📖 About Atlanta

Atlanta, the capital and most populous city of Georgia, has an estimated population of 532,000 within city limits as of 2024, representing a robust 2.1% growth rate after adding 10,800 people between April 2023 and April 2024—the fastest growth rate in the region. The 11-county Atlanta metropolitan area is home to 5.2 million residents as of April 2024, having added 62,700 residents in the past year. Atlanta's economy is the 10th largest in the United States and 18th in the world, with an estimated GDP exceeding $324 billion, making it a major economic powerhouse in the American South.

Atlanta ranks fourth among U.S. cities for number of Fortune 500 headquarters, with 14 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the metro area, including global brands like Home Depot (rank 24), UPS (rank 47), Delta Air Lines (rank 70), and Coca-Cola (rank 97). These corporations provide jobs to more than 1.3 million people and drive Atlanta's diverse economy across sectors including transportation, logistics, finance, media, and film production. The city has become a magnet for global corporations and is recognized as a major center of television production and the hub of the nation's third-largest film industry.

Atlanta holds profound significance in American civil rights history. Born and raised in Atlanta's Sweet Auburn neighborhood, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. grew to become the leader of the modern Civil Rights Movement. In the early 1960s, Atlanta became the cultural catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, where Dr. King, John Lewis, and many other civil rights leaders grew the movement nationally. The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site preserves King's birthplace and Ebenezer Baptist Church, commemorating his lifetime achievements and the struggle for racial equality that transformed America.

🏛️ Top Attractions

💼 Economy & Culture

Atlanta's economy is remarkably diverse, anchored by Fortune 500 headquarters and world-class infrastructure. The city serves as a major transportation hub, home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic. Key economic sectors include transportation and logistics (Delta Air Lines, UPS), consumer goods (Coca-Cola, Home Depot), telecommunications, finance, and professional services. Atlanta has emerged as a major center for film and television production, earning the nickname "Hollywood of the South," with major studios and production facilities attracting billions in investment.

Atlanta's culture reflects its position as the unofficial capital of the New South, blending Southern traditions with cosmopolitan diversity. The city is a major center for African American culture and achievement, home to historically Black colleges and universities including Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. Atlanta's music scene has profoundly influenced American culture, serving as the birthplace of trap music and home to influential hip-hop artists. The city celebrates its heritage through festivals, museums, and cultural institutions while embracing innovation and forward-thinking development. From Southern cuisine to world-class dining, performing arts to professional sports (Falcons, Braves, Hawks, United), Atlanta offers rich cultural experiences reflecting its dynamic, multicultural character.

📜 History

Atlanta was founded in 1837 at the terminus of the Western & Atlantic Railroad, initially called "Terminus" before being renamed "Atlanta" in 1845. The city grew rapidly as a transportation hub and commercial center in the antebellum South. During the Civil War, Atlanta served as a vital Confederate supply hub and manufacturing center. In 1864, Union General William T. Sherman's army captured and burned much of Atlanta during his infamous "March to the Sea," leaving the city in ruins. The destruction proved pivotal in hastening the war's end but devastated the city's infrastructure and economy.

Atlanta's remarkable recovery and growth following the Civil War earned it the title "Phoenix City," symbolized by the phoenix rising from ashes on the city seal. During Reconstruction and into the 20th century, Atlanta established itself as the commercial and cultural capital of the New South. The city became the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. leading the struggle for racial equality from his Atlanta base. In 1996, Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympic Games, showcasing the city's transformation on the world stage. Today, Atlanta continues to grow rapidly as a diverse, dynamic metropolis, balancing preservation of its complex history with ambitious development as a 21st-century global city.