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Atlanta: Overview and History
Home » Georgia » Atlanta: Overview and History » Atlanta: Overview and HistoryIn Gone with the Wind, Scarlett O’Hara proclaims that “Tomorrow will be another day,” but in Scarlett’s hometown, yesterday and today are pretty interesting days as well. Atlanta boasts itself the “Capital of the New South,” and the city balances the history and culture of Southern life with the business and activity of modern America. It is the land of peaches and the “City of Trees” as well as “Hotlanta” and the home of the first twenty-four hour news network (CNN).
Atlanta sits in the Piedmont region of northern Georgia. It lies at the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains and just a few hours west of the Atlantic Ocean. Within 150 miles are Chattanooga, Tennessee, Greenville, South Carolina, and Birmingham, Alabama.
With a metro population of more than four million people, Atlanta is one the largest cities in the United States and is particularly prominent in the southeast United States. A sizable percentage of the population has immigrated to the area, and consequently, Atlanta is a very culturally diverse city with Irish, German, Austrian, and more recently, Asian and Latin American influences.
Atlanta’s population and tendency towards economic growth have made it a popular spot among businesses. Turner Broadcasting (i.e. CNN, TBS, and TNT), Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, Home Depot, UPS, Georgia-Pacific, Bell South, and various dot com corporations are all headquartered in the city. In addition, Atlanta is a popular spot for conventions, and its enormous Georgia World Congress Center is one of many convention venues.
Those Atlantans who aren’t visiting for business are likely coming for an education. Emory University, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Morehouse College, and Spelman College, are all based in Atlanta. Culture and the arts also have a strong presence in town and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the city’s highly regarded newspaper.
Atlanta offers a wealth of advantages and activities to both the tourist and the resident. If you are a history buff, the area’s Civil War and civil rights history will astound you. If you are a sports fan, the Atlanta Braves, Falcons, Hawks, and Thrashers, will give you plenty to cheer for. If you are looking for the perfect souvenir, there is no shortage of shops in town. And if you want to move to town, there are plenty of great neighborhoods and great people to welcome you.
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