The State of Georgia is bordered by South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida.
Georgia is the 24th largest and the 8th most populous state in the United States. The state was named after King George II of Great Britain, whose approval was the foundation of the state in 1732.
Georgia is known to many as 'The Empire State of the South' and 'The Peach State.' On January 2, 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to join the United States of America.
Since then, it has maintained its position as one of the most diverse regions in the country. Georgia ranks fourth amongst all the states east of the Mississippi River in the landmass equation, and it is also known as the youngest of the 13 English colonies that Great Britain ruled for decades.
This grand old state is home to some of the most famous monuments in the country that range from regions that were part of the Civil War battle, or in one way, represented the notable leaders from the confederate era. These can be seen on the Stone Mountain carvings in the city of Stone Mountain.
History of Georgia
Georgia is the largest producer of peaches, peanuts, and pecans in the United States.
Georgia's colony originally traversed all the way to the Mississippi River, meaning at one point, the population of Alabama consisted of Georgians.
Georgia thrived as a prosperous state owing to its slave labor system. The state left the US and was part of the seven original Confederate states.
After the Civil War, cotton production in the state saw a steep decline, and this caused further commotion among the white people as they lost most of their income sources. However, Georgia was reinstated as a state in 1870 by President Andrew Johnson following the military occupation.
James Oglethorpe, an English philanthropist, and politician came up with the idea of Georgia being colonized by inmates of London's debtor's prisons. The prison was the way debtors were dealt with, and it was filled with inmates who paid off their debts through labor.
However, the plan was not appropriately incorporated as some inmates were sent to the state along with people from the lower classes of society.
Under the command of General William Tecumseh Sherman, Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, was burned to the ground by Confederate forces on November 15, 1864. Atlanta used the phoenix symbol to show how it was raised from the ashes following the destruction of Sherman.
The Wesleyan College in Georgia was the first college in the world that granted degrees to women!
Famous Georgia Athletes
Georgia has produced many athletes that have garnered a large fan following over the decades. Some of them are significant sports like basketball, baseball, football, and other sports.
Some of the most notable athletes to come out of Georgia are Dwight Howard (Basketball), Al-Farouq Aminu (Basketball), Luke Appling (Baseball), Johnny Archer (Billiards), Calvin Johnson (Football), Hulk Hogan (Professional Wrestler), Champ Bailey (Football), Sugar Ray Robinson (Boxing), Walt Frazier (Basketball), Bobby Jones (Golf), Ty Cobb (Baseball), Ron Blomberg (Baseball),
Famous Georgia Leaders
Jimmy Carter, who became the 39th President of the United States, was born on October 1, 1924, in the same town of Plains in Georgia and helped run the peanut farm that his family operated before he ran for the position of President. He also served as the Governor and Senator and advocated the Habitat For Humanity NGO.
Martin Luther King, Jr. is perhaps one of the most famous world leaders to ever come from Georgia based on his impact on shaping society. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.
He is world-renowned for his role in the American Civil Rights Movement.
He was the one who led from the front in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and further played a part in the creation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
In 1964, Martin Luther King, Jr. became the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work against racial discrimination and the establishment of equal rights and human rights, especially for the African-American populace of the United States.
Other leaders that have come from Georgia are Blake R Van Leer, Robert Toombs, Richard Russell Jr., James Nabrit, Jr, Zell Miller, William McIntosh, James Longstreet, Nathanael Greene, William Gibbs McAdoo, Newt Gingrich, Ira Roe Foster, Herman Cain, Cullen A. Battle, Edward Porter Alexander,
Famous Georgia: In Art & Literature
Some of the famous people from Georgia who made an impact on the world of Literature are Pat Conroy, Harry Crews, James Dicke, J. G. Hertzler, Margaret Mitchell, Robert L. Lynn, Lauren Myracle, Flannery O'Connor, Louise Simonson, Lillian Smith, Alice Walker, and Garry Wills.
Margaret Mitchell won the Pulitzer Prize in 1937 for her novel Gone with the Wind.
Famous people who delved into the world of art are Alma Thomas, June Brigman, Mary Crovatt Hambidge, Harriet Powers, Richard T. Scott, Ella Lillian, and Wall Van Leer.
