Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is a  in the  and was one of the original  that revolted against  rule in the. It was the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established as a colony, in 1733. It was the fourth state to ratify the, on ,. It seceded from the Union on, and was one of the original seven. It was the last state readmitted to the Union, on,. Georgia is one of the fastest-growing states in the, with its population increasing from 8,186,453 in 2000 to an estimated 9,072,576 people in 2005. Georgia is also known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South. The largest city, and capital, is.

Georgia is bordered on the south by ; on the east by the and ; on the west by  and by  in the extreme southwest; and on the north by  and. The northern part of the state is in the, a in the vast mountain system of the. The central extends from the  to the, where the s cascade down in elevation to the continental  of the southern part of the state. The highest point in Georgia is, 4,784 (1,458 m); the lowest point is.

With an area of 59,441 square miles (153,951 km²), Georgia is ranked 24th in size among the 50 s. Georgia is the largest state east of the in terms of land area, although it is the fourth largest (after, , and ) in total area, a term which includes expanses of water claimed as state territory.

Boundaries
Beginning from the Atlantic Ocean, the state's eastern border with South Carolina runs up the, northwest to its origin at the of the  and  rivers. It then continues up the Tugaloo (originally Tugalo) and into the, its most significant. These bounds were decided in the 1787, and tested in the in the two Georgia v. South Carolina cases in 1922 and 1989.

The border then takes a sharp turn around the tip of, at 35°N, though from this point it diverges slightly south (possibly due to later re with better ). This originally was the Georgia and border all the way back to the, until Tennessee was divided from North Carolina, and  and  (the ) were taken from Georgia.

The state's western border then departs in another straight line south-southeastward, at a point southwest of, to meet the westernmost point of the near. It continues down to the point where it ends at the (the confluence of the two forming Florida's ), and goes almost due east and very slightly south, in a straight line to the origin of the, 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 of the rivers. Since then, several have been inundated by man made lakes, including the point now under .'''

Geology and terrain


Georgia is divided into five geologic regions. These include the ', the ', the ', the ', and the . 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 as well as  and. The geology of the Piedmont includes schist, amphibolite, gneiss, migmatite, and granite while the primary resource of the Coastal Plain is.

Flora and fauna
Georgia has a diverse mix of flora and fauna. The State of Georgia has approximately 250 tree species and 58 protected plants. Georgia's native trees include red cedar, a variety of pines, oaks, maples, sweetgum and 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, , and as well as , , and  are among 79 species of reptile and 63 amphibians that make Georgia their home. The most popular freshwater game fish are, , , and , 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.

Climate
The majority of Georgia is primarily a 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, receives moderate to heavy precipitation, which varies from 45 inches (1143 mm) in central Georgia to approximately 75 inches (1905 mm) around the Northeast part of the state. The degree to which the weather of a certain area of Georgia is subtropical depends not just on the, but also on how close it is to the or  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. 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.

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), while the lowest ever recorded is -17 °F (-27.2 °C). Georgia is one of the leading states in incidents of tornadoes. The areas closest to the Florida border get the same small 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 s, 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 winds and heavy rain to the Georgia interior, as well as hurricanes that come close to the Georgia coastline, brushing the coast on their  on the way up to hit.

In 2006 and 2007, however, Georgia has had severe droughts, especially in 2007. Temperatures over 100 degrees have been recorded.

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. Other historic sites and parks are supervised by the and include the  in ; ;  near ;  at ;  near ;  on ;  in ;  near ;  near ;  in Atlanta;  at ;.

History
The local culture, described by  in 1540, completely disappeared by 1560. Early on, in the course of European exploration of the area, a number of explorers visited the  region of Georgia.

The conflict between and  over control of Georgia began in earnest in about 1670, when the English founded the  colony in present-day. Nearly a century earlier, the Spanish of had established the missionary provinces of  and  on the coast and  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 and. The Florida peninsula was subjected to raids as far as the. The coast of Georgia was occupied by now -allied Indians such as the until the  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 in honor of King.

