Georgia (U.S. state)
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| State nickname: Peach State | |||||
| File:US ga higlighted map.jpg
In Detail | |||||
| Capital | Atlanta | ||||
| Area - Total - Land - Water - % water | Ranked 24th 154,077 km² | ||||
| Population
- Density | Ranked 10th
53/km² | ||||
| Admittance into Union
- Date |
4th January 2, 1788 | ||||
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | ||||
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Latitude
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30°31'N to 35°N
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Width
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370 km
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Georgia is a southern state of the United States. Georgia was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It was admitted to the union January 2, 1788. Georgia's population in 2000 was 8,186,453 (U. S. Census Bureau). It is also known as the Peach State.
The state song, "Georgia on My Mind" by Hoagy Carmichael was originally written about a woman of that name, but after Georgia native Ray Charles sang it, the state legislature voted in the state song. Ray Charles sang it on the legislative floor when the bill passed.
The state tree is the Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), the state bird is the Brown Thrasher (Orpheus rufus), and the state flower is the Cherokee Rose (Rosa laerigata).
History
At the time of European colonization of the Americas, Cherokee and Creek Indians lived in what is now Georgia. Though it is unknown exactly who was the first European to sight Georgia, it is possible that Juan Ponce de Leon sailed along the coast during his exploration of Florida. In 1526, Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon attempted to establish a colony there, possibly near St. Catherine's Island.
Over the next few decades, a number of Spanish explorers visited the inland region, leaving a trail of destruction behind them. The local Moundbuilder culture, described by Hernando de Soto in 1540, had completely disappeared by 1560.
The conflict between Spain and England over control of Georgia began in earnest in about 1670, when the English, moving south from their colony in present-day South Carolina met the Spanish moving north from their base in Florida. In 1724, it was first suggested that the English colony be called Georgia in honor of King George II.
Massive English settlement began in the early 1730s with James Oglethorpe, an English parliamentarian, who promoted the idea that the area be used to settle people in debtor prison. On February 1, 1733, the first settlers landed in what was to become the city of Savannah.
On January 18, 1861 Georgia joined the Confederacy in the American Civil War.
Law and Government
add government info here.
Geography
Georgia is bordered on the south by Florida, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina, on the west by Alabama, and on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina. It is the largest state east of the Mississippi River. The northern part of the state is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the central piedmont extends to the fall line of rivers, and the southern part in the continental Coastal plain. The highest point in the state is Brasstown Bald, 4784 feet (1458 m).
The capital is Atlanta, and the peach is a symbol of the state. The state is an important producer of cotton, tobacco, and forest products, notably the so-called "naval stores" such as turpentine and rosin from the pine forests.
Major cities
Colleges and Universities
- Agnes Scott College
- American InterContinental University
- Art Institute of Atlanta
- Atlanta Christian College
- Atlanta College of Art
- Berry College
- Brenau University
- Brewton-Parker College
- Clark Atlanta University
- Covenant College
- Dalton State College
- Emmanuel College
- Emory University
- Institute of Paper Science and Technology
- LaGrange College
- Life University
- Mercer University
- Morehouse College
- Morris Brown College
- Oglethorpe University
- Paine College
- Piedmont College
- Reinhardt College
- Savannah College of Art and Design
- Shorter College
- South College
- Spelman College
- Thomas University
- Toccoa Falls College
- University System of Georgia
- Albany State University
- Armstrong Atlantic State University
- Augusta State University
- Clayton College and State University
- Columbus State University
- Fort Valley State University
- Georgia College and State University
- Georgia Institute of Technology, or Georgia Tech
- Georgia Southern University
- Georgia Southwestern State University
- Georgia State University
- Kennesaw State University
- Macon State College
- Medical College of Georgia
- Middle Georgia College
- North Georgia College and State University
- Savannah State University
- Southern Polytechnic State University
- State University of West Georgia
- University of Georgia
- Valdosta State University
- Wesleyan College