Famous Georgia: In Medicine
Alfred Blalock, born on April 5, 1899, in Culloden, was a surgeon who was noted for his works on Tetralogy of Fallot, also known as Baby Blue Syndrome, and the medical condition of shock. He is world-renowned and won the Albert Lasker Clinical Medical Research Award, and he was nominated on several occasions for the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
On November 1, 1815, Crawford Long was a pharmacist and surgeon who became famous for his use of sulfuric ether as an anesthetic. He was the first obstetric anesthetist and later, in 1849, would publish his findings in a local magazine.
However, his discovery would only receive recognition after a New York Surgeon, Marion Sims, published the article in a famous magazine.
Famous Georgia: In Science
Some of the famous people from Georgia famous in the field of Science are Jeri Ellsworth, inventor of Commodore 30-in-1 Direct to TV; Michael Cranford, a video game designer; Edward M. Burgess, a chemist known for the Burgess reagent; Kevin Greenaugh, American nuclear engineer and senior manager of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) in Washington, DC; Cornelia Bargmann, known for her work on neural and genetic circuit mechanism.
Famous Georgia: In Entertainment
Some of the most famous Georgians in the Entertainment world include Julia Roberts, Chris Tucker, and Kanye West.
Atlanta itself is home to famous rappers like Childish Gambino (Donald Glover), Gucci Mane, Killer Mike (Run the Jewels), and Ludacris.
Other pop and rock music singers from the state are Shawn Mullins, Indigo Girls, and bands like Maserati and Light Pupil Dilate.
Did You Know?
Athens, Georgia, is home to a white oak tree that owns itself legally! The tree owns this land within an 8 ft (2.4 m) radius! Based on legends, the plot owner was William Henry Jackson, a local professor at the University of Georgia.
Berry College, established in 1902, holds the record for the largest contiguous campus in the world with its 10926.5 ha (27,000 ac) plot!
Dr. John Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in the year 1886 in Atlanta, Georgia. The name 'coca cola' for the drink was suggested by Frank Robinson, Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper. The name Coca-Cola was penned in the script that is famous worldwide today. Coca-Cola debuted to the public when Willis Venable sold it in Jacob's Pharmacy.
If you are visiting Georgia, you should check out Tallulah Gorge State Park. The park is one of the top attractions in the state, and it is perfect for outdoor adventures!
The park is spread over 809.37 ha (2,000 ac), and it has natural landmarks like the Tallulah Gorge, Tallulah River, and Tallulah Falls. The river is a fun spot for rafting, kayaking, and swimming.
The Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta is currently the third largest aquarium in the world, with a tank capacity of 6.3 million gals (24 million l)! Georgia Aquarium actually held the first position before the establishment of the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin, China.
This aquarium has a tank capacity of 11.8 million gals (45 million li) and beats the Georgia Aquarium by quite some volume!
Georgia is also home to the Center for Civil and Human Rights.
The center is a tribute to the civil rights movement that began in the United States, and in a broader sense, it pays homage to human rights all around the world. The Civil Rights gallery depicts the struggle for equality in the 1950s and 1960s and has interactive displays that realize the individuals who fought against racial segregation.
The photos and stories of martyrs who lost their lives in the fight for equal rights and human rights are portrayed in the gallery.
The Stone Mountain or Stone Mountain Park is an 863 ft (263 m) high granite, and it is full of spectacular sights. Stone mountain park towers above everything in the region and is an excellent spot for hikers.
The monument also has cable car rides, events, golf, and lodging.
The Atlanta skyline is clearly visible from the ascend of a cable car. However, the site is also seen as the biggest tribute to White supremacy in recent years as the faces of confederate icons President Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson, and General Robert E. Lee are carved into the stone.
The Atlanta Botanical Garden is yet another tourist attraction located in the state of Georgia. It was opened in 1976 and since then has played host to plant life from all over the world. The tropical rotunda, high elevation house, desert house, and other areas are displayed in the garden.
The Amicalola Falls State Park is home to the highest waterfall in Georgian in the form of the Amicalola Falls. It stands at the height of 729 ft, and visitors are allowed to hike the falls and take in the amazing scenery from the waterfall.
