The State of Georgia

Georgia was the last of the 13 British colonies established on the Atlantic seaboard. The state of Georgia was founded by James Edward Oglethorpe. This was on February 12, 1733 with 114 original settlers. This was at the current site for the city of Savannah. The city of Savannah itself was the center for colonial government in Georgia for 50 years.

Precolonial History

Before colonial times the Native Americans settled in Georgia and the evidence remains by the numerous trails, mounds, sites and legends that sprinkle the countryside. The tribes that have left their mark are Cherokee, Etowah, Kolomoki and Chehaw. A visit to Etowah Indian Mounds Historic Site in Cartersville provides 54 protected acres that include six eastern mounds, a defensive ditch, plaza and village area. This was the site for thousands of Native Americans between the years 1000 and 1500. Next came the Spanish who started off in Florida, but established missions up the Georgia coast. When England established a colony in South Carolina 1670 this caused problems between the colonial powers and Georgia become a battleground between the English and Spanish.

Civil War

11,000 Georgian residents give their lives defending this state during the Civil War and the state suffered immense destruction. The end of this war produced something even more significant as 460,000 African Americans were set free from slavery.

Civil Rights

Georgia had a key role in Civil Rights movements in the USA. From early coastal slave settlements to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's Georgia is where many equal rights battles began. This is where it all began for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. where the dream took place. Georgia is the place that his dream can be enjoyed . A dream of equality, peace and prosperity for all, a dream that earned him the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. Georgia is the home of The King Center, which is a living memorial to Dr. King's legacy. The area commemorates the place in Atlanta where Dr. King was born and raised. Dr. King's historic home can be toured.

Modern History

One of the most significant events in Georgia's recent history is the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. This put Atlanta in the world spotlight as it hosted the competition featuring 197 nations. Relive the games by walking through Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park. While doing so enjoy the beauty of the Fountain of Rings and its dramatic water fountain shows and also look out for the many shows throughout the year at the park. Georgia is also the home of CNN founded in 1980. There are tours available of the world headquarters located in Atlanta. Finally Georgia has been the home of many great musical artists including James Brown, Ray Charles, OutKast and Usher.

The information above on all the history is taken from (http://www.georgia.org/Culture/OurHistory.htm).

B. Population

The population data that we used was from the U.S. Census Bureau therefore the most recent information is from 2005. The population for 2005 in the state of Georgia is 9,072,576. The previous census in 2000 shows the population has increased 10.8 percent between these two time periods. 59.6% of the population is white, 29.8% black, 0.1% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% is Hawaiian, 1% showing two or more races and 7.1% Hispanic.

Information above is from U.S Census Bureau.

C. Geography

Georgia is the 10^th largest state in United States and features 59,441 square miles of unique landscape and endless adventure. To the north of the state you will find the state's beautiful mountain range. Georgia is particularly beautiful in the fall with the impressive colors seen along the beginning of the Appalachain Trail 2175 miles of scenic beauty that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Middle Georgia is a real incite into Georgia countryside of endless fields of cotton, soybeans and even more. These are the resources that fuel Georgia's economy by delivering goods across the state, nation and even worldwide. South Georgia is a real experience and features a truly unique ecosystem timber lines the land all the way to the coast. The coastline features huge Marshes, pristine beach and even exotic barrier islands and also features, endangered species.

Information from (http://www.georgia.org/Location/Geography.htm).

D. Resort Areas

Georgia is divided into several sections each with their own attractions. Typically resorts are in the mountain areas in the north. Also in the south near the coast where trips to the barrier islands can be enjoyed only accessible by boat. In the north of the state is stone mountain and this is the location for the masters golf tournament every April. This is the area full of mountains and where the only snow falls in the state. This is a great resort area for the adventure outdoor travelers who are looking for activities such as hiking and rock climbing. The south east has a more relaxed atmosphere and appeals to traveler looking to uncover unspoiled beauty. This is where the coast is and the beautiful barrier islands and is a popular resort destination for these types of travelers. Also in this region there is summer sports such as golf and tennis. Being by the coast fishing is also very popular.

Information on resort areas in taken from (http://www.georgia.org/Travel).

E. Climate

Generally the Georgian weather is mild with no really hot weather during the summer or cold weather during the winter. In general the highest summer temperatures are just below 88F and the average winter temperature around 50F. Georgia receives around 40-50 inches of rain. Light snow occurs in the mountains in north Georgia other areas rarely see snow. Summers are warm, autumns brisk and sunny, winters mild and spring are blooming with dogwoods and azaleas. Georgia features the wonders of all seasons without the extremes.

Information from (http://www.georgia.org/Location/Climate.htm).

F. Attractions

œ Georgia Aquarium

œ Stone Mountain Park

œ Six Flags Over Georgia

œ Pebble Hill Plantation

œ Wild Adventures

œ Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

œ Flint River Quarium

There are many attractions that bring people into the state and the above list is just a small selection. In the history section there are more attractions such as Martin Luther King JR house as well as historical information for history buffs. Although it may not be thought of as an attraction Georgia is a great place for sport and outdoor activities. Of course one of the reasons for that is Olympic center which housed the 1996 games. The big sport in Georgia is golf and the state has over 400 courses. The Augusta National Golf Club is home to the Masters Golf Tournament. Tennis is another popular sport and the Lincoln Tennis Center was part of the Olympic setup. Additionally mountain biking, hiking and fishing are all popular sports in the state.

Information taken from (http://www.iexplore.com/dmap/Georgia+(US+State)/Activities;$sessionid$O1H2LIYAAA320P2MN5XCFEQ).

G. Industry

The industries for the state of Georgia are listed below.

œ Aerospace

œ Agribusiness

œ Automotive

œ Energy & Environment

œ Financial services

œ Global Trade

œ Life Sciences

œ Logistics & Transportation

œ Manufacturing

œ Multimedia

œ Software

œ Telecommunications

œ Tourism

œ Venture Capital

Information taken from (http://www.georgia.org/Business/Industries).

It's also worthy to mention that traditionally Georgia's industries were pulp and paper, food processing and textiles/carpet. Nearly every county in Georgia is home to at least one of these industries. They also employ nearly a half of the Manufacturing workforce and have an annual payroll of $7 billion.

Information taken from (http://www.gatip.org/industries.html).

H. Seasons

As the information in the climate section shows Georgia has something to offer in all four seasons. Georgia enjoys mild temperatures and rarely gets snow with the exception of the mountain areas in the north. Therefore Georgia is not a strong destination for skiing with just one ski resort area called Sky Valley located two hours from Atlanta. There is no doubt that Georgia enjoys the Spring and the Summer the most. The popular sports in Georgia such as Golf, Tennis and outdoor activities as mentioned in previous sections thrive in wall weather.