GEORGIA (U.S. STATE)

'Georgia' (IPA: //) is a state in the southern region of the United States of America 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. 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 one of the fastest-growing states in the United States, with its population increasing from 8,186,453 in 2000 to an estimated 9,072,576 people in 2005.US Census Bureau Quick Facts, accessed 2006-11-30 Georgia is also known as the ''Peach State'' and the ''Empire State of the South''. The largest city, and capital, is Atlanta.
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.
With an area of 59,441 square miles (153,951 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.^[1]

Contents

Geography

Boundaries

Geology and terrain

Flora and fauna

Climate

Protected lands

History

Confederate history

Capitals

Cities

Demographics

Race, Language, and Age

Religion

Economy

Agriculture and industry

State taxes

Health care and education

Health care

Education

Colleges and universities

Transportation

Interstate highways

United States highways

Law and Government

State government

Local government

Politics

Media

Television

Radio

Newspapers and Periodicals

Professional sports teams

State facts and symbols

See also

References

Further reading

External links

Geography

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 River and Seneca River. 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.
The border then takes a sharp left 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.
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 ended 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.
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.'

Geology and terrain

Main articles: 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, ochre 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.^[2]

Flora and fauna

Georgia has a diverse mix of flora and fauna. The State of Georgia has approximately 250 trees and 58 protected plants. Georgia's trees include red cedar, 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 rattlesnake, copperhead, and cottonmouth as well as salamanders, frogs, 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, shrimp, oysters, and blue crabs are found off the Georgia coast.^[3]

Climate

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^[4] to approximately 75 inches (1905 mm) around the Northeast part of the state^[5]. 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.
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.
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)^[6], while the lowest ever recorded is -17 °F (-27.2 °C).^[7] 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). 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 Carolinas.

Monthly average daily high and low temperatures for major Georgia cities
City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Athens	51/11 33/1	56/13 35/2	65/18 42/6	73/23 49/9	80/27 58/14	87/31 65/18	90/32 69/21	88/31 68/20	82/28 63/17	73/23 51/11	63/17 42/6	54/12 35/2
Atlanta	52/11 34/1	57/14 36/2	65/18 44/7	73/23 50/10	80/27 60/16	86/30 67/19	89/32 71/22	88/31 70/21	82/28 64/18	73/23 53/12	63/17 44/7	55/13 36/2
Augusta	56/13 33/1	61/16 36/4	69/21 42/6	77/25 48/9	84/29 57/14	90/32 65/18	92/33 70/21	90/32 68/20	85/29 62/17	76/24 50/10	68/20 41/5	59/15 35/2
Columbus	57/14 37/3	62/17 39/4	69/21 46/8	76/24 52/11	83/28 61/16	90/32 69/21	92/33 72/22	91/32 72/22	86/30 66/19	77/25 54/12	68/20 46/8	59/15 39/4
Macon	57/14 34/1	61/16 37/3	68/20 44/7	76/24 50/10	83/28 59/15	90/32 67/19	92/33 70/21	90/32 70/21	85/29 64/18	77/25 51/11	68/20 42/6	59/15 36/2
Savannah	60/16 38/3	64/18 41/5	71/22 48/9	78/26 53/12	84/29 61/16	90/32 68/20	92/33 72/22	90/32 71/22	86/30 67/19	78/26 56/13	70/21 47/8	63/17 40/4
''Temperatures are given in °F/°C format, with highs on top of lows. [1]''

Protected lands

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.^[8] 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.^[9]

History

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

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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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 ''HMS 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.^[10]
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. Following the war, it 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.

Confederate history

Main articles: 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.
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.

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.