Spread over 161874.3 ha (400,000 ac)of canals, the Okefenokee Swamp is one of the most amazing places to visit in Georgia! The swamp is home to various endangered species of animals. Lily pads, prairies, and moss-draped cypress trees are commonly found throughout the swamp.
Some More Fun Facts
The Cumberland Island, located off the coast of Georgia, is the largest Oldest Isles. The island is specified as the Cumberland Island Nation Seashore and was founded in 1972 to conserve the natural features of the regions.
It is home to richly diverse fauna and flora and has many lakes, beaches, marshlands, and dunes. Entry is, however, limited to 300 people at one time, and you can hike around the several sites and take in the view of wild horses wandering the island.
Lookout Mountain, situated at the border between Tennessee and Georgia, is an exception sight! However, today, Lookout Mountain is known for its rocky ridges and nature park. Tourists can climb to the top of the summit to enter the Rock City Gardens. You can actually get a chance to view all seven states at once from the top!
Lookout Mountain is an impressive sight located along the Georgia-Tennessee border. Visitors can scale to the top of the rock to enter Rock City Gardens, a unique garden developed on the summit.
It's a must-see Georgia Attraction where you have a chance to see seven states at once. The attraction also has two rock caves in the Mother Goose Village and Fairyland Caverns.
Established in 1971, the Providence Canyon State Park is one of the top attractions in Georgia and is among the Seven Natural Wonders of Georgia. Providence Canyon is an artificial site formed because of soil erosion, and it is known as the 'Little Grand Canyon.'
Callaway Gardens is located on the North of Columbus, on Pine Mountain, is a national historic site because of its significance. This leisure center was founded by Cason Callaway, after whom Callaway Gardens is named. The spot has golf courses, an obstacle course, and ziplining that can be enjoyed by the whole family!
Savannah, Georgia, is arguably at the top of the most visited places in Georgia. The Savannah Historic District is famous as a national historic site because it is one of the best-preserved districts in the US because of its pre-civil war era.
The entire district has historical landmarks from the 18th and 19 centuries and is home to sites like Forsyth Park and Chippewa Square. Forsyth Park is one of the best reminders of the well-designed Southern park from the mid-1800s.
Savannah Historic District is an official National Historic Landmark District. From the buildings to the original layout, you'll get a chance to connect with the city's past while exploring the district.
Jekyll Island, also known as the 'Millionaire's Village,' is a large island spread over 9.71 ha (240 ac) and contains 33 historic structures, including the Jekyll Island Club Hotel and other bungalows in the regions. Jekyll Island has served home to America's wealthiest families like the Pulitzers, Goodyear, and Rockefellers.
Tourists can take in the history and the natural beauty of the island.
Tybee Island near Savannah has clean beaches supported by gentle waves and large dunes spread over three miles. Swimming is only one of the many popular things on Tybee Island.
Other popular things to enjoy at Tybee Island are boat excursions to view dolphins, learning to surf at North Beach, and visiting the salt-marsh estuaries of Little Tybee Island.
You can also enjoy kayaking and climbing to the top of the Tybee Island Lighthouse, a historical monument to get a wide-angle view of the island. The Tybee Light Station and Museum is also over to tourists.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District is a national historic site in Atlanta, Georgia.
The site includes the birthplace and the grave of Martin Luther King, who was renowned as a civil rights leader. The site also has the Ebenezer Baptist Church, whose importance to the neighborhood can be explained only by tour guides! If you're hoping for a self-guided tour, then perhaps you will not get the best experience.
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park, built over 1,000 years ago by Native Americans in modern-day Macon. The historical park is one of Georgia's top attraction spots for tourists. Various archaeological findings are on display in the Ocmulgee National Monument, portraying the lives of the Native people who populated the region once.
Some other places that you can visit in Georgia are the Carmichael House, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Andersonville National Historic Site, Central of Georgia Railroad Shops and Terminal, Historic Augusta Canal and Industrial District, Kolomoki Mounds, Juliette Gordon Low Historic District, Octagon House, and St. Catherine's Island.
