Georgia (U.S. state)

From Genealogy

State of Georgia


Flag of Georgia	Seal of Georgia
Nickname(s): Peach State, Empire State of the South
Motto(s): Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation

Official language(s)

English

Capital

Atlanta

Largest city

Atlanta

Largest metro area

Atlanta metro area

Area

Ranked 24^th

- Total

59,411 sq mi

(154,077 km²

)

- Width

230 miles (370 km

)

- Length

298 miles (480 km)

- % water

2.6

- Latitude

30° 21′ N to 35° N

- Longitude

80° 50′ W to 85° 36′ W

Population

Ranked 9^th

- Total (2000

)

8,186,453

- Density

141.4/sq mi
54.59/km² (18^th)

- Median income

$43,217 (28^th)

Elevation

- Highest point

Brasstown Bald

^[1]
4,784 ft (1,458 m)

- Mean

591 ft (180 m)

- Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean

^[1]
0 ft (0 m)

Admission to Union

January 2, 1788 (4^th)

Governor

Sonny Perdue

(R)

U.S. Senators

Saxby Chambliss

(R)
Johnny Isakson

(R)

Congressional Delegation

List

Time zone

Eastern

: UTC

-5/-4

Abbreviations

US-GA

Web site

www.georgia.gov

Georgia (IPA: /ˈdʒɔrdʒə/) is a state in the Southeastern United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It was the last of the Thirteen Colonies to be established as a colony, in 1733. It was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution , on January 2, 1788. It seceded from the Union on January 21, 1861 and was one of the original seven Confederate states. It was the last state readmitted to the Union, on July 15, 1870. Georgia is one of the fastest-growing states in the United States, with its population increasing from 8,186,453 in 2000 to an estimated 9,072,576 people in 2005.^[2] Georgia is also known as the Peach State and the Empire State of the South. The largest city, and capital, is Atlanta .

Georgia is bordered on the south by Florida; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina; on the west by Alabama and by Florida in the extreme southwest; and on the north by Tennessee and North Carolina. The northern part of the state is in the Blue Ridge Mountains , a mountain range in the vast mountain system of the Appalachians . The central piedmont extends from the foothills to the fall line , where the river s cascade down in elevation to the continental coastal plain of the southern part of the state. The highest point in Georgia is Brasstown Bald , 4,784 feet (1,458 m); the lowest point is sea level .

With an area of 59,441 square miles (153,951 km²), Georgia is ranked 24th in size among the 50 U.S. states. Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River in terms of land area, although it is the fourth largest (after Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin) in total area, a term which includes expanses of water claimed as state territory.^[3]

[edit] Geography

Main article: Geography of Georgia (U.S. state)

[edit] Boundaries

Beginning from the Atlantic Ocean, the state's eastern border with South Carolina runs up the Savannah River , northwest to its origin at the confluence of the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It then continues up the Tugaloo (originally Tugalo) and into the Chattooga River , its most significant tributary . These bounds were decided in the 1787 Treaty of Beaufort , and tested in the U.S. Supreme Court in the two Georgia v. South Carolina cases in 1922 and 1989.

The border then takes a sharp turn around the tip of Rabun County , at latitude 35°N, though from this point it diverges slightly south (possibly due to later resurveying with better accuracy ). This originally was the Georgia and North Carolina border all the way back to the Mississippi River, until Tennessee was divided from North Carolina, and Alabama and Mississippi (the Yazoo Lands ) were taken from Georgia.

The state's western border then departs in another straight line south-southeastward, at a point southwest of Chattanooga , to meet the westernmost point of the Chattahoochee River near West Point, Georgia . It continues down to the point where it ends at the Flint River (the confluence of the two forming Florida's Apalachicola River ), and goes almost due east and very slightly south, in a straight line to the origin of the Saint Mary's River , which then forms the remainder of the boundary back to the ocean.

