53 Cool Georgia Facts About This State In Southeastern United States

Oluwatosin Michael
Oct 23, 2023 By Oluwatosin Michael
Originally Published on Dec 21, 2021
Georgia was the fourth state in the US to officially accept

The place where mound-building tribal folks lived several years ago, Georgia state is one of the most picturesque spots in the US.

Atlanta, Georgia, is where the Civil Rights Movement was born. This was also where several ancestors of the present-day Europeans had settled down millennia ago.

Home to some of the most beautiful mountain ranges and the deepest caves in the world, Georgia is known for its diverse landscapes. Located in the east of the Mississippi region, this place has a humid subtropical climate.

This state is also known for its rich flora and fauna. Georgia is referred to as the 'peach state,' 'Empire State of the South.'

Georgia is home to what was once considered the eighth wonder of the world, Stone Mountain. This is the state where Martin Luther King Junior lived in his childhood. Merely 108 years old, Georgia is the largest state in the US while considering all the states on the east of the Mississippi River.

Did you know that the name of this state came from the name of the British ruler King George II? Find out more surprising facts about this beautiful US state.

Once you have read these cool facts about Georgia, check out other interesting articles on Ecuador food facts and Chile facts here at Kidadl.

History Of Georgia

To understand how unique Georgia is, you should look at its interesting history. There is so much to learn about this place, from the ancient tribes in this region to the stories about its development over the years.

Georgia, named after King George II, was once occupied by the tribes of the very popular Clovis culture. Northern Georgia regions were once home to Cherokee Indians.

If you have heard about the Trail of Tears, where these natives were expelled from their own lands, this was the region where today Georgia lies. It was the gold discovered on a farm that later led to several people arriving here in search of gold.

The history of wine in this state dates back to over 8000 years, which is why it is considered the birthplace of wine. This place was also the birthplace of the very famous drink Coca-Cola.

Georgia was the fourth state in the US to officially accept the US constitution. Savannah is one of the oldest cities in this US state.

To understand the historical significance of Georgia, Savannah is the perfect example. This state has a reputation for being the first among the US states to bring down the legal voting age to 18.

Before this, the legal voting age was 21, and once Georgia made the change, several other states followed too. When confederacy began, Georgia was among the first states to declare secession from the union.

One of the biggest reveals of the rich culture of the Mississippian region came when the first European expedition team went to Georgia under the guidance of Fernando de Soto. There has been only one US president from Georgia, Jimmy Carter. The current day Governor of Georgia is Brian Kemp of the Republican party.

This state has boasted a steady and evolving economy for a long time. Cotton was once the staple crop, and it was also a significant source of the state's economy.

This also led to the state being called the Empire State of the south. Restorations by the Union were conducted pretty late in Georgia. It still managed to grow steadily in its economy.

While this state has had a rich past, it is recently known for the 1993 Georgian Civil War. This civil war was between Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and there was also political unrest that existed against the president.

This state's current day economic growth is quite surprising when you look back on the financial disaster that the state went into after the civil war period.

One other spot of political concern was the Dade county located in the northwest corner, even before the civil war. This region was briefly separated from the state borders only to be joined back later.

The first college to become a public university with a state charter is the University of Georgia. Many other interesting stories about this college make it one of the most popular choices for students across the US.

This was also once the first college to permit a higher number of female student enrollments than male students.

The Wesleyan College, in particular, has a reputation for being the first to allow female students to earn degrees. To date, Wesleyan College continues to excel in its campus life and quality of education.

Geographic Location Of Georgia

Learning the facts about Georgia will not be complete if you do not understand its geography.

Georgia, stretching nearly 298 mi (480km) long, is located in a prominent position with Tennessee in the north, Florida in the south, Alabama to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean border on another side. Initially, portions of Alabama, as well as Mississippi delta areas, were part of Georgia.

Because of the geographical variations in this state, it also has one of the most extensive assortments of soil types across the region. Besides the interesting soil types, there is also a lavish marble deposit in this region. This has been the source of building materials for monuments like the Lincoln Memorial.

Georgia is the largest state among all the US states located in the region east of the Mississippi. Alabama is another popular US state east of the Mississippi River, a neighboring state of Georgia.

Georgia is the eighth-most populous state in the US, but it also houses cities with exceptionally low population density like Taliferro County. As of 2019, the population of Georgia was 1.06 crores.

The geology of Georgia is a fascinating subject in itself. The Stone Mountain area is one of the perfect examples of Georgia's diverse geographical landscape and is also the perfect spot for hiking and trekking.

