State of Georgia
Flag of Georgia Seal of Georgia Nickname(s): Peach State, Empire State of the South Motto(s): Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation
Official language(s)	English
Demonym	Georgian
Capital	Atlanta
Largest city	Atlanta
Largest metro area	Atlanta metro area
Area	Ranked 24th in the US
- Total	59,425 sq mi (153,909 km²)
- Width	230 miles (370 km)
- Length	298 miles (480 km)
- % water	{{{PCWater}}}
- Latitude	33.762° N
- Longitude	84.422° W
Population	Ranked 9th in the US
- Total	8,186,453
- Density	141.4/sq mi  54.59/km² (18th in the US)
- Median income	$43,217 (28th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Brasstown Bald[1] 4,784 ft  (1,458 m)
- Mean	591 ft  (180 m)
- Lowest point	Atlantic Ocean[1] 0 ft  (0 m)
Admission to Union	January 2, 1788 (4th)
Governor	Sonny Perdue (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Casey Cagle (R)
U.S. Senators	Saxby Chambliss (R) Johnny Isakson (R)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Abbreviations	GA US-GA
Website	www.georgia.gov

Georgia (IPA: /ˈdʒɔɹdʒə/) 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%. From 2006 to 2007, Georgia had 18 counties among the nation's 100 fastest-growing counties, the most of any state. Georgia is also known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South. Atlanta is the most populous city, and the capital. Image File history File links Flag_of_Georgia_(U.S._state). ... Image File history File links Seal_of_the_State_of_Georgia. ... Current State flag of Georgia The current flag of Georgia was adopted on May 8, 2003. ... Seal of Georgia The Seal of Georgia is yellow in color. ... This is a list of U.S. state nicknames -- both official and traditional (official state nicknames are in bold). ... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_GA.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Georgia (U.S. state) ... The United States does not have an official language, but English is spoken by about 82% of the population as a native language. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Atlanta redirects here. ... Atlanta redirects here. ... In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... The Atlanta metropolitan area, commonly referred to as Metro Atlanta in Georgia, is the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the United States and consists of 28 counties in Georgia. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... This is a complete list of the states of the United States ordered by total area, land area, and water area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... “km” redirects here. ... Map of states populations (2007) This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2007, according to the 2007 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. ... Map of states showing population density This is a list of the 50 U.S. states, ordered by population density. ... For information on the income of individuals, see Personal income in the United States. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... Brasstown Bald is the highest point in the state of USA, with a summit elevation of 4784 feet (1458 metres) above mean sea level. ... The order which the original 13 states ratified the constitution, then the order that the others were admitted to the union This is a list of U.S. states by date of statehood, that is, the date when each U.S. state joined the Union. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... George Ervin Sonny Perdue III (born December 20, 1946) is the governor of the U.S. state of Georgia. ... This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. ... Lowell S. Casey Cagle (born January 12, 1966 in Gainesville, Georgia) is an American politician, a member of the Republican Party, a conservative, and a former member of the General Assembly in the U.S. state of Georgia. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... Clarence Saxby Chambliss (born November 10, 1943) is the senior United States Senator from Georgia. ... John Hardy Johnny Isakson (born December 28, 1944), American politician, has been a Republican United States Senator from Georgia since 2005. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... These are tables of congressional delegations from Georgia to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ... Map of U.S. time zones with new CST and EST areas displayed This is a list of United States of America States by time zone. ... The Eastern Standard Time Zone is a geographic region that keeps time by subtracting five hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... The following is a list of abbreviations used by the United States Postal Service. ... U.S. states This is a list of traditional abbreviations for U.S. states and territorries, which were in wide use prior to the U.S. postal abbreviations. ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Motto: áƒ«áƒáƒšáƒ ერთობაშია Strength is in Unity Anthem: áƒ—ავისუფლება Freedom Capital (and largest city) Tbilisi Official languages Georgian1 Demonym Georgian Government Unitary semi-presidential republic  -  President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili  -  Prime Minister Lado Gurgenidze Consolidation  -  Georgian kingdoms of Colchis and Iberia c. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... The US Southeast is the eastern portion of the Southern United States, but the Census Bureau does not provide a standard definition of a Southeast region of the United States, and organizations that need to subdivide the US are free to define a Southeast region to fit their needs. ... In 1775, the British claimed authority over the red and pink areas on this map and Spain ruled the orange. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The United States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial)  States that seceded under CSA control  States and territories claimed by CSA without formal secession and/or control Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 182nd day of the year (183rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Atlanta redirects here. ...

