Georgia

Georgia faces the Atlantic Ocean on the southeast coast of the United States. It's the 24th largest in size. Florida is south, South Carolina is east, Tennessee and North Carolina lie North and Alabama lies west.

One of the original 13 colonies, Georgia joined the union during the American Revolution in the 1780's. Cotton and rice plantation flourished in the 18th century and gave rise to grand homes on grand plantations, some of which are standing today. Economy went downhill during the Civil War and worsened with the abolition of slavery even though the land still produced quantities of cotton, tobacco and peanuts. When the boll weevil made an uninvited appearance during the depression the state was in dire straits. It wasn't until industrial industry exceeded agriculture in the 1950's that Georgia's economic woes lessened.

Today, tourism adds a substantial income to Georgia's coffers; visitors spend billion and billions dollars each year. The state's major attractions are the beautiful coastal beaches, the equally beautiful and scenic interior vistas and the delicious Georgia peach. The Okefenokee Swamp, found on the southeastern corner, is crawling with swampy wildlife.

The capital city of Atlanta and the immediate metropolis is where over half of the more than the eight million people live, making it one of the densest areas for population in the country and the Atlanta-Hartsfield International Airport is one of the busiest airports. The port city of Savannah is the state's oldest city and the city where most of the charm of the days gone by is most apparent in its architect and its lifestyle.

The state of many nick-names Goober, Buzzard, Empire and Peach, Georgia has many significant historic sights, such as the Civil War Battle of Chickamauga, the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park and the Andersonville National Historic Site. Atlanta is also the home of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

Climate in the state is seasonal with summers in the 80's and winters averaging 40's. When the cold winds blow from the north temperatures can drop to 10 degrees Fahrenheit in the mountains. Along the coast, summer temperatures have reached 100's.