, and it’s the 8th most populous state in the nation.
Related: Georgia State History
Quick Facts
- Capital: Atlanta
- Population: 10 million
- Nickname: Peach State
Key Cities: Atlanta, Savannah, Augusta, Columbus, Macon
Postal Abbreviation: GA
Major Industries: Agriculture, film, energy, automotive, tourism
Some More Georgia Facts
- Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River
- Wesleyan College in Macon was the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.
- Elberton, Georgia is the Granite Capital of the World
- Georgia is home to the oldest state park in the nation.
- The Cherokee people are one of the most prominent Native American tribes in Georgia.
- The Georgia gold rush was the first in America, beginning in 1828 and led to the Georgia Land Lotteries and the Trail of Tears.
- Jimmy Carter, who served as the 39th President of the United States, is the only president from Georgia to date.
- Georgia’s Stone Mountain is the world’s largest piece of exposed granite, with a base circumference of 3.8 miles and a height of 1,500 feet.
History
How did Georgia get its name: The state was named for King George II of England, who granted the state its charter in 1732.
In the charter, the king declared that the state should be named in his honor.
Date admitted to the Union: Wednesday, January 2, 1788
Geography
- Size: 59,425 sq. miles
- Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean at sea level
- Highest point: Brasstown Bald at 4,784 feet
- Counties: 159
- Famous locations: Stone Mountain, Georgia Aquarium, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Savannah Historic District, Centennial Olympic Park, Six Flags
Famous Georgians
- Ray Charles- singer
- Jimmy Carter- president
- Kanye West- rap artist
- Hulk Hogan- wrestler
Martin Luther King, Jr.- civil rights leader
Chloe Grace Moretz- actress
Fun Facts
The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the world, housing more than 100,000 aquatic animals in over 10 million gallons of water.
Animals include Australian sea dragons, Japanese spider crabs, California sea lions, albino alligators, piranhas, and emerald tree boas.
If you love a cold Coke, you’ve got Georgia to thank! At a drugstore in Columbus, Georgia in May 1886, John Pemberton formulated the popular drink.
Today, the headquarters for Coca-Cola is located in Atlanta. You can also tour the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta, where you can sample more than 100 beverages.
In 1945, Georgia became the first state to change the legal voting age from 21 to 18.
It was also the first state to charter a university (the University of Georgia) and home to the first college in the world chartered to award degrees to women (Wesleyan College).
Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River. With 159 counties, it also has more counties than any other state east of the Mississippi.
Although Georgia is called the Peach State, it’s also the nation’s top producer of peanuts, pecans, and Vidalia onions.
Georgia’s Vidalia onions are considered some of the sweetest in the world.
In Atlanta, Georgia, there are more than 55 streets with the name “Peachtree.”
This could be a reference to the fruit, but some historians believe the name comes from “Standing Pitch Tree,” a Creek Indian settlement near Atlanta.
Did you enjoy these facts about Georgia? We hope you did!