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. This article is about the U.S. State of Florida. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ... Official language(s) English Demonym North Carolinian Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Largest metro area Charlotte metro area Area  Ranked 28th in the US  - Total 53,865 sq mi (139,509 km²)  - Width 150 miles (340 km)  - Length 560[1] miles (900 km)  - % water 9. ... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shining Rock Wilderness Area Appalachian Mountain system The Blue Ridge is a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. ... For exotic financial options, see Mountain range (options). ... The Appalachian Mountains are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. ... The James River winds its way among piedmont hills in central Virginia. ... Foothills are geographically defined as gradual increases in hilly areas at the base of a mountain range. ... The fall line has meanings in both geographical features and the sport of alpine skiing. ... A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. ... Brasstown Bald is the highest point in the state of USA, with a summit elevation of 4784 feet (1458 metres) above mean sea level. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ...

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] For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ...

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Georgia (U.S. state)

The geography of Georgia describes a state in the southeastern United States in North America. ...

[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. For the Department of Energy facility, see Savannah River Site The Savannah River is a major river in the southeastern United States, forming most of the border between the states of South Carolina and Georgia. ... Look up confluence in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Tugaloo River (originally Tugalo River) is a short river bordering Georgia and South Carolina. ... The Seneca River is created by the confluence of the Keowee River and the Little River in northern South Carolina, just downriver from Lake Keowee. ... Note: There is also a Chattooga River in Chattooga County, Georgia and Cherokee County, Alabama. ... Look up tributary in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Treaty of Beaufort, also called the Beaufort Convention, is the treaty that officially set the all-river boundary between the U.S. states of Georgia and South Carolina. ... The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States...

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. Rabun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. ... Surveyor at work with a leveling instrument. ... In the fields of science, engineering, industry and statistics, accuracy is the degree of conformity of a measured or calculated quantity to its actual (true) value. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The Yazoo lands were the sparsely populated central and western areas of the U.S. state of Georgia, when its western border stretched back to the Mississippi River. ...

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. Chattanooga is a city located in United States of America. ... Map of the Apalachicola River system with the Chattahoochee highlighted. ... West Point is a city located in Harris County, Georgia. ... The Flint River is an approximately 150 mi (240 km) long river, in the U.S. state of Georgia. ... View of the Apalachicola River near Fort Gadsden, Florida. ... The St. ...

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. Thalweg (a German word compounded from Tal, valley, and Weg, way) is a term adopted into English usage for geography. ... The ACF River Basin refers to the watershed of the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint River Basin, in the USA, which begins in northern Georgia and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at Apalachicola Bay, near Apalachicola, Florida. ... Lake Seminole is a man-made lake located in the southwest corner of Georgia along its border with Florida. ...

In 2008, Georgia state legislators claimed that the state's border with Tennessee had been erroneously placed one mile (1.6 km) 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] Fields outside Benambra, Victoria, Australia suffering from drought conditions A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. ... A riverboat passing under the Henley Street Bridge on the Tennessee River. ...

