River runs along the eastern edge of the
state and the Chattahoochee
River runs along the western
edge. The Sea Islands lie off Georgia’s
Atlantic coast.
The southern part of Georgia is a coastal
plain that covers about three fifths of the
state. A belt of hills separates the upper
edge of this region from a raised flat area
that contains most of the state’s important
cities and farms. The Appalachian
Mountains are in the north. In general,
Georgia has mild winters and hot and
humid summers.
People
The majority of Georgians are of European
heritage. Many are of Irish, British,
or German descent in particular. African
Americans make up about 30 percent of
the population.
Almost three quarters of Georgia’s
people live in urban areas. More than
half of the state’s entire population lives
in and around Atlanta. The city is an
important commercial and financial
center of the Southeast as well as the
region’s transportation hub.
Economy
The service sector is the largest part of
Georgia’s economy. The state’s valuable
tourism industry provides service jobs in
hotels, restaurants, and transportation
businesses. Major farm products are
broiler chickens, chicken eggs, cotton,
and peanuts. Georgia is sometimes
called the Peach State because of the
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Georgia 101
large number of peaches it grows.
Manufacturing in the state includes the
production of textiles, foodstuffs, chemicals,
and paper. One Georgia product,
the soft drink Coca-Cola, is famous
worldwide.
History
When the first Europeans arrived in the
area they encountered mostly Cherokee
and Creek Indians. In about 1540 the
Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto
passed through the region. As a result of
de Soto’s travels, the territory was
claimed by Spain. By the second half of
the 1600s, however, the British were also
in the area. The English colony of Georgia
was founded at Savannah in 1733 by
General James Oglethorpe.
Georgia was a major battlefield during
the American Revolution. After the
revolution it entered the Union in 1788
as the nation’s fourth state. Georgia’s
economy in the 1800s depended heavily
on slave labor. The state therefore joined
other slave states in forming the Confederacy
during the American CivilWar. In
1864 Union Army troops under General
William T. Sherman left a path of
destruction in their “march to the sea”
from Atlanta to Savannah. Georgia’s
economy suffered as a result of the war.
Many factories were built duringWorld
War II, in the 1940s, and that helped
Georgia recover.
One of Georgia’s most famous political
figures is Jimmy Carter. After serving as
the state’s governor in the early 1970s,
he served a term as U.S. president from
1977 to 1981. Georgia’s population
grew by more than 25 percent between
1990 and 2000. This increase made
Georgia one of the fastest-growing U.S.
states during that period.
..More to explore
American CivilWar • Atlanta • Carter,
Jimmy • Cherokee • Confederate States
of America • Creek
A granite carving of Confederate leaders
on horseback draws tourists to Stone Mountain
Park in northern Georgia.
Huge old oak trees line a park in
Savannah, Georgia. The Spanish
moss hanging from the trees
thrives in the humid climate of
the state.
Facts About
GEORGIA
Flag
Population
(2000 census),
8,186,453—
rank, 10th state;
(2008 estimate)
9,685,744—
rank, 9th state
Capital
Atlanta
Area
59,425 sq mi
(153,909 sq
km)—rank, 24th
state
Statehood
January 2, 1788
Motto
Wisdom, Justice,
and Moderation
State bird
Brown thrasher
State flower
Cherokee rose
102 Georgia BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Georgia, Republic of
The Republic of Georgia is a small
country in the Caucasus Mountains of
Asia. Georgia’s name in the Georgian
language is Sakartvelo. The capital is
Tbilisi.
Geography
Georgia borders Russia, Azerbaijan,
Armenia, and Turkey. The Black Sea lies
to the west. The Caucasus Mountains
run through the north and the south.
Near the Black Sea are fertile lowlands.
Most of Georgia has a mild climate.
Plants and Animals
Forests of oak, beech, alder, and fir trees
cover more than one third of the land.
The mountains are home to goats and
Caucasian antelope.Wild boars, deer,
brown bears, lynx, wolves, and foxes live
in the forests.
People
Ethnic Georgians make up most of the
country’s population. Armenians, Russians,
and Azerbaijanis are the largest
minority groups. Most people follow
Georgian Orthodox Christianity or no
religion at all. Muslims form a significant
religious minority. More than half
of the population lives in cities.
Economy
Manufacturing, mining, agriculture, and
tourism are all key parts of Georgia’s
economy. Factories manufacture food
products, iron and steel, and transportation
equipment. Farms produce mainly
potatoes, wheat, and corn.Wine made
from local grapes, tea, and citrus fruits
are important exports. The Black Sea
coast has many tourist resorts.
History
Ancient Romans, the Byzantine Empire,
Persians, and Arabs controlled parts of
Georgia at different times until the
1100s. Then a united kingdom of Georgia
was formed. It lasted until 1220,
when Mongols invaded. Ottoman Turks
and Persians later ruled the region. Russia
