The first humans arrived in what is now Georgia at least 13,000 years ago. By 1000 B.C. Native American tribes lived here, including the Apalachians, Cherokees, and Choctaws. Georgia was founded as the 13th colony in 1733 and became the fourth state in the United States in 1788. But at the start of the Civil War in 1861, Georgia seceded from the Union and would not return until the end of the war in 1865.
Georgia was named after King George II, who approved the colony’s charter in 1732. I wonder how Georgia got its nickname? The Cherokee Indians grew peaches in Georgia in the mid-1700s, and today the state produces about 2.6 million bushels a year, making it the third largest peach producer in the United States, after California and South Carolina.
Geography of Georgia
According to itypetravel.com, Georgia is bordered by Tennessee to the north, South Carolina and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Florida to the south, and Alabama to the west. In the northwest corner of the state is the Appalachian Plateau, with deep caves and a 2,393-foot-tall lookout mountain. East and south of the Plateau region is the Valley and Ridge region, which has steep, rocky ridges above the fertile valleys. In the northeastern part of the state are the Blue Ridge Mountains with the highest peak in Georgia reaching 4,784 feet. The center of the state is the Piedmont region, with valleys, low hills and forests full of oak, hickory and poplar. To the south is the Atlantic Coastal Plain with rivers, waterfalls and beaches. It is also home to the 700 square mile Okefenokee Swamp. Full of meandering waterways, cypresses and alligators, the swamp is the largest in North America. Travelers can quickly drive to Georgia’s four barrier islands (More, Jekyll, Tybee, and St. Simons) or sail through the salt marshes to discover more remote islands.
Wildlife of Georgia
Black bears, bobcats, deer and ground squirrels are common in Georgia, while off the coast you can see manatees, right whales and humpback whales. Georgia is also home to bald eagles, peregrine falcons and woodpeckers. Some of the trees you are most likely to see include live oaks, magnolias, poplars, sugar maples, and gums. But what is this creepy looking vine? This is Spanish moss and depends on trees for water and nutrients. This does not kill the tree, but the moss can shade the leaves of the tree and can sometimes cause the branches to fall off. Kudzu is another common vine, and this one is a really bad neighbor. This invasive species is sometimes referred to as “the plant that ate the south” due to the way it grows and throughout its path, blocking sunlight and eventually overwhelming it.
MACON
Population: 155.369 thousand people (2010)
Area: 661.0 sq. km
Time zone: UTC-5, summer UTC-4
Altitude: 116 m
The American city of Macon is located in the center of the state of Georgia. This city is considered the county seat of Bibb County. Also, a small part of Macon’s territory belongs to neighboring Jones County. Two airports are located near the city: the airport named after Herbert Smart and the airport of Middle Georgia. Macon’s largest employer is an airbase called Robins. The city has several higher educational institutions, a considerable number of colleges. See Georgia cities.
Macon’s museums include: Georgia Children’s Museum, Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame, Museum of Arts and Sciences, planetarium, African American Museum ( Georgia ‘s largest African American museum ), The Allman Brothers Band Museum (a large house used by the band back in the 1970s). Other places of interest for tourists include: Sidney Lanier Cottage (historic home of the poetess), Fort Benjamin Hawkins, Rose Hill Cemetery (one of Macon’s oldest cemeteries), Wesleyan College (the first chartered women’s college in the world).
AUGUSTA
Founded: 1736
The city of Augusta occupies the eastern part of the state. Its territory extends along the coast of the Savannah River. In its time, a port was built here, whose activities played an important role in the development of Augusta. The history of the settlement began in the first half of the 18th century thanks to the efforts of James Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony of Georgia. During the American Revolution, Augusta was proclaimed the state capital several times. In those days, the front line passed in these places. During the Civil War, a gunpowder factory operated in the city, which produced a large amount of ammunition for the southerners.
Cotton processing was the backbone of the city’s economy in the 19th century. At that time, a canal was dug along the river to provide textile mills with water. The artificial pond is still active. The architectural decoration of the city are old mansions, whose owners were previously rich planters and cotton merchants. Modern attractions include the national golf club. Not so long ago it was recognized as one of the most prestigious in the world. Every year the city hosts a golf tournament.
SAVANNAH
Population: 136.286 thousand people (2010)
Area: 202.3 sq. km
Founded: 1733
Time zone: UTC-5, summer UTC-4
Altitude: 15 m
On the Atlantic coast in the state of Georgia lies the city and port of Savannah. It is located in the place where the river of the same name flows into the ocean. The urban area and its environs are located in the subtropical climate zone with long hot summers and mild winters with occasional snowfalls. Savannah was founded by General James Oglethorpe. During the American Revolution, its territory was under the control of the British, who held their positions here until 1782.
Being a major industrial center and an important port on the Atlantic coast, Savannah is notable for historical monuments. One of its buildings houses the Historical Society, the oldest in the south of the country. Not far away is the Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the oldest museums in the southern United States. Within the city are: the first African Baptist church and the oldest synangoga in the country. The museum-estate of the colonial period is attractive for its exhibits. Telfair Square is home to several luxurious mansions built in the early 19th century.
SANDY SPRINGS
Population: 99.419 thousand people (2012)
Area: 101.0 sq. km
Time zone: UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer
Altitude: 333 m
The city of Sandy Springs is located in Fulton County. In its neighborhood are: Atlanta, Roswell and Dunwoody. The city and surrounding areas are under the influence of a subtropical climate with mild winters and hot summers. The first residential building in the settlement was founded in 1842. The city got its name from the name of the Sandy Spring Methodist Church, founded near a natural spring in the first half of the 19th century. In the modern city there are several hospitals, the main offices of well-known industrial companies and financial institutions.
The western urban area of Riverside is bounded on one side by the Chattahoochie River and forms a border with Cobb County. Its territory with a hilly relief is mainly built up with residential complexes. In the business center of the city there are office buildings, a large medical center, including several hospitals and a children’s clinic. There are 12 parks and green areas within the city limits. Many of them are equipped with sports grounds, tennis courts, recreation areas.