British interest in establishing a colony below South Carolina came from varied sources. was a threat to South Carolina and a haven for runaway slaves. The  in the 1720s established a [fort] near present-day, also a threat to British interests in the region. Traders from, had established s as far west as the , near present-day. The British trading network kept the 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 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 s 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, 113 settlers landed in the  at what was to become the city of. This day is now known as, which is not a but is mainly observed in s and by some local s. , 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. Georgia became a, with a governor appointed by the British king.

was one of the that revolted against  rule in the  by signing the 1776, despite a large population of people loyal to the crown. During the war, nearly one-third of the slaves, more than 5,000 enslaved African Americans, exercised their desire for independence by escaping and joining British forces, where they were promised freedom. Some went to Great Britain or the Caribbean; others were resettled in Canada provinces.

Following the war, Georgia became the fourth state of the after ratifying the  on. 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 &mdash; more constitutions than any other state, except for Louisiana, which has had 11.

Confederate history
On, , Georgia joined the and became a major  of the.

In December 1864, a large swath of the state from to  was destroyed during General 's. This event served as the historical background for the 1936 novel  and the of the same name.

On, , following , Georgia became the last former Confederate state to be readmitted to the.

Part of the history of Georgia after the Civil War revolves around the struggle for school equality. Black educators played a pivotal role in this struggle with their organized resistance often being overlooked. Their story is detailed below.

Early Resistance-1878-1894: Association Building and Interracial Collaboration  ---This period is marked by organization building, cooperation between Whites and Blacks relative to education and inter-state information networks that spurred change. 1878 marks the beginning of the Black Teachers' Association in Georgia which eventually became known as the Georgia Teachers and Education Association. In addition, the Georgia Equal Rights Association was formed to supervise and aid Black schools by constructing buildings and raising educational opportunities for Black students. Its first convention was in 1866 and was responsible for the birth of local chapters being formed throughout the state of Georgia. During this time, former slaves and White Republicans worked together to find and certify teachers and discuss ideas relative to education. During this time period, superintendents supported Black teachers by giving them the freedom to gather at annual meetings and to become visible leaders within their organizations. Education for Black students during this period was not equal. Many advocates for African American education were not in favor of equal educational opportunity. In fact, gains made during reconstruction began slipping away during this time.

Responding to Shifting Attitudes-1894-1916: Activity and National Collaborations---At the turn of the century, organized educational activities for African American educators decreased. This shift mirrored attitudes on the part of White citizens as seen in social and political legislation intended to allow Whites to recreate segregated, unequal communities. Throughout the south, restrictive laws were passed to separate White and Black citizens. Whites resisted any efforts to equitably fund education for African Americans, both teacher salary and per pupil expenditure, citing the impracticality of the idea. In fact, many of the high schools for African Americans were closed during this time period. Attendance at annual conventions for African American educators declined during this period due to growing hostility and retribution from Whites. Some African Americans affilitated with national organizations, like the NAACP, rather than become active in state organizations. This was a period when African American educators were threathened physically and politically. There was little visible positive change for educating African American children during this time.

New Beginning - 1917-1921: Shields and Direct Petition---The great migration of African Americans from the south to the north brought forward a new educational effort aimed at African American educators and students. This new effort was fueled by Whites who understood the economic threat that massive migration would bring to the south. World War I also brought more attention to the plight of African Americns in the United States. African Americans were sent to fight to protect democracy in other countries when they did not enjoy democratic privileges in their own country. During this period, organizational power began to be used effectively by African American educators. Single teachers were not seen as producing change relative to the need of African American students. Membership in organizations devoted to positive changes for African Americans brought both strength and protection...a shield. Organizations petitioned state leaders for equitable funding, better salaries, buildings and equipment, normal school training, and funding for summer school. Membership in various organizations devoted to such purposes increased. African American educational leaders such as Booker T. Washington rose to prominence and the NAACP formed chapters within southern cities between 1917 and 1921 largely because African Americans capitalized on timing related to sentiments associated with the great migration and WWI.

