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Atlanta

geography Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Atlanta is a large and busy city in the state of Georgia.

AATL202503-0850 (cropped)
AATL202503-0850 (cropped)

It sits near the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The land here has many rolling hills and lush greenery. In fact, Atlanta has the most tree coverage of any major city in the United States.

Atlanta Skyline - Piedmont Park
Atlanta Skyline - Piedmont Park

The city is the capital of Georgia. It is also part of the huge Atlanta metropolitan area. This area is home to over 6.4 million people.

Atlanta by Sentinel-2 2022-04-19
Atlanta by Sentinel-2 2022-04-19

Many things make Atlanta a special place to live and work. The city is a major hub for many different jobs. People work in fields like healthcare, film, and technology. It is also a center for news and media.

The World of Coca-Cola
The World of Coca-Cola

The city's economy is very large and diverse. It is the 11th-largest economy among all U.S. cities. Even the world sees Atlanta as important. It has the 22nd-largest economy in the whole world.

DARLINGTON ATLANTA DAY SKYLINE 1
DARLINGTON ATLANTA DAY SKYLINE 1

Long ago, Atlanta grew because of the railroad. In 1836, leaders decided to build the Western and Atlantic Railroad. This line was meant to connect the port of Savannah to the Midwest. At first, the area was just a tiny settlement. One engineer thought it would only ever have one tavern and a grocery store.

Peachtree1907
Peachtree1907

The town was first called Terminus. Later, it was called Marthasville. Finally, it was renamed Atlanta in 1847. This name came from the Western and Atlantic Railroad.

Tech Tower-6
Tech Tower-6

Atlanta has seen many big changes throughout its history. During the American Civil War, the city was very important for supplies. In 1864, Union General William T. Sherman captured the city. Much of Atlanta was burned to the ground during that time.

Marietta-Street-Atlanta
Marietta-Street-Atlanta

After the war, the city rebuilt itself very quickly. It became a center for new industry and education. In the 1950s and 1960s, it was a major center for the civil rights movement. Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy lived and worked there.

Martin Luther King Jr Coretta Scott King Tomb
Martin Luther King Jr Coretta Scott King Tomb

Today, Atlanta is a place that connects people from all over. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport is a very famous part of the city. In 1998, it became the busiest airport in the world for passengers.

AATL202503-0850 (cropped)
AATL202503-0850 (cropped)

In 2022, about 93.7 million people flew through it. Atlanta also showed itself to the world by hosting the 1996 Summer Olympics.

JO Atlanta 1996 - Drapeau
JO Atlanta 1996 - Drapeau

This big event helped the city grow even more. It led to more money for local parks and universities. Now, the city continues to grow and change every day.

AATL202503-0850 (cropped)
AATL202503-0850 (cropped)
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🖼️ Images & Media (20)
File:Auction and negro sales 1864.jpg
Auction and negro sales 1864.jpg
File:Marietta-Street-Atlanta.jpg
Marietta-Street-Atlanta.jpg
File:Peachtree1907.jpg
Peachtree1907.jpg
File:Martin Luther King Jr Coretta Scott King Tomb.jpg
Martin Luther King Jr Coretta Scott King Tomb.jpg
File:JO Atlanta 1996 - Drapeau.jpg
JO Atlanta 1996 - Drapeau.jpg
File:DARLINGTON ATLANTA DAY SKYLINE 1.jpg
DARLINGTON ATLANTA DAY SKYLINE 1.jpg
File:Atlanta by Sentinel-2 2022-04-19.jpg
Atlanta by Sentinel-2 2022-04-19.jpg
File:AATL202503-0850 (cropped).jpg
AATL202503-0850 (cropped).jpg
File:Beath Dickey House Exterior 2018.jpg
Beath Dickey House Exterior 2018.jpg
File:Atlanta Skyline - Piedmont Park.png
Atlanta Skyline - Piedmont Park.png
File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Atlanta (5559880279).png
Race and ethnicity 2010- Atlanta (5559880279).png
File:ATL pride.jpg
ATL pride.jpg

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