Cities

Atlanta is located in north-central Georgia, atop a ridge southeast of the Chattahoochee River. It has been Georgia's capital city since 1868.
The Atlanta metropolitan area has a population of 5,138,223 (2006 census estimate), and the city is the central city of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Ga.-Ala. combined statistical area.^[11]
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 and Tifton.^[12]

Demographics

In 2006, Georgia had an estimated population of 9,363,941 which was an increase of 231,388
from the previous year, and an increase of 1,177,125 since 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 438,939 people (that is 849,414 births minus 410,475 deaths) and an increase from net migration of 606,673 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 228,415 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 378,258 people.
As of 2006, Georgia is the 9th most populous state. Its population has grown 44.5% (2,885,725) since 1990, making it one of the fastest-growing states in the country. More than half of the state's population lives in the Atlanta metro area. Nineteen Georgia counties were among the 100 fastest growing counties from 2004 to 2005.^[13] The center of population of Georgia is located in Butts County, in the city of Jackson ^[14].

Race, Language, and Age

The state's five largest ancestries are reported as African, American, English, German, and Irish . As of 2000, 90.1% of Georgia residents age 5 and older speak only English at home and 5.6% speak Spanish. French is the third most spoken language at 0.9%, followed by German at 0.8% and Vietnamese at 0.6%. As of 2004, 7.7% of its population was reported as under 5 years of age, 26.4% under 18, and 9.6% were 65 or older. Also as of 2004, females made up approximately 50.6% of the population and African-Americans made up approximately 29.6%.
Historically, about half of Georgia's population was composed of African-Americans who, prior to the Civil War, were almost exclusively enslaved. The Great Migration of blacks from the rural South to the industrial North from 1914-1970 reduced the population but has since grown. Today, African-Americans remain the most populous race in many rural counties in middle, east-central, southwestern, and low-country Georgia, as well as in the city of Atlanta and its core southern suburbs.
Recent immigration from Asian nations have added to the population flare. Laotian Americans and Thai Americans are leading the increase of Asians, with Chinese, Vietnamese and Indians following close behind. As of 2004, approximately 2.6% of were Asian American.
White Georgians, like other Southerners, usually describe their ancestry on the census questionnaire as "American", "United States", or simply "Southern". The colonial settlement of very large numbers of Scots-Irish Americans in the mountains and piedmont, and coastal settlement by English Americans, have strongly influenced the state's culture. ^[15]
With the huge influx of new residents from the North, the term "Georgia cracker" is sometimes used informally as a proud or jocular self-description by some white residents of Georgia to indicate that their family has lived there for many generations. However, the term "white cracker" is not always used self-referentially and remains a disparaging term to many in the region.^[16]

Religion

Georgia Population Density Map

Like most other Southern states, Georgia is largely Protestant Christian. The religious affiliations of the people of Georgia are as follows:

★ Christian – 85%

★
★ Protestant – 76%

★
★
★ Baptist – 39%

★
★
★ Methodist – 12%

★
★
★ Presbyterian – 3%

★
★
★ Pentecostal – 3%

★
★
★ Other Protestant – 19%

★
★ Roman Catholic – 8%

★
★ Other Christian – 1%

★ Other Religions – 2%

★ Non-Religious – 13%
Georgia shares its Protestant heritage with much of the Southeastern United States. However, the number of Roman Catholics is growing in the state because of the influx of Northeasterners resettling in the Atlanta metro area and also because of large Hispanic immigration into the state.
Georgia's Jewish community dates to the settlement of 42 mostly Sephardic Portuguese Jews in Savannah in 1733. Atlanta also has a large, old, and established Jewish community.

Economy

Savannah's River Street is a popular destination among tourists visiting coastal Georgia.

Map showing land use in Georgia

Georgia's 2005 total gross state product was $364 billion.^[17] Its ''per capita'' personal income for 2005 put it 10th in the nation at $40,155. If Georgia were a stand-alone country, it would be the 18th largest economy in the world.