Educational Leadership -1921-1938: Direct Appeal---By 1921, several African American teacher's organizations in Georgia merged into one organization, the Georgia Teachers and Education Association (GTEA), in an effort to strengthen its work throughout Georgia. Their efforts were coordinated and sustained throughout the period but yielded small results because many forms of repression still existed in the south and White people had to be placated even as African Americans were putting forth pressure for needed changes. The GTEA wanted "better schoolhouses, better teachers, better school appropriations, and a better correlation of all the forces looking forward to an equal division of educational funds (Walker, 2005,p. 374)." The GTEA relied on three strategies to achieve this goal. The first strategy was a "numerically strong professional association (Walker, 2005, p. 375)." Careful communication was the second strategy and making use of all financial aid was the third strategy. Additionally, the GTEA encouraged African Americans to join and become active advocates through the Black state Parent Teacher Association. Longer school terms and more textbooks were successes that GTEA could claim by the end of this period. The Depression coupled with racist beliefs and values held by the majority of Whites continued to work against effective equal education for all citizens.

Capitals
Georgia has had five official : colonial, which later alternated with ; then for a decade at (pronounced Lewis-ville), and from 1806 through the , at. In 1868, became the fifth capital of the state. The also met at other temporary sites, including, especially during the Civil War.

Cities


is located in north-central Georgia, atop a southeast of the. It has been Georgia's capital city since 1868.

The 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.

The state of Georgia has twenty and  areas with populations above fifty-thousand. In descending order, they are, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,  and  and.

Five Largest Cities

 * - 498,109
 * - 195,182
 * - 188,660
 * - 128,500
 * - 111,580

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. Nineteen Georgia counties were among the 100 fastest growing counties from 2004 to 2005. The of Georgia is located in, in the city of.

Race, Language, and Age
The state's five largest ancestries are reported as, , , , and. As of 2000, 90.1% of Georgia residents age 5 and older speak only at home and 5.6% speak. is the third most spoken language at 0.9%, followed by at 0.8% and  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, were almost exclusively enslaved. The of hundreds of thousands of blacks from the rural South to the industrial North from 1914-1970 reduced the population. It has since increased again, with some African Americans returning to the state for new job opportunities. 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 and its core southern suburbs.

Recent immigration from Asian nations have added to the population flair. s and s are leading the increase of Asians, with Chinese, Vietnamese and Indians following close behind. As of 2004, approximately 2.6% of were.

White Georgians, like other Southerners, usually describe their ancestry on the census questionnaire as "American", "United States", or simply "Southern". The colonial settlement of large numbers of s in the mountains and piedmont, and coastal settlement by s and African Americans, have strongly influenced the state's culture. The concentration of Africans imported to coastal areas in the 18th century repeatedly from rice growing regions of West Africa led to the development of Gullah-Geechee language and culture in the Low Country among African Americans. They share a unique heritage in which African traditions of food, religion and culture were continued more than in some other areas. Their foodways had a strong influence on all Southern cooking in the Low Country.

With the huge influx of new residents from, the term "" 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.

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


 * – 85%
 * – 76%
 * – 39%
 * – 12%
 * – 3%
 * – 3%
 * Other Protestant – 19%
 * – 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 immigration into the state.

Georgia's community dates to the settlement of 42 mostly  Portuguese Jews in  in 1733. Atlanta also has a large, old, and established Jewish community.

Economy
Georgia's 2005 total was $364 billion. Its per capita 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 outputs are  and, , es, s, , , s, s, , and s. Its industrial outputs are s and , ation equipment, food processing,  products,  products,  equipment. also makes an important contribution to the economy. Georgia is home to the Granite Capital of the World. 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:, , , , , , and. Major corporations in other parts of the state include:, , , ,   and.

Several United States military installations are located in Georgia including, , , , , , , , , , and. However, due to the latest round of cuts, Forts Gillem and McPherson will be closing and NAS Atlanta will be transferred to the.

State taxes
Georgia's personal ranges from 1% to 6% within six s. There is a 7% state, which is not applied to s, certain medical devices, and. Each county may add up to a 2%. Counties participating in have another 1%; MARTA is the only major metropolitan  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 s. Local taxes are almost always charged on groceries but never prescriptions. Up to 1% of a SPLOST can go to s (the HOST). All taxes are collected by the and then properly distributed according to any agreements that each county has with its cities.

