Georgia (GA) is located in the southeastern USA and is known for its rich history and diverse industries. Georgia is home to Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and The Home Depot hobby store chain. The popular Appalachian Trail begins in the north of the state and ends after 2,198 mi in Maine. The capital and largest city of Georgia is Atlanta, where the 1996 Summer Olympics were held.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Georgia Abbreviation GA Capital Atlanta Largest city Atlanta (Population: 510 823) Current time 9:59 Time zone EST (UTC-5), the state observes daylight saving time EDT (UTC-4) Population 10,713,771 (#8 most populous US state) Area 59,424 mi² (#24 largest US state) Admitted to the Union January 2, 1788 (#4 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Georgia
The capital of Georgia is Atlanta, which was founded in 1837 as a major station on the Western and Atlantic Railroad. This is where the name of the city comes from, which was not officially incorporated until December 29, 1847, and was known as Terminus until then. Atlanta became the capital of Georgia in 1868 when it replaced Milledgeville.
🏙️ Largest City in Georgia
The largest city in Georgia is Atlanta, where 510,823 people lived in 2023. The second largest city is Columbus with a population of 201,877 and the third largest city is Augusta with a population of 200,884.
🕒 Time in Georgia
The current time in Georgia is 9:59. The entire state falls in the Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC-5) zone and transitions to Daylight Saving Time EDT (UTC-4) from March to November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Georgia
As of 2023, Georgia had a population of 10,713,771, making the state the 8th most populous in the United States.
📍 Area of Georgia
The total area of Georgia is 59,424 mi², of which 57,906 mi² is land and 1,519 mi² is water. Georgia is thus the 24th largest US state.
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Fun Facts About Georgia
🧩 Georgia Neighboring States
Georgia is bordered by five American states. It has Alabama to the west, Tennessee to the northwest, North Carolina to the north, South Carolina to the northeast, and Florida to the south. In addition, it has a coastline with the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
📅 Date of Georgia Statehood
Georgia entered the Union on January 2, 1788, as the 4th state in line when it was formed from the original colony of Georgia.
📛 Nickname of the State of Georgia
Georgia was most famously nicknamed “The Peach State” after the end of the Civil War, when farmers found in the peach tree a substitute for the then abundantly grown cotton. Because of the high percentage of manual labor involved, cotton farming was difficult and often unprofitable after the end of slavery.
Peaches and peach trees are traditionally depicted on Georgia license plates.
Before the Civil War, Georgia was nicknamed “The Empire State of the South” because of its economic strength and industrial development. This is a paraphrase of New York State’s then-existing nickname “The Empire State”.
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Georgia
The highest mountain in Georgia is with 4,784 ft Brasstown Bald in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
🏞️ Rivers in Georgia
The longest river in Georgia is the Chattahoochee River with a total flow length of 429 mi. It is followed by the Flint River (344 mi), Savannah River (301 mi), Ogeechee River (294 mi), and Coosa River (280 mi).
🎓 Universities in Georgia
The largest university in the state is the Georgia Institute of Technology, which was founded in 1885 in Atlanta and is attended by around 48,000 students. The second largest is Georgia State University with 47 thousand students and the third largest is Kennesaw State University with 43 thousand students.
✉️ Georgia ZIP Codes
Georgia is assigned the zip code ranges 300x-319xx and 398xx-399xx. You can find a map of each area in the ZIP Codes in the USA article, and you can look up the ZIP code for any address on the USPS website.
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Weather in Georgia
The best time to visit Georgia is in late spring or early fall, when it rains less and when temperatures are in the tolerable range. April, May or September are the best months for hiking and visiting attractions in the cities.
Spring in Georgia brings a gradual warming, with temperatures rising from average March 45°F to 64°F to very comfortable 61°F to 81°F in May. Rainfall is moderate, creating good conditions for outdoor activities. Thunderstorms are relatively common around Atlanta, and tornadoes may occur sporadically in the northern part of the state.
Summers in Georgia are hot and humid, with temperatures in the higher elevations around 77°F and in the lowlands around 95°F. The feeling of heat can be enhanced by high humidity, rain is intense and frequent. In the afternoon, rain may be accompanied by thunderstorms.
Autumn in Georgia is drier than summer, with temperatures gradually dropping from 64°F to 82°F in September to 43°F to 64°F in November. Georgia’s countryside turns yellow and red, making it photogenic.
Winters in Georgia are mild, with temperatures in Atlanta typically ranging between 36°F and 50°F in December and January. In mountainous areas, temperatures can drop below freezing and snow cover can occur, which is unusual in the lowlands.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Georgia
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Things to Do in Georgia
1️⃣ World of Coca-Cola
World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta is a unique interactive museum that explores the history and culture of the world-famous sweet water brand. At the museum, you can view historical objects or interactive exhibits that explain how the brown drink became a global phenomenon. The most interesting experience is the opportunity to taste different Coca Cola products from around the world.
2️⃣ Georgia Aquarium
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is one of the largest aquariums in the world. Home to thousands of marine animals including sharks, dolphins and turtles, visitors can explore interactive exhibits to learn more about the ocean ecosystem and marine life conservation. A unique experience is the opportunity to swim with some of the animals or participate in shark feeding.
3️⃣ Six Flags Over Georgia Amusement Park
Located near Atlanta, Six Flags Over Georgia is a theme park for adrenaline and action lovers. The park features dozens of attractions including fast roller coasters with looping rides, some of which are inspired by characters from the DC Comics series. In addition to the adrenaline-pumping roller coasters, the park also features refreshing water rides or zones designed for smaller children.