[edit] Geology and terrain

Map of elevations in Georgia

Main 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, ocher 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] Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3131x3500, 2033 KB) USGS map of Georgia elevations. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3131x3500, 2033 KB) USGS map of Georgia elevations. ... Geologic regions in Georgia The Geology of Georgia consists of four distinct geologic regions, beginning in the northwest corner of the state and moving through the state to the southeast: the Valley and Ridge, the Blue Ridge, the Piedmont, and the Coastal Plain. ... Ridges and valleys near Bristol, Tennessee The Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, also called the Ridge and Valley Province or the Valley and Ridge Appalachians, are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian division and are also a belt within the Appalachian Mountains extending from northern New Jersey westward into Pennsylvania... Blue Ridge Mountains, Shining Rock Wilderness Area Appalachian Mountain system The Blue Ridge is a mountain chain in the eastern United States, part of the Appalachian Mountains, forming their eastern front from Georgia to Pennsylvania. ... The James River winds its way among piedmont hills in central Virginia. ... The Atlantic Coastal Plain is the rather flat stretch of land that borders the Atlantic Ocean (including the Gulf of Mexico). ... Appalachian zones in the US - USGS The Appalachian Plateau is the western part of the Appalachian mountains, stretching from New York to Alabama. ... Quartzite, a form of metamorphic rock, from the Museum of Geology at University of Tartu collection. ... For other uses, see granite (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Dolerite. ... Kaolin Kaolinite (Aluminium Silicate Hydroxide) Kaolinite is a mineral with the chemical composition Al2Si2O5(OH)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, alligators 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] In biology, a copperhead is any of four species of venomous snake: the American copperhead of eastern North America, and three species of Australian copperhead. ... Binomial name Agkistrodon piscivorous (Lacépède, 1789) The cottonmouth, or water moccasin (Agkistrodon piscivorous), is a venomous snake closely related to the copperhead. ... Families Salamander is the common name applied to approximately 500 amphibian vertebrates with slender bodies, short legs, and long tails (order Caudata or Urodela). ... Genera See text. ... This article refers to the large reptile. ... Genera Ansonia Atelopus Bufo Capensibufo Crepidophryne Dendrophryniscus Didynamipus Frostius Laurentophryne Leptophryne Melanophryniscus Mertensophryne Nectophryne Nectophrynoides Nimbaphrynoides Oreophrynella Osornophryne Pedostibes Pelophryne Peltophryne Pseudobufo Rhamphophryne Werneria Wolterstorffina The true toads are amphibians in the Bufonidae family. ... For other uses, see Trout (disambiguation). ... Bream caught in the Volga River near Kashin, Russia. ... Striped bass (Morone saxatilis) Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) Bass (IPA /bæs/) is a name shared by many different species of popular game fish. ... This article is about the siluriform catfishes; for the Atlantic catfish, see Seawolf (fish); for other uses, see Catfish (disambiguation). ...

[edit] Climate

Main article: Climate of Georgia (U.S. state)

Map of Georgia

The 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. File links The following pages link to this file: Georgia (U.S. state) Categories: Georgia (U.S. state) maps | National Atlas images ... File links The following pages link to this file: Georgia (U.S. state) Categories: Georgia (U.S. state) maps | National Atlas images ... The humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and chilly to mild winters. ... The Georgia Mountains Region is an area in Northeast Georgia, United States, spreading westward. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ...

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. Freezing Rain is a type of precipitation that begins as snow at higher altitude, falling from a cloud towards earth, melts completely on its way down while passing through a layer of air above freezing temperature, and then encounters a layer below freezing at lower level to become supercooled. ...

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). A tornado hit downtown Atlanta, Georgia on Friday March 14, 2008 causing moderate to severe damage due to all the broken glass on the skyscrapers. As of April 10th parts of Peachtree Street, the main thourghfare in Atlanta, is still closed because of the damage. The SEC basketball tournament and a few conventions were ongoing at the time of impact and some injuries occurred due to the amount of people downtown. 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. F-scale redirects here. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... This article is about weather phenomena. ... The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. ...

In 2006 and 2007, however, Georgia has had severe droughts, especially in 2007. Temperatures over 100 degrees have been recorded.

Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after the German physicist Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736), who proposed it in 1724. ... The degree Celsius (°C) is a unit of temperature named after the Swedish astronomer Anders Celsius (1701–1744), who first proposed a similar system in 1742. ...

