Atlanta, Ga.
Mayor: Kasim Reed (to Jan. 2018) 2010 census population (rank): 420,003 (40); Male: 208,968 (49.8%); Female: 211,035 (50.2%); White: 161,115 (38.4%); Black: 226,894 (54.0%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 988 (0.2%); Asian: 13,188 (3.1%); Other race: 9,317 (3.0%); Two or more races: 8,369 (2.0%); Hispanic/Latino: 21,815 (5.2%). 2010 population 18 and over: 338,593; 65 and over: 41,339 (9.8%); Median age: 31.9. 2014 population estimate (rank): 456,002 (39) Land area: 132 sq mi. (341 sq km); Alt.: Highest, 1,050 ft.; lowest, 940 ft. Avg. daily temp.: Jan., 41.0° F; July, 78.8° F Churches: 1,500; City-owned parks: 277 (3,178 ac.); Radio stations: AM, 7; FM, 20; Television stations: 8 commercial; 2 PBS Civilian Labor Force (2013): 236,288; Percent unemployed (2013): 11.3; Per capita personal income (2013): $36,257 Chamber of Commerce: Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, 235 Andrew Young International Blvd., Atlanta, GA 30303 |
Atlanta, the largest city and capital of Georgia, is the seat of Fulton County. It is situated in the northwest part of the state at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Chattahoochee River. The first European settler was Hardy Ivy, who built a cabin there in 1833.
Founded as Terminus in 1837, the town served as the end of the Georgia railroad line (Western and Atlantic Railroad) and later became incorporated as Marthasville in 1843 in honor of ex-governor Lumpkin's daughter Martha. It was renamed Atlanta in 1845 and incorporated as a city in 1847. The name was suggested by the railroad's chief engineer, J. Edgar Thomson, and was derived from its location at the end of the Georgia and Atlantic railroad line. The city became the capital of Georgia in 1868.
During the Civil War, the city was burned and almost completely destroyed while occupied by Gen. William T. Sherman's troops in Nov. 1864. It was rebuilt after the war and grew rapidly due to the expansion of the railroads in the southwest.
Today, Atlanta is the major commercial and transportation hub of the southeast United States, and its international airport is one of the busiest in the world. The city's economy is led by the service, communications, retail trade, manufacturing, finance, and insurance industries. The convention business is also important, and Atlanta is home to many major corporations, including Coca-Cola, which was founded there in 1892.
Atlanta is also a major educational center, with many prestigious universities and colleges, including Emory University (1836), Georgia Institute of Technology (1885), and Georgia State University (1913). Morehouse College (1867), Spelman College (1881), and Clark Atlanta University (1865; 1869) are important historically black colleges.
Major attractions include Martin Luther King, Jr., National Historic Site, Grant Park, and the Carter Presidential Center. The 1996 Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta.
See also Encyclopedia: Atlanta.
Selected famous natives and residents:
- Hank Aaron baseball player;
- Arrested Development recording artists;
- Jimmy Carter former president;
- Ray Charles singer;
- James Dickey poet;
- Mattiwilda Dobbs soprano;
- Walt Frazier basketball player;
- Oliver Hardy comedian;
- Evander Holyfield boxer;
- Alan Jackson singer;
- Bobby Jones golfer;
- DeForest Kelley actor;
- Martin Luther King, Jr. civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner;
- Gladys Knight singer;
- Kriss Kross recording artists;
- Margaret Mitchell novelist;
- Bert Parks entertainer;
- Eric Roberts actor;
- Julia Roberts actress;
- Ferroll Sams author;
- Doug Stone singer;
- Pamela Stone comedienne;
- Gwen Torrence Olympic athlete;
- Lee Tracy actor;
- Travis Tritt singer;
- Ted Turner TBS and CNN founder;
- Jane Withers actress;
- Joanne Woodward actress;
- Andrew Young civil rights activist.
