100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
Georgia (GA) lies in the southeastern United States, and the state is known for its rich history and diverse industries. Georgia is home to Coca-Cola, the airline Delta Air Lines, and the home improvement chain The Home Depot. The popular Appalachian Trail begins in the north of the state and ends after 2,198 mi in the state of Maine. Georgia’s capital and largest city is Atlanta, which hosted the Summer Olympics in 1996.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name Georgia Abbreviation GA Capital Atlanta Largest city Atlanta (Population: 510 823) Current time 12:00 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 sqmi (#24 largest US state) Admitted to the Union January 2, 1788 (#4 state to join) ⭐ Capital of Georgia
The capital of the state of Georgia is Atlanta, which originated in 1837 as a key stop on the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The city’s name comes from this line. Atlanta was officially incorporated on December 29, 1847, and before that it was known as Terminus. Atlanta became the capital of Georgia in 1868, replacing Milledgeville.
🏙️ Largest City in Georgia
The largest city in Georgia is Atlanta, with a population of 510,823 in 2023. The second largest city is Columbus with 201,877 residents, and third is Augusta with a population of 200,884.
🕒 Time in Georgia
The current time in Georgia is 12:00. The entire state falls within the Eastern Standard Time zone (EST, UTC-5) and switches to EDT (UTC-4) from March through November.
🧑🤝🧑 Population of Georgia
According to 2023 data, Georgia had 10,713,771 residents, which made it the 8th most populous state in the U.S.
📍 Area of Georgia
Georgia’s total area is 59,424 sqmi, of which 57,906 sqmi is land and 1,519 sqmi is water. Georgia is the 24th largest U.S. state.
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Fun Facts About the State of Georgia
🧩 Which States Border Georgia
Georgia borders five U.S. states. To the west is Alabama, to the northwest Tennessee, to the north North Carolina, to the northeast South Carolina, and to the south Florida. It also has an Atlantic Ocean coastline to the east.
📅 Date of Georgia Statehood
Georgia joined the Union on January 2, 1788 as the 4th state, having formed from the original Colony of Georgia.
📛 Georgia State Nickname
Georgia earned its best-known nickname, “The Peach State,” after the Civil War, when farmers turned to peaches as a replacement for cotton. Cotton was labor intensive, and after the end of slavery it was often unprofitable.
Peaches and peach trees traditionally appear on Georgia license plates.
Before the Civil War, Georgia was called “The Empire State of the South” thanks to its economic strength and industrial growth. This paraphrased the already existing nickname of New York, “The Empire State.”
⛰️ Highest Mountain in Georgia
The highest mountain in Georgia is Brasstown Bald at 4,784 ft in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
🏞️ Rivers in Georgia
The longest river in Georgia is the Chattahoochee River with a total 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, founded in 1885 in Atlanta and attended by around 48,000 students. The second largest is Georgia State University with 47,000 students, and third is Kennesaw State University with 43,000 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in Georgia
Georgia is assigned ZIP code ranges 300x–319xx and 398xx–399xx. In the article ZIP Codes in the USA you will find a map of each area, and on the USPS website you can look up the ZIP code for any address.
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Weather in Georgia
The best time to visit Georgia is late spring or early fall, when there is less rain and temperatures are more comfortable. April, May, or September are the best months for hiking and visiting city attractions.
Spring in Georgia brings a gradual warmup, with average March temperatures of 45 °F to 64 °F rising to a very pleasant 61 °F to 81 °F in May. Rainfall is moderate, which creates good conditions for outdoor activities. Thunderstorms are fairly common around Atlanta, and tornadoes can occur occasionally in the north of the state.
Summer in Georgia is hot and humid. Temperatures at higher elevations hover around 77 °F, while the lowlands can reach about 95 °F. High humidity can make it feel hotter. Rain is frequent and intense. Afternoon storms often accompany the rain.
Fall in Georgia is drier than summer. Temperatures gradually drop from 64 °F to 82 °F in September down to 43 °F to 64 °F in November. Nature in Georgia turns yellow and red, which makes it very photogenic.
Winter in Georgia is mild. In Atlanta, December and January temperatures usually range between 36 °F and 50 °F. In the mountains, temperatures can fall below freezing and snow cover may appear, although it is uncommon in the lowlands.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in Georgia
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What to See in Georgia
1️⃣ World of Coca-Cola
World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta is a unique interactive museum dedicated to the history and culture of the world-famous brand. You can explore historic artifacts and interactive exhibits that show how the brown soda became a global phenomenon. The highlight is tasting different Coca-Cola products from around the world.
2️⃣ Georgia Aquarium
Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is among the largest aquariums in the world. It is home to thousands of marine animals, including sharks, dolphins, and turtles. Visitors can enjoy interactive exhibits and learn more about ocean ecosystems and marine conservation. A unique experience is swimming with select animals or helping feed sharks.