It should be noted that the water boundaries are still set to be the original thalweg of the rivers. Since then, several have been inundated by man made lakes, including the Apalachicola/Chattahoochee/Flint point now under Lake Seminole .

[edit] Geology and terrain

Map of elevations in Georgia

Main article: Geology of Georgia (U.S. state)

Georgia is divided into five geologic regions. These include the Ridge and Valley , the Blue Ridge , the Piedmont , the Coastal Plain , and the Appalachian Plateau . Each region has its own distinctive characteristics. For instance the Ridge and Valley, which lies in the northwest corner of the state, includes limestone, sandstone, shale and other sedimentary rocks, which have yielded construction-grade limestone, barite, ochre and small amounts of coal. The Blue Ridge Mountains of northeast Georgia are made up of metamorphic rock as well as granite and diabase . The geology of the Piedmont includes schist, amphibolite, gneiss, migmatite, and granite while the primary resource of the Coastal Plain is kaolin .^[4]

[edit] Flora and fauna

Georgia has a diverse mix of flora and fauna. The State of Georgia has approximately 250 tree species and 58 protected plants. Georgia's native trees include red cedar, a variety of pines, oaks, maples, sweetgum and scaly-bark and white hickories, as well as many others. Yellow jasmine, flowering quince, and mountain laurel make up just a few of the flowering shrubs in the state.

Regarding fauna, white-tailed (Virginia) deer can be found in approximately 50 counties. The mockingbird and brown thrasher are just two of the 160 bird species that can be found in the state. The eastern diamondback , copperhead , and cottonmouth as well as salamanders , frogs , and toads are among 79 species of reptile and 63 amphibians that make Georgia their home. The most popular freshwater game fish are trout , bream , bass , and catfish , all but the last of which are produced in state hatcheries for restocking. Dolphins, porpoises, shrimp, oysters, and blue crabs are found off the Georgia coast.^[5]

[edit] Climate

Map of Georgia

The majority of Georgia is primarily a humid subtropical climate tempered somewhat by occasional polar air masses in the winter. Hot and humid summers are typical, except at the highest elevations. The entire state, including the north Georgia mountains , receives moderate to heavy precipitation, which varies from 45 inches (1143 mm) in central Georgia^[6] to approximately 75 inches (1905 mm) around the Northeast part of the state^[7]. The degree to which the weather of a certain area of Georgia is subtropical depends not just on the latitude , but also on how close it is to the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico and the altitude. This is especially true in the mountainous areas in the northern part of the state, which are further away from ocean waters and can be up to 4500 feet (1350 m) or higher above sea level.

The areas near the Florida/Georgia border, extending from the entire Georgia coastline west to the Florida panhandle, experiences the most subtropical weather, similar to that of Florida: hot, humid summers with frequent afternoon thunderstorms and mild, somewhat drier winters. These areas experience snow much less frequently than other parts of Georgia. The Georgia Piedmont area is somewhat cooler in winter than the coastal areas. The Southern areas of the Piedmont may receive snow every other year, while areas close to the foothills get snow several times a year. This part of Georgia is especially vulnerable to ice storms . The mountains of Georgia have the coolest climate and most frequent snowfall in the state, although snowfall is less than any other part of the Appalachian Mountains .

In spite of having moderate weather compared to many other states, Georgia has occasional extreme weather. The highest temperature ever recorded is 112 °F (44.4 °C)^[8], while the lowest ever recorded is -17 °F (-27.2 °C).^[9] Georgia is one of the leading states in incidents of tornadoes. The areas closest to the Florida border get the same small F0 and F1 tornadoes associated with summer afternoon thunderstorms. However, it is very uncommon for tornadoes to become severe (over F3). As it is on the Atlantic coast, Georgia is also vulnerable to hurricane s, although the Georgia coastline only rarely experiences a direct hurricane strike. More common are hurricanes which strike the Florida panhandle, weaken over land, and bring strong tropical storm winds and heavy rain to the Georgia interior, as well as hurricanes that come close to the Georgia coastline, brushing the coast on their recurvature on the way up to hit the Carolinas .