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

Education


The HOPE scholarship, funded by the Georgia Lottery, is available to all Georgia residents who have graduated from high school with a 3.0 or higher grade point average and who attend a public college or university in the state. The scholarship covers the cost of tuition and provides a stipend for books for up to 120 credit hours. If the student does not maintain a 3.0 average while in college they may lose the scholarship in which case they will have the chance to get it back by bringing their grade point average above a 3.0 with in a period of 30 credit hours. This scholarship has had a significant impact on the state university system, increasing competition for admission and increasing the quality of education.

Colleges and universities
Private schools
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 * † in and Athens
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 * † denotes schools affiliated with religious organizations (incomplete)
 * † denotes schools affiliated with religious organizations (incomplete)


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 * (Georgia Tech) in
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 * in
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 * (incomplete list, 34 total, plus tech colleges)
 * (incomplete list, 34 total, plus tech colleges)

Transportation
Atlanta is still a major  for  and, in addition to being a major  hub now as well; Atlanta's  is the principal hub for  and. Several s and railroads also traverse the state.

Interstate highways

 * [[Image:I-16.svg|20px]], [[Image:I-516.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:I-20.svg|20px]], [[Image:I-520.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:I-59.svg|20px]], [[Image:I-24.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:I-75.svg|20px]], [[Image:I-475.svg|25px]],
 * [[Image:I-575.svg|25px]], [[Image:I-675.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:I-85.svg|20px]], [[Image:I-185.svg|25px]], [[Image:I-985.svg|25px]]
 * [[Image:I-95.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:I-285.svg|25px]] (the perimeter around )
 * [[Image:I-3.svg|20px]] (proposed)
 * [[Image:I-14.svg|20px]] (proposed)

State government


The capital of Georgia is Atlanta. As with all other and the federal government, Georgia's government is based on the. Executive authority in the state rests with the, currently (until 2011). Perdue is the first Republican governor since Reconstruction. (See ). Both the and  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 and. The presides over the Senate, while the House of Representatives selects their own Speaker. The 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: and

Local government
Georgia has 159, the most of any state except (with 254). Before 1932, there were 161, with and  being merged into  at the end of 1931. Counties have been named for prominent figures in both American and Georgia history. 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 "" authority, and so the county commissions have considerable power to pass legislation within their county as a would.

(See: .)

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 or  (though there is a movement in the Legislature to provide for townships) but does allow  governments by local. So far, only, , , and have done this. is studying possibly becoming consolidated with. Recently, has consolidated its police department with the county  department and is currently studying possible  with.

There is no true in Georgia, though the  and  do provide some services, and the ARC must approve all major  projects in.

Politics
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 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 and was a bedrock of the emerging "." This characterization was solidified with the election of former Georgia Governor to the  in 1976.

The political dominance of Democrats ended in 2003, when then-Governor was defeated by, 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, have decided to support Republicans in recent years; won the state in the 2004 election, and conservative initiatives such as restrictions on  have won broad support.

, the state has 13 seats in the, which are currently held by 7 Republicans and 6 Democrats.

''See also :

Television
Georgia is home to, who founded , , , , and , among others. The, 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 , near the campus, on Techwood Drive. A third Turner building is on Williams Street, directly across and  from the Techwood Drive campus and is the home of  and.

's headquarters are located in the area of metropolitan Atlanta in.

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.

(GPB) operates nine major al s across the state as Georgia Public Broadcasting Television.

Radio
in Atlanta was the first radio station in the southeastern United States, signing on in 1922. The station currently broadcasts a news/talk format. 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. Georgia Public Radio reaches nearly all of Georgia (with the exception of the Atlanta area, which is served by ), as well as portions of, , , and.

Newspapers and Periodicals
There are several major newspapers in Georgia. Among them are the and the. Other media publications in the state include business magazines; entertainment media such as ; and various sports magazines.

Professional sports teams
See also, 

State facts and symbols
Georgia's nicknames include Peach State and Empire State of the South . The, "" by , was originally written about a woman of that name, but after Georgia native sang it, the state legislature voted it the state song on. 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 was released on.

The first houses in Georgia to be designated historic state landmarks are the Owens Thomas House and the, in the Savannah historic district.

Here is a list of the state symbols:







State game bird: ()

State wildflower: ( spp.)











State possum:







State seashell: ()



State crop:

State vegetable:


 * the shark tooth