[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] The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is the Georgia administrative agency charged with the responsibility of regulating hunting, fishing, boating, and nongame plants and animals. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... The Andersonville prison, located at Camp Sumter, was the largest Confederate military prison during the American Civil War. ... Andersonville is a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. ... The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail, is a 2,174 mile (3500 km) marked hiking trail in the eastern United States, running from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. ... Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area preserves a series of sites between Atlanta, Georgia and Lake Sidney Lanier along the Chattahoochee River. ... Atlanta redirects here. ... Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, located in northern Georgia and eastern Tennessee, preserves the sites of two major battles of the American Civil War. ... Fort Fort Oglethorpe is located at 34°5644 North, 85°1444 West (34. ... Marsh on Cumberland Island, nearby Plum Orchard Plum Orchard Cumberland Island National Seashore is a unit of the National Park Service (NPS), authorized by Congress on October 23, 1972. ... St. ... Fort Frederica today Fort Frederica National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service located on St. ... St. ... Fort Pulaski National Monument is located between Savannah and Tybee Island, Georgia. ... Savannah redirects here. ... Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Visitor Center (formerly Plains High School) The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site, located in Plains, Georgia, preserves sites associated with James Earl Jimmy Carter, Jr. ... Plains is a city located in Sumter County, Georgia. ... Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a 2,888 acre (12 km²) in Atlanta, Georgia area that preserves a Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign, and also contains Kennesaw Mountain. ... Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. ... Martin Luther King, Jr. ... The earthlodge at Ocmulgee Ocmulgee National Monument is a U.S. National Monument located just east of Macon, Georgia. ... Macon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County, It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 75 miles (129 km) south of Atlanta, hence the citys nickname as the Heart of... The Trail of Tears refers to the forced removal of the Cherokee American Indian tribe by the U.S. federal government, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Cherokee Indians. ...

[edit] History

Main article: History of Georgia (U.S. state)

The History of Georgia spans Pre-Columbian time to the present day. ...

[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. For other uses, see Mound builder (disambiguation). ... For the Peruvian economist, see Hernando de Soto (economist). ... Inland can mean: Inland Fräkne Hundred - a hundred of Bahusia in Sweden Inland Northern Hundred - a hundred of Bahusia in Sweden Inland Southern Hundred - a hundred of Bahusia in Sweden Inland Torpe Hundred - a hundred of Bahusia in Sweden This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other...

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, both in nowaday's Florida. 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. Motto Dieu et mon droit(French) God and my right Territory of the Kingdom of England Capital Winchester; London from 11th century Language(s) Old English (de facto, until 1066) Anglo-Norman language (de jure, 1066 - 15th century) English (de facto, gradually replaced French from late 13th century) Government Monarchy... The Carolina Colony grants Haystack of 1663 and 1665 The Province of Carolina from 1663 to 1729, was a North American British colony. ... Spanish Florida (Florida Española) refers to the Spanish colony of Florida. ... Guale was a Native American chiefdom that became part of Spanish Floridas missionary system in the late 16th century. ... Mocama was a Native American chiefdom that became part of Spanish Floridas missionary system in the late 16th century. ... The Sea Islands are an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean. ... Nickname: Location in St. ... Nickname: Motto: Enhancing the Quality of Life for all Citizens Location in Escambia County and the state of Florida Coordinates: , Country United States State Florida County Escambia Government  - Mayor John Fogg (R) Area  - City 39. ... Palm trees in Islamorada The Florida Keys is an archipelago of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States. ... The Yamasee were a Muskogean Native American tribe that lived in coastal region of present-day northern Florida and southern Georgia near the Savannah River. ... The Yamasee War (1715–1716) was a conflict between Native Americans, principally of the Yamasee tribe, and British colonists, which occurred in South Carolina. ... Savannah, Georgia colony, Early 1700s The Province of Georgia (also Georgia Colony) was one of the Southern colonies in British North America. ... George II (George Augustus; 10 November 1683 – 25 October 1760) was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Hanover) and Archtreasurer and Prince-Elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death. ...

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. Spanish Florida (Florida Española) refers to the Spanish colony of Florida. ... Fortifications (Latin fortis, strong, and facere, to make) are military constructions designed for defensive warfare. ... Coordinates: , Country State County Montgomery Incorporated December 3, 1819 Government  - Mayor Bobby Bright Area  - City  156. ... Nickname: Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights) Location of Charleston in South Carolina. ... A trading post is a place where trading of goods takes place. ... The Ocmulgee River near Macon The Ocmulgee River (ok-MUHL-gee) is a tributary of the Altamaha River, approximately 255 mi (410 km) long, in the U.S. state of Georgia. ... Macon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County, It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 75 miles (129 km) south of Atlanta, hence the citys nickname as the Heart of... The Creek are an American Indian people originally from the southeastern United States, also known by their original name Muscogee (or Muskogee), the name they use to identify themselves today. ...

