Georgia's recorded history begins with the Native Americans who inhabited the region some 10,000 years ago and left evidence of their hunting and gathering cultures. Those belonging to the Mississippian Culture (AD 900-1200) built ceremonial mounds, some good examples of which have been preserved at the Ocmulgee National Monument, near Macon. Later, the Creek and Cherokee tribes lived in the area. Their settlements of 100 to 1,000 residents were often located along rivers.
The first European to see this region was explorer Hernando de Soto, who claimed portions of it for Spain in 1540. While the Spanish established missions on some coastal islands, their presence did not deter the British from claiming the same territory. The two countries jousted over the region until the Battle of Bloody Marsh in 1742, when an English victory secured it for King George II. The colony was named Georgia in his honor. It was the 13th and final of the original U.S. colonies to be established.
Following the Revolutionary War, Georgia was the fourth state admitted to the Union. Though the Creek and Cherokee nations made efforts to coexist with white culture, conflicts with settlers eventually led to the forced removal of these tribes to areas west of the Mississippi (an ill-fated event known as the Trail of Tears).
Large slave-powered plantations flourished in Georgia, and when the Civil War erupted in the 1860s, the state sided with the Confederacy. In 1864, Georgia suffered greatly at the hands of Union General William Tecumseh Sherman: After overcoming Confederate forces in northern Georgia, Sherman's army burned Atlanta and then made its infamous March to the Sea, destroying everything in a 60-mi-/100-km-wide swath. The war ended soon after. Georgia was readmitted to the Union in 1870, but the process of rebuilding its economy and society was slow and fraught with difficulties.
Though initially reliant on cotton, Georgia now depends upon industry (both textiles and high-tech), as well as communications, agriculture and forestry (it is the nation's leading producer of paper pulp). And, inspired by local leaders, especially the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Georgians have worked together to redress injustices and set a course for social and economic progress.
Among Georgia's main attractions are southern culture, Savannah, Macon, Atlanta, historical sites, majestic mountains, antebellum mansions, scenic swamps, beautiful landscapes and wide, sandy beaches.
Because of the state's size and diverse geography, local culture and activities change with the surroundings. You can divide Georgia into four regions and you'll quickly notice that each area's geography, personality and trademarks are unique. North Georgia offers glorious mountain views, wild rapids, waterfalls, gold mining, bluegrass music, apples and antiques; The metro Atlanta area is a bustling, fast, work-hard-and-play-hard community with plenty of multicultural and civic pride, upscale dining and support for the decorative and performing arts; the heartland is full of antebellum heritage, movers and shakers, rock 'n' rollers, gospel music, peach orchards, pine trees, cotton fields and fresh vegetables; and the Golden Isles of the coastland offer barrier-island cottages, boiled shrimp and boiled peanuts, turtle walks by flashlight, dolphins and lighthouses.
Travelers who enjoy splitting their time between urban and rural attractions and who are interested in U.S. history will have a great time in Georgia. So will fans of shopping and southern cooking. Beach and sun worshippers will love the southern coast during the summer and early fall. Folks who like mountains will find an opportunity to explore the twists and turns of north Georgia's high-country roads, shot through with pretty rivers and waterfalls. They can hunt for antiques in the charming mountain towns and sample the homemade baked goods and crafts. Visitors who cannot tolerate a hot, humid climate will want to avoid Georgia's flatlands during summer months.
How many times have you asked yourself: "Why isn't there a national tick collection?" Well there is, and you can see it at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro.
Georgia has nurtured many famous musicians and music groups, including Little Richard, Otis Redding, the Allman Brothers Band, James Brown, Johnny Mercer, Jerry Reed, R.E.M., the B-52s, the Indigo Girls and Ray Charles. Other celebrities who have called Georgia home include Jimmy Carter, Hank Aaron, Jim Bowie, Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson, Erskine Caldwell, Martin Luther King Jr., Julia Roberts, Evander Holyfield, Elton John and Herschel Walker.
The state song is "Georgia on My Mind" (written by Hoagy Carmichael, who was not a Georgian).
Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin near Savannah in 1793.
Just east of Atlanta, in Conyers, is the Monastery of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit. The friendly monks there grow and harvest their own food, and they sell their jellies and baked goods, including some of the best bread you're likely ever to taste. You can visit the church, grounds and gift shop, and even make arrangements to stay overnight and partake of a monastery breakfast. You'll bunk down for a nominal cost in one of the simple and peaceful public boarding rooms. Phone 770-483-8705 for information on accommodations. http://www.trappist.net.
If you eat chicken in Gainesville, the Chicken Capital of the World, you'd better use your hands: Eating it with a fork is illegal.
Georgia was the first state to allow 18-year-olds to vote (in 1943).
Ripe peaches are sold at roadside stands during the summer. From mid- to late March, every peach tree along the Peach Blossom Trail (Highway 341 from Jonesboro to Perry) is in bloom.
Georgia had its own gold rush in 1828 in Dahlonega, 40 mi/65 km northeast of Atlanta. The discovery of gold in the Blue Ridge Mountains sent a stampede of miners into what was then Cherokee country. The Dahlonega Courthouse Gold Museum traces the area's gold-dusted history with exhibits and a documentary film. Consolidated Mines also offers tours of the largest gold mine east of the Mississippi River.
Georgia's official state vegetable, the Vidalia onion, is the sweetest onion in the world. It is only grown in Vidalia and Glennville.