In 2006 and 2007, however, Georgia has had severe droughts, especially in 2007. Temperatures over 100 degrees have been recorded.

City	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monthly average daily high and low temperatures for major Georgia cities
Athens	51/11 33/1	56/13 35/2	65/18 42/6	73/23 49/9	80/27 58/14	87/31 65/18	90/32 69/21	88/31 68/20	82/28 63/17	73/23 51/11	63/17 42/6	54/12 35/2
Atlanta	52/11 34/1	57/14 36/2	65/18 44/7	73/23 50/10	80/27 60/16	86/30 67/19	89/32 71/22	88/31 70/21	82/28 64/18	73/23 53/12	63/17 44/7	55/13 36/2
Augusta	56/13 33/1	61/16 36/4	69/21 42/6	77/25 48/9	84/29 57/14	90/32 65/18	92/33 70/21	90/32 68/20	85/29 62/17	76/24 50/10	68/20 41/5	59/15 35/2
Columbus	57/14 37/3	62/17 39/4	69/21 46/8	76/24 52/11	83/28 61/16	90/32 69/21	92/33 72/22	91/32 72/22	86/30 66/19	77/25 54/12	68/20 46/8	59/15 39/4
Macon	57/14 34/1	61/16 37/3	68/20 44/7	76/24 50/10	83/28 59/15	90/32 67/19	92/33 70/21	90/32 70/21	85/29 64/18	77/25 51/11	68/20 42/6	59/15 36/2
Savannah	60/16 38/3	64/18 41/5	71/22 48/9	78/26 53/12	84/29 61/16	90/32 68/20	92/33 72/22	90/32 71/22	86/30 67/19	78/26 56/13	70/21 47/8	63/17 40/4
Temperatures are given in °F /°C format, with highs on top of lows. [3]

[edit] Protected lands

Georgia is home to 63 parks, 48 of which are state parks and 15 that are historic sites, and numerous state wildlife preserves, under the supervision of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources .^[10] Other historic sites and parks are supervised by the National Park Service and include the Andersonville National Historic Site in Andersonville ; Appalachian National Scenic Trail ; Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area near Atlanta; Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park at Fort Oglethorpe ; Cumberland Island National Seashore near Saint Marys ; Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simons Island ; Fort Pulaski National Monument in Savannah ; Jimmy Carter National Historic Site near Plains ; Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park near Kennesaw ; Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site in Atlanta; Ocmulgee National Monument at Macon ; Trail of Tears National Historic Trail .^[11]

[edit] History

Main article: History of Georgia (U.S. state)

The local moundbuilder culture, described by Hernando de Soto in 1540, completely disappeared by 1560. Early on, in the course of European exploration of the area, a number of Spanish explorers visited the inland region of Georgia.

The conflict between Spain and England over control of Georgia began in earnest in about 1670, when the English founded the Carolina colony in present-day South Carolina. Nearly a century earlier, the Spanish of Spanish Florida had established the missionary provinces of Guale and Mocama on the coast and Sea Islands of present-day Georgia. After decades of fighting, the Carolinians and allied Indians permanently destroyed the Spanish mission system during the invasions of 1702 and 1704. After 1704, Spanish control was limited to St. Augustine and Pensacola . The Florida peninsula was subjected to raids as far as the Florida Keys . The coast of Georgia was occupied by now British -allied Indians such as the Yamasee until the Yamasee War of 1715-1717, after which the region was depopulated, opening up the possibility of a new British colony. In 1724, it was first suggested the British colony there be called Province of Georgia in honor of King George II .