Agriculture and industry

Georgia's agricultural outputs are poultry and eggs, pecans, peaches, peanuts, rye, cattle, hogs, dairy products, turfgrass, and vegetables. Its industrial outputs are textiles and apparel, transportation equipment, food processing, paper products, chemical products, electric equipment. Tourism also makes an important contribution to the economy. Georgia is home to the Granite Capital of the World (Elberton). Atlanta has been the site of enormous growth in real estate, service, and communications industries.
Atlanta has a very large effect on the state of Georgia and the Southeastern United States. The city is an ever growing addition to communications, industry, transportation, tourism, and government.
Industry in Georgia is now quite diverse. Major products in the mineral and timber industry include a variety of pines, clays, stones, and sands. Textile industry is located around the cities of Rome, Columbus, Augusta, and Macon. Atlanta is a leading center of tourism, transportation, communications, government, and industry. Some industries there include automobile and aircraft manufacturing, food and chemical processing, printing, publishing, and large corporations. Some of the corporations headquartered in Atlanta are: Arby's, Chick-fil-A, The Coca-Cola Company, Georgia Pacific, ING Americas, and Delta Air Lines. Major corporations in other parts of the state include: Aflac, Home Depot, Newell Rubbermaid, Primerica Financial Services, United Parcel Service and Zaxby's.
Several United States military installations are located in Georgia including Fort Stewart, Hunter Army Airfield, Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Fort Benning, Moody Air Force Base, Robins Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Atlanta, Fort McPherson, Fort Gillem, Fort Gordon, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany and Dobbins Air Reserve Base. However, due to the latest round of BRAC cuts, Forts Gillem and McPherson will be closing and NAS Atlanta will be transferred to the Georgia National Guard.

State taxes

Georgia's personal income tax ranges from 1% to 6% within six tax brackets. There is a 4% state sales tax, which is not applied to prescription drugs, certain medical devices, and groceries. Each county may add up to a 2% SPLOST. Counties participating in MARTA have another 1%; MARTA is the only major metropolitan rapid transit authority in the U.S. not to receive state funding. The city of Atlanta (in two counties, roughly 90% in Fulton and 10% in Dekalb) has the only city sales tax (1%, total 8%) for fixing its aging sewers. Local taxes are almost always charged on groceries but never prescriptions. Up to 1% of a SPLOST can go to homestead exemptions (the HOST). All taxes are collected by the Georgia Department of Revenue and then properly distributed according to any agreements that each county has with its cities.

Health care and education

Health care

Georgians can find medical and dental care "via 151 general hospitals, more than 15,000 doctors and nearly 6,000 dentists."^[18] The state is ranked forty-first in the percentage of residents who engage in regular exercise.^[19]

Education

Georgia Tech's Tech Tower

The Emory University Candler Library

Anderson Hall at Savannah College of Art and Design

Colleges and universities

'Private schools'

★ Agnes Scott College † in Decatur

★ American Intercontinental University

★
★ in Dunwoody

★
★ in Buckhead (Atlanta)

★ Andrew College † in Cuthbert

★ Art Institute of Atlanta in Atlanta

★ Atlanta Christian College † in Atlanta

★ Atlanta College of Art in Atlanta

★ Beacon University in Columbus

★ Berry College in Mount Berry

★ Brenau University in Gainesville

★ Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon

★ Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta

★ Covenant College † in Lookout Mountain

★ Emmanuel College † in Franklin Springs

★ Emory University † in Atlanta

★ LaGrange College † in LaGrange

★ Life University in Marietta

★ Mercer University † in Macon and Atlanta

★ Morehouse College in Atlanta

★ Morris Brown College in Atlanta

★ Oglethorpe University in Atlanta

★ Paine College † in Augusta

★ Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine at Atlanta

★ Piedmont College † in Demorest and Athens

★ Reinhardt College † in Waleska

★ Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah and Atlanta

★ Shorter College † in Rome

★ South University in Savannah (and in other states)

★ Southern Catholic College in Dawsonville

★ Spelman College in Atlanta

★ Thomas University in Thomasville

★ Toccoa Falls College† in Toccoa

★ Wesleyan College † in Macon

★ Young Harris College † in Young Harris
:† denotes schools affiliated with religious organizations ''(incomplete)''
'University System of Georgia'

★ Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton

★ Albany State University in Albany

★ Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah

★ Augusta State University in Augusta

★ Bainbridge College in Bainbridge

★ Clayton State University in Morrow

★ Coastal Georgia Community College in Brunswick

★ Columbus State University in Columbus

★ Dalton State College in Dalton

★ Darton College in Albany

★ East Georgia College in Swainsboro

★ Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley

★ Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville

★ Georgia Military College in Milledgeville

★ Georgia Highlands College in Rome

★ Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta

★ Georgia Perimeter College

★ Georgia Southern University in Statesboro

★ Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus

★ Georgia State University in Atlanta

★ Gordon College in Barnesville

★ Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw

★ Macon State College in Macon

★ Medical College of Georgia in Augusta

★ Middle Georgia College in Cochran and Dublin

★ North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega

★ Savannah State University in Savannah

★ Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta

★ University of West Georgia in Carrollton

★ University of Georgia in Athens

★ Valdosta State University in Valdosta

★ ''(incomplete list, 34 total, plus tech colleges)''

Transportation

Atlanta is still a major railroad hub for CSX and Norfolk Southern, in addition to being a major airport hub now as well; Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the principal hub for AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines. Several highways and short line railroads also traverse the state.

Interstate highways

★

Interstate 16,

Interstate 516

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Interstate 20,

Interstate 520

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Interstate 59,

Interstate 24

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Interstate 75,

Interstate 475,

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Interstate 575,

Interstate 675

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Interstate 85,

Interstate 185,

Interstate 985

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Interstate 95

★

Interstate 285 (the perimeter around Atlanta)

★

Interstate 3 (proposed)

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Interstate 14 (proposed)

United States highways

''North-south routes''	''East-west routes''
★ U.S. Route 1 ★ U.S. Route 301 ★ U.S. Route 11 ★ U.S. Route 411 ★ U.S. Route 17 ★ U.S. Route 19 ★ U.S. Route 319 ★ U.S. Route 221 ★ U.S. Route 23 ★ U.S. Route 123 ★ U.S. Route 25 ★ U.S. Route 27 ★ U.S. Route 29 ★ U.S. Route 129 ★ U.S. Route 41 ★ U.S. Route 341 ★ U.S. Route 441	★ U.S. Route 76 ★ U.S. Route 78 ★ U.S. Route 278 ★ U.S. Route 378 ★ U.S. Route 80 ★ U.S. Route 280 ★ U.S. Route 82 ★ U.S. Route 84

Law and Government

State government

The Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta with the distinctive gold dome.

The capital of Georgia is Atlanta. As with all other U.S. States and the federal government, Georgia's government is based on the separation of legislative, executive and judicial power. Executive authority in the state rests with the governor, currently Sonny Perdue (until 2011) (Republican). Perdue is the first Republican governor since Reconstruction. (See List of governors of Georgia). Both the governor and lieutenant governor are elected on separate ballots to four-year terms of office. Unlike the federal government, but like many other U.S. States, most of the executive officials who comprise the governor's cabinet are elected by the citizens of Georgia rather than appointed by the governor.
Legislative authority resides in the General Assembly, composed of the Senate and House of Representatives. The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate, while the House of Representatives selects their own Speaker. The Georgia Constitution mandates a maximum of 56 senators, elected from single-member districts, and a minimum of 180 representatives, apportioned among representative districts (which sometimes results in more than one representative per district); there are currently 56 senators and 180 representatives. The term of office for senators and representatives is two years.
State judicial authority rests with the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, which have statewide authority. In addition, there are smaller courts which have more limited geographical jurisdiction, including State Courts, Superior Courts, Magistrate Courts and Probate Courts. Justices of the Supreme Court and judges of the Court of Appeals are elected statewide by the citizens in non-partisan elections to six-year terms. Judges for the smaller courts are elected by the state's citizens who live within that court's jurisdiction to four-year terms.
See also: List of governors of Georgia and Georgia elected officials