The many river basins of this region are the main contributors to its ecological diversity. Major rivers passing through this state and ones with their drainage basin here include the Mississippi River, Savannah River, Bear River, and others.

Flooding in several coastal areas of Georgia state is mainly because these parts are hardly a few inches above the mean sea level.

The Atlantic Ocean coastal portion of Georgia is another interesting section known for its unique marine life. There are also beautiful waterfront towns in this coastal area, namely St. Marys, Tybee Island, and Savannah, among others.

Georgia has its quiet landscapes, unexplored spots, and bustling cityscapes like Downtown Atlanta or even Sandy Springs. For people looking for a quiet place to live with easy access to business hubs in the state, areas like Hart county bring the best of both worlds.

The largest swamp in this region is the Okefenokee Swamp. This largest swamp is also home to some attractive plant and animal species. Georgia's Atlantic coast area is filled with scenic beach towns, including Atlanta, making it one of the best states east of the Mississippi region for a beach vacation.

A majority of the turpentine supply of the world comes from this state east of the Mississippi River area. Atlanta city is one of the best-known places for diversity in culture. Whether you are looking for shopping with family and friends or an evening of street food, Atlanta city would be the best place for it all.

Georgia Customs And Traditions

The Georgia Aquarium is a kid-friendly family weekend destination that has seasonal exhibits showcasing stingrays, penguins, and sharks that you cannot miss. This also happens to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in this state. Georgia is also the largest aquarium for anyone who wishes to see California sea lions.

The state takes its sports seriously. Georgia South Carolina rivalry in football has been a favorite topic of discussion since 1894. The state government of Georgia bears numerous similarities to the federal government and the state governments in the rest of the US states.

Georgia flag also has a story behind it. This red and white flag is among the very few current-day state flags in the US that stay as reminders to the confederacy.

Stone Mountain in this state is known as the world's largest sculpture in the bas-relief technique. This is not just the world's largest sculpture but also a famous spot for the largest exposed granite area. Besides this exposed granite exhibit, this place also houses the granite capital of the world, Elberton city.

Not many know that the community in this state was a close-knit one and there even was a local language called Georgian. This state is also the place where you will find the sculpture of John Pemberton, who was the first person to invent the formula of 'Coca-Cola.'

To learn more about Georgia, you must visit the University of Georgia campus art gallery. The beliefs and traditions of people vary across the state of Georgia. The people of the south Caucasian region, for example, were connected with Greek Mythology in many ways.

When a Georgian feast is hosted in the conventional style, guests are treated with great respect. Even in other instances, the people here treat their guests like 'God' based on the traditions in this region.

Some small practices are also followed across different localities in Georgia. On St. Barbara day, some people throw rice in their house as they believe that this would be a way to draw prosperity into their life.

Savannah in this state is considered to be one of the most haunted places in the country. Legend has it that a tree stands in Georgia known to be its own legal owner.

Preserving the nativity in some parts, the Atlanta region houses Pow Pow festivals that are quite popular among the indigenous tribes and a special occasion for the people of Atlanta. The Stone Mountain region of Atlanta is where most of the celebrations happen.

Weather And Seasons of Georgia

Georgia is mainly known for its moderate climatic conditions. Summers and winters are both pleasant in Georgia, making agriculture here quite feasible and fruitful. Blue Ridge mountain area is among the many parts of Georgia that enjoy pleasant weather conditions.

Despite the general mild-weather conditions in this state, there are clearly defined seasons. All four seasons of summer, winter, fall, and spring are enjoyable in this state. Though in terms of snow and sun, Georgia does not experience extreme weather, but there are several areas prone to natural disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes.

Even if you have tasted the best peaches in the world, you must try the ones grown locally in the Peach State, Georgia. This state has the reputation of producing the best quality peaches, year after year, in terms of texture and taste. This is why the peach became the state fruit of Georgia.

Blueberries, apples, and pears are among the other fruits that grow well in this climate. Rosa laevigata is the state flower of Georgia. The state flower of Georgia is Rosa laevigata.

While you might have heard about the specialty of peaches here, did you also know that Georgia State has more than 28 different varieties of peaches to try? Several parts of this state enjoy good weather conditions. This is why among the Georgia counties, several are rated as healthy counties for living.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created many interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy!

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Written by Oluwatosin Michael

Bachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology

Oluwatosin Michael picture

Oluwatosin MichaelBachelor of Science specializing in Microbiology

With a Bachelor's in Microbiology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Oluwatosin has honed his skills as an SEO content writer, editor, and growth manager. He has written articles, conducted extensive research, and optimized content for search engines. His expertise extends to leading link-building efforts and revising onboarding strategies. 

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