British interest in establishing a colony below South Carolina came from varied sources. Spanish Florida was a threat to South Carolina and a haven for runaway slaves. The French in the 1720s established a [fort] near present-day Montgomery, Alabama , also a threat to British interests in the region. Traders from Charleston, South Carolina , had established trading post s as far west as the Ocmulgee River , near present-day Macon, Georgia . The British trading network kept the Creek Indians allied with them; the French move threatened to wrest these Indians' trade away from the British. These strategic interests made the British government interested in establishing a new colony that would reinforce the British influence in the border country that had been open to Spanish and French penetration.

Meanwhile, many members of the British Parliament had become concerned about the plight of England's debtors. A parliamentary committee investigated and reported on conditions in Britain's debtor prisons. A group of philanthropist s organized themselves to establish a colony where the "worthy poor" of England could reestablish themselves as productive citizens. This goal was seen as both philanthropic, helping these distressed people, and patriotic, simultaneously relieving Britain of the burden of the imprisoned debtors and augmenting Britain's vital mercantile empire by planting new, industrious subjects to strengthen her trade. This goal went unfulfilled as Georgia was ultimately not settled by debtors or convicts.

In 1732, a group of these philanthropists were granted a royal charter as the Trustees of the Province of Georgia. They carefully selected the first group of colonists to send to the new colony. On 12 February 1733 , 113 settlers landed in the HMS Anne at what was to become the city of Savannah . This day is now known as Georgia Day , which is not a public holiday but is mainly observed in school s and by some local civic group s. James Edward Oglethorpe , one of the trustees of the colony, traveled with the first group of colonists, laid out the design of the town of Savannah, and acted as governor of the colony, although technically under the trustees there was no "governor." Oglethorpe acted as the only trustee present in the colony. When he returned to Britain, a series of disputes ended his tenure governing the colony; Georgia was then led by a series of presidents named by the trustees. In 1752, after the government failed to renew subsidies that had helped support the colony, the Trustees turned over control to the crown . Georgia became a crown colony , with a governor appointed by the British king.^[12]

Georgia was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution by signing the 1776 Declaration of Independence , despite a large population of people loyal to the crown. During the war, nearly one-third of the slaves, more than 5,000 enslaved African Americans, exercised their desire for independence by escaping and joining British forces, where they were promised freedom. Some went to Great Britain or the Caribbean; others were resettled in Canada provinces.^[13]

Following the war, Georgia became the fourth state of the United States of America after ratifying the United States Constitution on 2 January 1788. Georgia established its first state constitution in 1777. The state established new constitutions in 1788, 1799, 1861, 1865, 1868, 1877, 1945, 1976, and 1983, for a total of 10 — more constitutions than any other state, except for Louisiana, which has had 11.

[edit] Confederate history

Main article: Georgia (U.S. state) in the American Civil War

On January 18 , 1861, Georgia joined the Confederacy and became a major theater of the American Civil War .

In December 1864, a large swath of the state from Atlanta to Savannah was destroyed during General William Tecumseh Sherman 's March to the Sea . This event served as the historical background for the 1936 novel Gone with the Wind and the 1939 film of the same name.

On July 15, 1870, following Reconstruction , Georgia became the last former Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union.

Part of the history of Georgia after the Civil War revolves around the struggle for school equality. Black educators played a pivotal role in this struggle with their organized resistance often being overlooked. Their story is detailed below.

Early Resistance-1878-1894: Association Building and Interracial Collaboration ---This period is marked by organization building, cooperation between Whites and Blacks relative to education and inter-state information networks that spurred change. 1878 marks the beginning of the Black Teachers' Association in Georgia which eventually became known as the Georgia Teachers and Education Association. In addition, the Georgia Equal Rights Association was formed to supervise and aid Black schools by constructing buildings and raising educational opportunities for Black students. Its first convention was in 1866 and was responsible for the birth of local chapters being formed throughout the state of Georgia. During this time, former slaves and White Republicans worked together to find and certify teachers and discuss ideas relative to education. During this time period, superintendents supported Black teachers by giving them the freedom to gather at annual meetings and to become visible leaders within their organizations. Education for Black students during this period was not equal. Many advocates for African American education were not in favor of equal educational opportunity. In fact, gains made during reconstruction began slipping away during this time.