Local government

Georgia has 159 counties, the most of any state except Texas (with 254). Before 1932, there were 161, with Milton and Campbell being merged into Fulton at the end of 1931. Counties have been named for prominent figures in both American and Georgia history. Counties in Georgia have their own elected legislative branch, usually called the Board of Commissioners, which usually also has executive authority in the county. Georgia's Constitution provides all counties and cities with "home rule" authority, and so the county commissions have considerable power to pass legislation within their county as a municipality would.
''(See: list of Georgia counties.)''
Besides the counties, Georgia only defines cities as local units of government. Every incorporated town, no matter how small, is legally a city. Georgia does not provide for townships or independent cities (though there is a movement in the Legislature to provide for townships) but does allow consolidated city-county governments by local referendum. So far, only Columbus, Augusta, Athens, and Cusseta have done this. Conyers is studying possibly becoming consolidated with Rockdale County.
There is no true metropolitan government in Georgia, though the Atlanta Regional Commission and Georgia Regional Transportation Authority do provide some services, and the ARC must approve all major land development projects in metro Atlanta.

Politics

'Presidential elections results'

Year	Republican	Democratic
2004	'57.97%' ''1,914,254	41.37% ''1,366,149
2000	'54.67%' ''1,419,720	42.98% ''1,116,230
1996	'47.01%' ''1,080,843	45.84% ''1,053,849
1992	42.88% ''995,252	'43.47%' ''1,008,966
1988	'59.75%' ''1,081,331	39.50% ''714,792
1984	'60.17%' ''1,068,722	39.79% ''706,628
1980	40.95% ''654,168	'55.76%' ''890,733
1976	32.96% ''483,743	'66.74%' ''979,409
1972	'75.04%' ''881,496	24.65% ''289,529
1968 ★	30.40% ''380,111	26.75% ''334,440
1964	'54.12%' ''616,584	41.15% ''522,557
1960	37.43% ''274,472	'62.54%' ''458,638
★ State won by George Wallace of the American Independent Party, at 42.83%, or 535,550 votes

Until recently, Georgia's state government had the longest unbroken record of single-party dominance of any state in the Union. For over 130 years, from 1872 to 2003, Georgians only elected Democratic governors, and Democrats held the majority of seats in the General Assembly. Most of the Democrats elected throughout these years were Southern Democrats or Dixiecrats who were very conservative throughout the 60s segregationist period.
During the 1960s and 1970s Georgia made significant changes in civil rights, governance, and economic growth focused on Atlanta and was a bedrock of the emerging "New South." This characterization was solidified with the election of former Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter to the U.S. Presidency in 1976.
The political dominance of Democrats ended in 2003, when then-Governor Roy Barnes was defeated by Sonny Perdue, a state legislator and former Democrat himself, in what was regarded as a stunning upset. While Democrats retained control of the State House, they lost their majority in the Senate when four Democrats switched parties. They relinquished their hold on the House in the 2004 election; currently, Republicans control all three partisan elements of the state government. Many conservative Democrats, including former U.S. Senator and governor Zell Miller, have decided to support Republicans in recent years; George W. Bush won the state in the 2004 election, and conservative initiatives such as restrictions on abortion have won broad support.
As of the 2001 reapportionment, the state has 13 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, which are currently held by 7 Republicans and 6 Democrats.
''See also : United States presidential election, 2004, in Georgia

Media

Television

Georgia is home to Ted Turner, who founded TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, CNN and Headline News, among others. The CNN Center, which houses the news channel's world headquarters, is located in downtown Atlanta, facing Marietta Street, while the home offices of the Turner Entertainment networks are located in midtown, near the Georgia Tech campus, on Techwood Drive. A third Turner building is on Williams Street, directly across Interstate 75 and Interstate 85 from the Techwood Drive campus and is the home of Adult Swim and Williams Street Studios.
The Weather Channel's headquarters are located in the Smyrna area of metropolitan Atlanta in Cobb County.
WSB-TV was the state's first television station, and the southeastern United State's second. WSB-TV signed on Channel 8 in 1948, and moved to its present day location on Channel 2 in 1952.
Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) operates nine major educational television stations across the state as Georgia Public Broadcasting Television.^[20]