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. The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, or reputation to a charitable cause. ...

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 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] is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events February 12 - British colonist James Oglethorpe founds Savannah, Georgia. ... Savannah redirects here. ... Georgia Day is the holiday which the U.S. state of Georgia recognizes in honor of its colonial founding as the Province of Georgia, a penal colony. ... The word holiday has related but different meanings in English-speaking countries, with the exception of the United States where usage differs greatly. ... James Edward Oglethorpe (22 December 1696 - 30 June 1785) was an English general and philanthropist, a founder of the state of Georgia. ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the monarch and head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen-in-Parliament) legislative power. ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ...

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] Other estimates show an even greater impact from the war, when slaves escaped during the disruption. "The sharp decline between 1770 and 1790 in the proportion of the population made up of blacks (almost all of whom were slaves) [went] from 45.2 percent to 36.1 percent in Georgia."^[14] Betsy Ross purportedly sewed the first American flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes representing each of the 13 colonies. ... John Trumbulls Declaration of Independence, showing the five-man committee in charge of drafting the Declaration in 1776 as it presents its work to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia The American Revolution refers to the period during the last half of the 18th century in which the Thirteen... The United States Declaration of Independence was an act of the Second Continental Congress, adopted on July 4, 1776, which declared that the Thirteen Colonies in North America were Free and Independent States and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to...

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. Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The United States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1788 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

[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. On January 18, 1861, Georgia seceded from the Union, keeping the name State of Georgia and joined the newly-formed Confederacy in February. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial)  States that seceded under CSA control  States and territories claimed by CSA without formal secession and/or control Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia... In warfare, a theater or theatre is normally used to define a specific geographic area within which armed conflict occurs. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Chickamauga is several things: Chikamaka Cherokees of the Old South a People in Transition by Henry Thompson Malone, The University of Georgia Press Athens Chickamauga (people), a Native American nation Chickamauga, Georgia The American Civil War Battle of Chickamauga The Rock of Chickamauga a nickname for Gen. ... Kennesaw Mountain is a mountain between Marietta and Kennesaw, Georgia. ... General Sherman redirects here. ... This article is about the historical event. ... For the film, see Gone with the Wind (film). ... For the novel, see Gone with the Wind. ... is the 196th day of the year (197th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Reconstruction (disambiguation). ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American...

[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. Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Augusta is a city in the state of Georgia in the United States of America. ... Louisville is a city located in Jefferson County, Georgia. ... For other uses, see Milledgeville (disambiguation). ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate Casey Cagle, R since November 7, 2006 Speaker of the House Glenn Richardson, R since November 7, 2006 Members 236 Political groups (as of November 7, 2006 elections) Democratic Party Republican Party Meeting place Georgia State Capitol Web site... Macon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County, It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 75 miles (129 km) south of Atlanta, hence the citys nickname as the Heart of...

[edit] Cities

Downtown Atlanta, Georgia

Savannah, Georgia

See also: Georgia census statistical areas

The largest city, Atlanta, is located in north-central Georgia, atop a ridge southeast of the Chattahoochee River. The Atlanta metropolitan area has a population of 5,138,223 (2006 census estimate), though the city proper has less than 500,000 people. The city is the central city of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Ga.-Ala. combined statistical area.^[15] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3264x2448, 818 KB) Uploader notified. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (3264x2448, 818 KB) Uploader notified. ... Downtown Atlanta refers to the largest financial district for the city of Atlanta. ...  ©  This image is copyrighted. ...  ©  This image is copyrighted. ... Savannah redirects here. ... The United States Census Bureau has defined 5 Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs),[1] 15 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs),[2] and 24 Micropolitan Statistical Areas (μSAs)[3] in the State of Georgia. ... This article is about the use of the term in geography and physical geology. ... Map of the Apalachicola River system with the Chattahoochee highlighted. ... The Atlanta metropolitan area, commonly referred to as Metro Atlanta in Georgia, is the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the United States and consists of 28 counties in Georgia. ...

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.