Atlanta, Georgia

Largest City in Georgia with a population of 540,900 as of 2010. State capital and county seat of Fulton County. The largest city in the Southeast, with a surrounding metropolitan area with a population of 5,475,000. Originally a Native American village called Standing Peachtree, it was sold to white settlers in 1822. When the Cherokee were ejected from the southeast in the 1830s, railroads were built through the area. A settlement began to form around the eastern terminus of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, named "Terminus" in 1837. In 1842 it was renamed Marthasville. The chief engineer of the railroad suggested it be renamed Atlantica-Pacifica after its location on what would eventually became a transcontinental railroad. The name was shortened to Atlanta and incorporated in 1847. As an important railroad hub, it was a prime target by the Union in the Civil War. In 1864 General Sherman's forces lay siege to the city, which fell four months later on September 7th. On Sherman's orders the city was burned to the ground, except for churches and hospitals.

In 1868 the city was made state capital on the hopes that the rebuilding of the Atlanta would come to represent the formation of a "New South." In the 20th century, Atlanta grew steadily as a location of industry and as a transportation hub. It was a center of national organization of the Civil Rights movement, although the city itself was far more moderate in its position to desegregation than many other major southern cities. It became a major suburban city and the largest city in the south in the mid-20th century. The 1996 Olympics were held here. The city is also a business center, the world headquarters of Coca Cola and Delta Airlines. Nearby Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Airport is the world's busiest. Without any nearby natural boundaries to constrain growth, Atlanta has become famous for its suburban and urban sprawl.

Atlanta is one of the centers of hip-hop and R&B culture. The Turner Broadcasting system, which includes CNN, is based in the city. Headquarters of SunTrust bank and the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. It hosts teams from all four major league sports in the United States. The Georgia Institute of Technology is located in the city and Emory University is nearby. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters is located close to the city. The federal 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is also based here.

Website:www.atlantaga.gov