3️⃣ Six Flags Over Georgia Amusement Park
The amusement park Six Flags Over Georgia sits near Atlanta, and it is ideal for fans of adrenaline and action. The park features dozens of attractions, including high-speed roller coasters with loops. Several are themed after DC Comics characters. In addition to thrill coasters, the park offers refreshing water rides and areas for younger children.
4️⃣ Tallulah Gorge State Park
Tallulah Gorge State Park lies near the South Carolina border and is home to one of the deepest canyons in the eastern United States. Several hiking trails cut through the park, some running along the canyon and the Tallulah River. The biggest thrill is crossing the suspension bridge over the chasm, where you can enjoy a direct view of the waterfall.
5️⃣ Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain Park lies northeast of Atlanta and is known for its giant granite monolith carved with portraits of Confederate leaders from the Civil War era. The park offers a full day of fun, with several hiking trails and an aerial tram to the summit. During the summer season, a laser show is projected onto the mountain in the evening.
6️⃣ Historic Downtown Savannah
Savannah’s historic district spans more than 20 blocks of homes from the late 18th and early 19th centuries, complemented by churches and squares. This neighborhood is perfect for visitors who love to soak up history and architecture. Do not skip the expansive Forsyth Park, where you can sit down and enjoy a picnic.
7️⃣ Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Okefenokee is a vast protected area that preserves one of the largest freshwater wetland regions in the United States. Adventurous visitors can rent a kayak or boat to explore the extensive swamps and forests. Along the way you may spot alligators, turtles, and birds. Several hiking trails cross the refuge, complete with lookout towers that offer sweeping views.
8️⃣ Fox Theatre in Atlanta
Fox Theatre in Atlanta has a rich history and opened in 1929. The building is known for its design, which blends Islamic and Egyptian architectural elements. Amid the surrounding skyscrapers, the Fox is easy to spot. You can find the schedule and buy tickets on the theater’s website.
9️⃣ Providence Canyon State Park
Providence Canyon State Park sits near the Alabama border and is nicknamed the “Little Grand Canyon.” It earned this name for its deep, colorful sandstone canyons. Numerous hiking trails run through the canyons and offer beautiful views of the rock formations. The park allows camping, and after dark you can stargaze. Low light pollution makes for ideal conditions.
🔟 Atlanta Botanical Garden
The botanical garden lies northeast of downtown Atlanta and is a favorite spot for nature lovers and visitors seeking a calmer experience. The garden showcases a wide range of plants and flowers from around the world, including rare orchids and tropical species. The biggest attraction is the canopy-level walkway that lets you see the forest from a bird’s-eye view.
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Largest Cities in Georgia
The table lists the ten largest cities in the state of Georgia in 2023. The data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary task is the national census.
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
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
No team from Georgia plays in the NHL.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
The only NFL club from Georgia is the Atlanta Falcons of the NFC South. The team joined the league in the 1966 season and considers black, red, silver, and white its colors. The Falcons play their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
Georgia’s only representative in the NBA is the Atlanta Hawks of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference. The team first competed in the 1949 season. Its colors are red, yellow, black, and gray. The Hawks play home games at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
Georgia is represented in MLB by the Atlanta Braves, who began playing in the National League in the 1876 season and now belong to its East Division. The Braves list navy blue, scarlet, gold, and white as their team colors. They play home games at Truist Park in the city of Cumberland.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
Atlanta United FC has been part of the Eastern Conference of MLS since 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
Georgia law recognizes a wide range of state symbols, and only some are listed below.
Flag of Georgia
The most recent change was made on February 19, 2003, when the design came closer to the flag of the Confederate States of America and partly to Georgia’s flag from 1879–1956. Three horizontal stripes are complemented by 13 stars referring to the number of original colonies, along with the state coat of arms.
Seal of Georgia
The Great Seal was historically used to authenticate documents issued by the state of Georgia. The appearance of the first seal has been defined in the state constitution since 1777, although it was changed in February 1799. Today a slightly modified version of the 1914 Great Seal is used.
State Fruit
Since 1995 Georgia has recognized the peach as the state fruit, which also appears on license plates.
State Tree
In 1937 the live oak (Quercus virginiana) was chosen as the state tree. It commonly grows in southern Georgia.
State Reptile
Since 1989 the state reptile has been the threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).
State Flower
The official state flower, selected in 1916, is the Cherokee rose (Rosa laevigata), which has naturalized in the southeastern United States.
State Amphibian
Since 2005 the green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) has been among the state’s symbols and is common along Georgia’s coast.
State Bird
Georgia’s bird symbol is the brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), which commonly occurs in the state.
State Crop
The peanut has been among the official symbols since 1995. Georgia is a major producer of peanuts.
State Fish
Since 1970 Georgia’s fish symbol has been the largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans).
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