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.
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.
The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site commemorates the area of Atlanta where Dr. King was born and raised. Tour Dr. King’s historic birth home. Visit the famed Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. King was baptized and later served as co-pastor. Known as the “Sweet Auburn” district, this neighborhood was the center of the city’s black community prior to desegregation and served as a focal point in the Civil Rights
Many prominent African Americans who fought their way through the racial barriers hail from Georgia. Jackie Robinson was Major League Baseball’s first black player. Andrew Young was the first black U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Like Georgia, they represent a spirit and desire to overcome adversity and achieve the highest level of success.
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