Responding to Shifting Attitudes-1894-1916: Activity and National Collaborations---At the turn of the century, organized educational activities for African American educators decreased. This shift mirrored attitudes on the part of White citizens as seen in social and political legislation intended to allow Whites to recreate segregated, unequal communities. Throughout the south, restrictive laws were passed to separate White and Black citizens. Whites resisted any efforts to equitably fund education for African Americans, both teacher salary and per pupil expenditure, citing the impracticality of the idea. In fact, many of the high schools for African Americans were closed during this time period. Attendance at annual conventions for African American educators declined during this period due to growing hostility and retribution from Whites. Some African Americans affilitated with national organizations, like the NAACP, rather than become active in state organizations. This was a period when African American educators were threathened physically and politically. There was little visible positive change for educating African American children during this time.

New Beginning - 1917-1921: Shields and Direct Petition---The great migration of African Americans from the south to the north brought forward a new educational effort aimed at African American educators and students. This new effort was fueled by Whites who understood the economic threat that massive migration would bring to the south. World War I also brought more attention to the plight of African Americns in the United States. African Americans were sent to fight to protect democracy in other countries when they did not enjoy democratic privileges in their own country. During this period, organizational power began to be used effectively by African American educators. Single teachers were not seen as producing change relative to the need of African American students. Membership in organizations devoted to positive changes for African Americans brought both strength and protection...a shield. Organizations petitioned state leaders for equitable funding, better salaries, buildings and equipment, normal school training, and funding for summer school. Membership in various organizations devoted to such purposes increased. African American educational leaders such as Booker T. Washington rose to prominence and the NAACP formed chapters within southern cities between 1917 and 1921 largely because African Americans capitalized on timing related to sentiments associated with the great migration and WWI.

Educational Leadership -1921-1938: Direct Appeal---By 1921, several African American teacher's organizations in Georgia merged into one organization, the Georgia Teachers and Education Association (GTEA), in an effort to strengthen its work throughout Georgia. Their efforts were coordinated and sustained throughout the period but yielded small results because many forms of repression still existed in the south and White people had to be placated even as African Americans were putting forth pressure for needed changes. The GTEA wanted "better schoolhouses, better teachers, better school appropriations, and a better correlation of all the forces looking forward to an equal division of educational funds (Walker, 2005,p. 374)." The GTEA relied on three strategies to achieve this goal. The first strategy was a "numerically strong professional association (Walker, 2005, p. 375)." Careful communication was the second strategy and making use of all financial aid was the third strategy. Additionally, the GTEA encouraged African Americans to join and become active advocates through the Black state Parent Teacher Association. Longer school terms and more textbooks were successes that GTEA could claim by the end of this period. The Depression coupled with racist beliefs and values held by the majority of Whites continued to work against effective equal education for all citizens.

[edit] Capitals

Georgia has had five official state capitals: colonial Savannah , which later alternated with Augusta ; then for a decade at Louisville (pronounced Lewis-ville), and from 1806 through the American Civil War , at Milledgeville . In 1868, Atlanta became the fifth capital of the state. The state's legislature also met at other temporary sites, including Macon , especially during the Civil War.

[edit] Cities

Downtown Atlanta, Georgia

Midtown Atlanta, Georgia

Macon, Georgia

Atlanta is located in north-central Georgia, atop a ridge southeast of the Chattahoochee River . It has been Georgia's capital city since 1868.

The Atlanta metropolitan area has a population of 5,138,223 (2006 census estimate), and the city is the central city of the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville, Ga.-Ala. combined statistical area.^[14]

The state of Georgia has twenty metropolitan and micropolitan areas with populatio