Georgia (U.S. state)

On the territory of the modern state of Georgia lived the Indians, who belonged to the so-called "Mississippi culture". They were characterized by a rather complex social structure, developed trade relations and agriculture with corn as the main crop. A characteristic feature of these Indian peoples was the creation of earthen mounds on which residential and ritual buildings were built. The mounds that have survived to this day in the Ocmulgee River Valley in central Georgia are designated a US National Historic Landmark.

By the time Europeans appeared on the lands of Georgia, the Cherokee Indians, Appalachians, Creek (Muscogee), Timucua and others lived. As in other regions of the United States, the Indians in Georgia suffered greatly from the infectious diseases brought by the Europeans, to which the native Americans had no immunity.

Apparently the first European explorer to see the land of Georgia was in 1513 the Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon, who was exploring new lands north of Cuba. He landed on the east coast of Florida and most likely visited southern Georgia. In the autumn of 1526, the Spaniards tried to establish a settlement on one of the islands off the coast of Georgia (which is considered the first European settlement in the United States), but after a few months this colony was abandoned.

On January 2, 1788, Georgia ratified the Constitution of the United States of America, thus becoming the fourth state of the United States.

Some Notable Georgia Natives and Residents

 John Ross, Chief of the Cherokee Nation

 James Oglethorpe (1696–1785), British politician, founder of the Georgia colony. Born in London, but later lived in Georgia.

 George Walton (George Walton, 1749-1804) - politician and statesman, one of the signers of the US Declaration of Independence. Born in Virginia, but later lived in Georgia.

 John "Guwisguwi" Ross (1790–1866) Chief of the Cherokee Indians from 1828–1866. Known as "Moses of the Cherokee," he led his people during their forced migration west to Oklahoma. Born in Alabama, but later lived in Georgia.

 Robert Augustus Toombs (1810–1885) was an outstanding politician, one of the founders of the Confederate States of America. Born in Washington DC.

 Alexander Hamilton Stephens (1812–1883) was an eminent politician and the first (and only) Vice President of the Confederate States of America. Born in the town of Crawfordville.

 Rebecca Latimer Felton (1835-1930) - writer and politician, the first woman in US history to hold the post of senator. Born in Decatur.

 Joel Chandler Harris (1848–1908) famous journalist and writer. Born in Eatonton.

 Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) 28th President of the United States. Born in Virginia, but later lived in Georgia.

 Juliette Gordon Low (1860–1927) was the founder of the Girl Scout movement in the United States. Born in Savannah.

 Tyrus Raymond "Ty" Cobb (1886–1961) was a legendary baseball player. Born in the village of Narrows.

 Stephen Vincent Benet (1898–1943), poet and writer. Born in Pennsylvania, but later lived in Georgia.

 Margaret Mitchell with her famous book

 Margaret Manerlyn Mitchell (1900–1949) was a journalist and author of Gone with the Wind. Born in Atlanta.

Georgia state symbols

 Tree - virgin oak (southern evergreen oak, Quercus virginiana)

 Flower - smooth rose (Cherokee rose, Rosa laevigata) and azalea (Rhododendron)

 Marine mammal - northern right whale (Eubalaena glacialis)

 Bird - Brown Mockingbird (Toxostoma rufum) and Virginia Partridge (Colinus virginianus)

 Fish (freshwater) - American char (char, Salvelinus fontinalis) and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

 Fish (marine) - red croaker (Sciaenops ocellatus)

 Reptile - gopher polyphemus (gopher turtle, Gopherus polyphemus)

 Amphibian - American green tree frog (herding tree frog, Hyla cinerea)

 Mollusk - "horned sea snail" (Busycon carica)

 Insect - honey bee (Apis mellifera)

 Butterfly - sailboat glaucus (Papilio glaucus)

 Agricultural crop - peanut

 The dog is a shelter dog

 Food product (fruit) - peach

 Food product (vegetable) - Vidalia sweet onion

 Food product (nut) - pecan

 Food product (dish) - grits (corn porridge)

 Dance - square dance

 Precious (ornamental) stone - quartz

 Mineral - staurolite

 Fossil - shark teeth

 Song - "Georgia in My Mind"

Georgia's economy is characterized by a well-developed service sector, industry, agriculture, tourism and other industries.

The state is home to the headquarters of many major companies, including mobile operator AT&T, Home Depot, Delta, SunTrust, UPS, beverage company Coca-Cola, jet maker Gulfstream Aerospace, CNN news service, and others.

About 9,820,000 people live in the state of Georgia (the ninth most populous among US states). The average population density in Georgia is about 65 people per km2 (eighteenth place in the USA).

The largest cities in Georgia are the capital of the state of Atlanta (more than 420,000 inhabitants, the fortieth place in the list of the largest cities in the United States), Augusta (Augusta, about 200,000 inhabitants), Columbus (about 190,000 inhabitants), Savannah (about 140,000 inhabitants) and Athens (Athens, over 115,000 inhabitants).

The largest metropolitan area of ​​the state was formed around Atlanta, more than 5,360,000 people live here (ninth place in the list of US metropolitan areas). Also, large urban agglomerations formed around Augusta (more than 560,000 people) and Savannah (more than 355,000 people).

The largest ethnic (national) groups among the population of the state of Georgia:

 "Americans" - 10.8%

 Irish - 9.5%

 English - 8.9%

 Germans - 8.2%

Georgia is one of the thirteen states that formed a new state in the 18th century - the United States of America. Among the inhabitants of the "Imperial State of the South" there are quite a few people whose ancestors have lived here since colonial times. Those who identify themselves as ethnic "Americans" are usually descendants of the British or Scots, but for many generations they have lost their national roots.