Radio

WSB-AM in Atlanta was the first radio station in the southeastern United States, signing on in 1922. The station currently broadcasts a news/talk format. WSB-FM signed on in 1948 on 104.5 FM, and moved to 98.5 FM in 1952. The station broadcasts today, still with the WSB-FM callsign, but is known as "B98.5FM".
Georgia Public Radio has been in service since 1984 and, with the exception of Atlanta, it broadcasts daily on several FM (and one AM) stations across the state. 1984.^[21][22] Georgia Public Radio reaches nearly all of Georgia (with the exception of the Atlanta area, which is served by WABE), as well as portions of Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Newspapers and Periodicals

There are several major newspapers in Georgia. Among them are the Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Augusta Chronicle. Other media publications in the state include business magazines; entertainment media such as Southern Voice; and various sports magazines.^[23]

Professional sports teams

Club	Sport	League
Atlanta Braves	Baseball	Major League Baseball
Atlanta Falcons	Football	National Football League
Atlanta Hawks	Basketball	National Basketball Association
Atlanta Thrashers	Ice hockey	National Hockey League
Georgia Force (Atlanta)	Arena football	Arena Football League
Atlanta Vision	Basketball	American Basketball Association
Atlanta Silverbacks	Soccer	USL First Division
Atlanta Silverbacks U23's	Soccer	USL Premier Development League
Atlanta Silverbacks Women	Soccer	W-League
Atlanta Thoroughbreds	Indoor football	National Indoor Football League
Atlanta Xplosion	Football	Independent Women's Football League
South Georgia Peanuts (Albany)	Baseball	South Coast League
South Georgia Wildcats (Albany)	Arena football	Af2
Augusta FireBall	Soccer	USL Premier Development League
Augusta GreenJackets	Baseball	South Atlantic League
Augusta Lynx	Ice hockey	East Coast Hockey League
Augusta Spartans	Indoor football	World Indoor Football League
Cartersville Warriors	Basketball	World Basketball Association
Columbus Cottonmouths	Ice hockey	Southern Professional Hockey League
Columbus Catfish	Baseball	South Atlantic League
Columbus Lions	Indoor football	World Indoor Football League
Gwinnett Gladiators (Duluth)	Ice hockey	East Coast Hockey League
Macon Music	Baseball	South Coast League
Marietta Storm	Basketball	World Basketball Association
Rome Braves	Baseball	South Atlantic League
Rome Gladiators	Basketball	World Basketball Association
Rome Knights	Basketball	American Basketball Association
Savannah Sand Gnats	Baseball	South Atlantic League
Atlanta Flames (moved to Calgary, Alberta and are now the Calgary Flames)	Ice Hockey	National Hockey League

''See also Tour de Georgia, The Masters Tournament''

State facts and symbols

Georgia's nicknames include 'Peach State' and 'Empire State of the South '.
The state song, "Georgia on My Mind" by Hoagy Carmichael, was originally written about a woman of that name, but after Georgia native Ray Charles sang it, the state legislature voted it the state song on 24 April 1979. Ray Charles sang it on the legislative floor when the bill was passed. This act was significant in that it symbolized to many the move away from segregation and racism.
The state commemorative quarter was released on 19 July 1999. ^[24]
The first houses in Georgia to be designated historic state landmarks are the Owens Thomas House and the Sorrel Weed House, in the Savannah historic district.
Here is a list of the state symbols:

State tree: Southern live oak (''Quercus virginiana'')

State bird: brown thrasher (''Toxostoma rufum'')

State flower: Cherokee rose (''Rosa laevigata'')

State game bird: Bobwhite quail (''Colinus virginianus'')

State wildflower: Azalea (''Rhododendron'' spp.)

