Atlanta

Atlanta

Atlanta (Ga.)
Cities and towns--Georgia

Encyclopedia article about the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta is the capital of Georgia and the state's largest city. It is also one of the most important commercial, financial, and transportation centers of the southeastern United States. Located in the northern portion of the state, Atlanta enjoys a high mean elevation--1,050 feet (320m) above sea level--which distinguishes it from most other southern (and eastern) cities and contributes to a more temperate climate than is found in areas farther south.
Atlanta was founded in 1837 (a century after Savannah, the state's oldest city). Despite its youth, the Atlanta metropolitan region--as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau--in 2000 occupied twenty-eight counties and more than 6,000 square miles, and contained more than 4 million residents.

Andy Ambrose

Atlanta History Center

New Georgia Encyclopedia

1837

Atlanta Rising: The Invention of an International City

If you wish to use content from the NGE site for commercial use, publication, or any purpose other than fair use as defined by law, you must request and receive written permission from the NGE. Such requests may be directed to: Permissions/NGE, University of Georgia Press, 330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602.

Georgia Humanities

Articles

English

Text

University of Georgia Press

The expansion of trains allowed Atlanta to increase development and settlement.