Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia
State
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Peach State; Empire State of the South
Motto(s):  "Wisdom, Justice & Moderation"[1]
Anthem: "Georgia on My Mind"
Map of the United States with Georgia highlighted
Country	United States
Before statehood	Province of Georgia
Admitted to the Union	January 2, 1788; 236 years ago (1788-01-02) (4th)
Capital (and largest city)	Atlanta
Largest county or equivalent	Fulton
Largest metro and urban areas	Atlanta
Government
• Governor	Brian Kemp (R)
• Lieutenant governor	Burt Jones (R)
Legislature	Georgia General Assembly
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Judiciary	Supreme Court of Georgia
U.S. senators	Jon Ossoff (D) Raphael Warnock (D)
U.S. House delegation	9 Republicans 5 Democrats (list)
Area
• Total	59,424.64[2] sq mi (153,909.120 km2)
• Land	57,906 sq mi (149,976 km2)
• Water	1,519 sq mi (3,933 km2)  2.6%
• Rank	24th
Dimensions
• Length	298 mi (480 km)
• Width	230 mi (370 km)
Elevation	600 ft (180 m)
Highest elevation (Brasstown Bald[3][a])	4,784 ft (1,458 m)
Lowest elevation (Atlantic Ocean[3])	0 ft (0 m)
Population  (2023)
• Total	11,029,227[2]
• Rank	8th
• Density	185.2/sq mi (71.5/km2)
• Rank	16th
• Median household income	$61,200[4]
• Income rank	29th
Demonym	Georgian
Language
• Official language	English
Time zone	UTC– 05:00 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC– 04:00 (EDT)
USPS abbreviation	GA
ISO 3166 code	US-GA
Traditional abbreviation	Ga.
Latitude	30.356–34.985° N
Longitude	80.840–85.605° W
Website	georgia.gov
Symbols of Georgia
Song	"Georgia on My Mind" by Ray Charles
Amphibian	American green tree frog Dryophytes cinereus
Bird	Brown thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Butterfly	Eastern tiger swallowtail Papilio glaucus
Fish	Largemouth bass Micropterus nigricans
Flower	Cherokee rose Rosa laevigata
Fruit	Peach Prunus persica
Insect	Western honey bee Apis mellifera
Reptile	Gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus
Tree	Southern live oak Quercus virginiana
Vegetable	Vidalia onion Allium cepa 'Granex'

Georgia is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the northwest, North Carolina to the north, South Carolina to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, Florida to the south, and Alabama to the west. Of the 50 United States, Georgia is the 24th-largest by area and eighth most populous. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, its 2023 estimated population was 11,029,227.^[2] Atlanta, a global city, is both the state's capital and its largest city. The Atlanta metropolitan area, with a population of more than 6.3 million people in 2023, is the sixth most populous metropolitan area in the United States and contains about 57% of Georgia's entire population. Other major metropolitan areas in the state include Augusta, Savannah, Columbus, and Macon.^[5]

The Province of Georgia was established in 1732, with its first settlement occurring in 1733 when Savannah was founded. By 1752, Georgia had transitioned into a British royal colony, making it the last and southernmost of the original Thirteen Colonies.^[6] Named in honor of King George II of Great Britain, the Georgia Colony extended from South Carolina down to Spanish Florida and westward to French Louisiana along the Mississippi River. On January 2, 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution.^[7]

Between 1802 and 1804, a portion of western Georgia was carved out to create the Mississippi Territory, which eventually became the U.S. states of Alabama and Mississippi. Georgia declared its secession from the Union on January 19, 1861, joining the ranks of the original seven Confederate States. After the Civil War, it was the last state to be readmitted to the Union on July 15, 1870.^[7] In the late 19th century, during the post-Reconstruction period, Georgia's economy underwent significant changes, driven by a coalition of influential politicians, business leaders, and journalists, notably Henry W. Grady, who promoted the "New South" ideology focused on reconciliation and industrialization.^[8]

In the mid-20th century, several notable figures from Georgia, including Martin Luther King Jr., emerged as key leaders in the civil rights movement.^[7] Atlanta was chosen to host the 1996 Summer Olympics, celebrating the centennial of the modern Olympic Games. Since 1945, Georgia has experienced significant population and economic expansion, aligning with the larger Sun Belt trend. Between 2007 and 2008, 14 of Georgia's counties were listed among the 100 fastest-growing in the United States.^[9]

Georgia is defined by a diversity of landscapes, flora, and fauna. The northern part of the state features the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are part of the broader Appalachian Mountain range. Moving south, the Piedmont plateau stretches from the foothills of the Blue Ridge to the Fall Line, an escarpment that marks the transition to the Coastal Plain in the southern region of the state. The highest elevation in the state is Brasstown Bald, reaching 4,784 feet (1,458 m) above sea level, while the lowest point is at the Atlantic Ocean. Except for some elevated areas in the Blue Ridge, Georgia predominantly experiences a humid subtropical climate. Among the states located entirely east of the Mississippi River, Georgia ranks as the largest in terms of land area.^[10]

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