State fruit: peach (''Prunus persica'')

State fish: Largemouth bass (''Micropterus salmoides'')

State marine mammal: Right whale

State reptile: Gopher tortoise (''Gopherus polyphemus'')

State amphibian: green tree frog (''Hyla cinerea'')

State possum: Pogo possum

State insect: Honey bee (''Apis mellifera'')

State butterfly: eastern tiger swallowtail (''Papilio glaucus'')

State mineral: Staurolite

State seashell: Knobbed whelk (''Busycon carica'')

State gem: quartz

State crop: peanut

State vegetable: Vidalia sweet onion

State fossil: the shark tooth

See also

★ Appalachia

★ George Washington Carver

★ Georgia census statistical areas

★ Georgia Political Science Association  

★ Georgia State Patrol

★ List of counties in Georgia

★ List of people from Georgia

★ Music of Georgia

★ Politics of Georgia

References

1. States Ranked for Total Area, Land Area, and Water Area - NETSTATE.com, accessed December 26, 2006
2. For an overview of Georgia's geology, see "Geologic Regions of Georgia: Overview" in ''The New Georgia Encyclopedia''. Retrieved September 9, 2007.
3. Georgia - Flora and fauna - city-data.com, accessed February 3, 2007
4. Monthly Averages for Macon, GA ''The Weather Channel''.
5. Monthly Averages for Clayton, GA ''The Weather Channel''.
6. Each state's high temperature record ''USA Today, last updated August 2006''.
7. Each state's low temperature record ''USA Today, last updated August 2006''
8. Georgia Department of Natural Resources gadnr.org, accessed May 13, 2007
9. National Park Service nps.gov, accessed May 13, 2007
10. Trustee Georgia, 1732-1752
11. [2] Accessed May 15, 2007
12. [3] Accessed May 15, 2007
13. 100 fastest growing counties, accessed November 30, 2006
14. Population Centers by State
15. Early Mountain Life, Who are Americans
16. Project 21 press release
17. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State, 2005
18. Georgia.org, Accessed May 16, 2007
19. Statemaster.com, Accessed May 16, 2007
20. Georgia Public Broadcasting Accessed, May 19, 2007
21. Georgia Public Radio Accessed, May 19, 2007
22. Georgia Public Radio Accessed, May 19, 2007
23. Mondotimes.com, Accessed, May 19, 2007
24. State symbols and emblems

Further reading

★ ''New Georgia Encyclopedia'' (2005).

★ Bartley, Numan V. ''The Creation of Modern Georgia'' (1990). Covers 1865-1990 period. ISBN 0-8203-1183-9.

★ Coleman, Kenneth. ed. ''A History of Georgia'' (1991). ISBN 0-8203-1269-X.

★ London, Bonnie Bullard. (2005) ''Georgia and the American Experience'' Atlanta, Georgia: Clairmont Press ISBN 1-56733-100-9. A middle school textbook.

★ Peirce, Neal R. ''The Deep South States of America: People, Politics, and Power in the Seven Deep South States'' (1974). Information on politics and economics 1960-72. ISBN 0-393-05496-9.

External links

★ Georgia state government website

★ Georgia Historical Society

★ Georgia Constitution Web Page, Carl Vinson Institute of Government at The University of Georgia (includes historical Constitutions of Georgia)

★ Summary of duties, powers and responsibilities of the branches of Georgia State government (Georgia Secretary of State website)

★ USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Georgia

★ U.S. Census Bureau

★ Georgia State Facts

★ Georgia Info from UGA

★ The New Georgia Encyclopedia

★ Digital Library of Georgia

★ Georgia Aerial Photographs

★ Georgia Government Publications

★ Highway, physical, and county maps of Georgia (World Sites Atlas)

★ Georgia - Flora and fauna - city-data.com

★ Georgia State Parks

★ Georgia National Parks