Georgia was founded by James Oglethorpe on Feb. 12, 1733. It was the thirteenth of the 13 original colonies.
Georgia became a state on Jan. 2, 1788.
Georgia has had 5 capitals:
- Savannah (1777-1785)
- Augusta (1786-1789)
- Louisville (1789-1807)
- Milledgeville (1807-1867)
- Atlanta (1868-present)
Savannah is Georgia’s oldest city.
Georgia’s name comes from King George II.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in Atlanta on Jan. 15, 1929. Today you can visit his childhood house and museum maintained by the U.S. Department of Interior’s National Parks Service. A federal holiday was established in 1986 for every third Monday in January to be set aside in recognition of Dr. King.
Atlanta hosted the 1996 Olympics.
General Facts
Georgia has the second most counties in the United States with 159. Texas has the most with 254.
Georgia is the 24th largest state (land area) in the United States, the 8th most populous state (as of 2016) and the largest state east of the Mississippi River.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is known as the busiest airport in the world according to the Airports Council International.
Surrounding States: Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Alabama
Highest Point: Brasstown Bald
Legislation
- 16 Electoral votes
- 2 U.S. Senators
- 14 U.S. Representatives
- 56 State Senators
- 180 State Representatives