4️⃣ Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park is located near the South Carolina border and is home to one of the deepest canyons in the eastern United States. The park is crisscrossed by several hiking trails, some of which run along the canyon and the Tallulah River. The greatest experience is crossing the suspension bridge suspended over the gorge, enjoying the view of the waterfall directly from it.
5️⃣ Stone Mountain Park
Located northeast of Atlanta, Stone Mountain Park is famous for its giant granite monolith, carved with portraits of Confederate commanders from the Civil War era. The park offers fun for the day, with several hiking trails set out, or you can take a cable car to the top of the mountain. During the summer season, a laser show is projected directly onto the rock in the evening.
6️⃣ Historic Downtown Savannah
Savannah’s Historic Downtown consists of over 20 blocks of turn-of-the-century homes, complemented by churches and plazas. Visitors who enjoy discovering the charm of history and architecture will especially enjoy a tour of the district. During the tour, you should not miss the sprawling Forsyth Park, where you can sit and enjoy a picnic.
7️⃣ Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
The Okefenokee is a large wildlife refuge that protects one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the United States. Adventurous visitors to the park can rent a kayak or boat to explore the extensive marsh and forest areas. During the cruise, they may spot alligators, turtles or birds. There are several hiking trails through the park, complete with observation towers that offer beautiful views of nature.
8️⃣ Fox Theatre in Atlanta
The Fox Theatre is a theater in Atlanta with a rich history, having opened in 1929. The theater building is known for its design, which blends Islamic and Egyptian architecture. Among the surrounding high-rises, the Fox Theatre is easily recognizable. You can purchase a schedule and tickets for the show on the theater’s website.
9️⃣ Providence Canyon State Park
Providence Canyon State Park is located near the Alabama border and is nicknamed the “Little Grand Canyon“. It earned its nickname because of its deep, brightly colored sandstone canyons. A number of hiking trails lead through the canyons and offer beautiful views of the rocks. Camping and stargazing are also possible in the park after dark, the low light smog making conditions ideal for this activity.
🔟 Atlanta Botanical Garden
Located northeast of downtown Atlanta, the Botanical Gardens is a popular spot for nature lovers and visitors looking for a quieter pastime. A wide variety of plants and flowers from all over the world are represented in the garden, with rare orchids and tropical plants worth mentioning. The biggest attraction of the botanical garden is the suspended footbridge in the treetops, which allows a bird’s eye view of the vegetation.
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Largest Cities in Georgia
The table below shows the ten largest cities in the state of Georgia in 2023, the source of the data is the United States Census Bureau, a federal agency whose main job is to count the population.
City County Population 1 Atlanta Fulton, DeKalb 510,823 Map of Atlanta 2 Columbus Muscogee 201,877 Map of Columbus 3 Augusta Richmond 200,884 Map of Augusta 4 Macon Bibb 156,512 Map of Macon 5 Savannah Chatham 147,748 Map of Savannah 6 Athens Clarke 128,628 Map of Athens 7 South Fulton Fulton 110,920 Map of South Fulton 8 Sandy Springs Fulton 105,793 Map of Sandy Springs 9 Roswell Fulton 91,706 Map of Roswell 10 Warner Robins Houston, Peach 84,537 Map of Warner Robins -
Sports Teams in Georgia
🏒 Ice Hockey (NHL)
No teams from Georgia play in the NHL.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
The only team from Georgia in the NFL is the Atlanta Falcons of the NFC South Division. The team entered the competition in the 1966 season, and considers its symbolic colors to be black, red, silver, and white. The Falcons play their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Georgia’s only representative in the NBA basketball league is the Atlanta Hawks of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference. It first participated in the competition in the 1949 season; the club colors are red, yellow, black, and gray. The Hawks play their home games at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
The state of Georgia is represented in the MLB baseball league by the Atlanta Braves, who began playing in the National League in the 1876 season and now belong to its Eastern Division. The Braves list navy blue, scarlet red, gold, and white as their club colors. The team plays its home games at Truist Park in Cumberland.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC is part of the Eastern Conference of the MLS Football League as of the 2017 season, the team plays its home matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The club colors are black, red and gold.
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Georgia State Symbols
The legislation of the State of Georgia recognises a number of state symbols, just a few of which are listed below.
State Flag of Georgia
The last modification was made on February 19, 2003, when the flag’s design became closer to the flag of the Confederate States of America and, in part, the flag of Georgia from 1879-1956. The flag’s three horizontal stripes are complemented by 13 stars, referring to the number of original colonies, as well as the state emblem.
Great Seal of Georgia
The Great Seal has historically been used to authenticate documents issued by the State of Georgia. The form of the first seal is directly defined in the State Constitution from 1777, however, in February 1799 its appearance was changed. A slightly modified Great Seal from 1914 is used today.
State Fruit
Georgia has recognised the peach as the state fruit since 1995, and it appears on car number plates, for example.
State Tree
In 1937, the southern live oak (Quercus virginiana), which commonly grows in the southern part of Georgia, was chosen as the state tree.
State Reptile
Since 1989, the endangered gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) has been the state reptile.
State Flower
The Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata), which became naturalized in the southeastern United States in 1916, was chosen as the official state flower.
State Amphibian
Since 2005, the state symbol has included the American green tree frog (Hyla cinerea), which is commonly found along the Georgia coast.
State Bird
The bird symbol of Georgia is the brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), which is commonly found in the state.
State Crop
Official symbols include the peanut since 1995. Georgia is a major producer of peanuts.
State Fish
The symbol of Georgia has been the largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) since 1970.
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