Georgia (The Fourth State)

 Georgia was established in 1732.  It was the last of the original Thirteen colonies.  Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution on January 2, 1788.

The first people to live in Georgia were the Mound builders.  They constructed various styles of earthen mounds for burial, residential and ceremonial purposes.  They completely disappeared in Georgia by 1560. 

There were several Spanish explorers who visited  the inland region of Georgia.  In about 1670 Spain and England started fighting for control of Georgia.  England won the battle and in 1724 it was suggested that the new British colony would be called Province of Georgia in honor of King George II.

Georgia was one of the Thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution by signing the Declaration of Independence in 1776.  It was also the last former Confederate state to be restored to the Union.

Gold was found in the north Georgia mountains in 1829, resulting in the Georgia Gold Rush.  This was the first gold rush in United States history.  It was discovered in Dahlonega, which was on Cherokee land that was claimed by Georgia.  The state officials demanded that the federal government expel the Cherokee (The Trail Of Tears).

The Capital of Georgia is Atlanta.  Georgia's nickname is the Peach State.

A few of Georgia's symbols include:

Flower-  Cherokee Rose

Bird:  Brown Thrasher

Tree:  Southern Live Oak

Insect:  Honeybee

I live in Georgia, so I've visited many places. A few of the places I haven't seen yet, but would like to soon, include:

Etowah Indian Mounds- This historical site is a 54-acre archaeological site. It was built and occupied from 1000-1550 AD. There are three main mounds and three lesser mounds. Mound A is 63 feet high and 3-acres at its base. Mound B is 25 feet high. Mound C is 10 feet high and is the only one that has been excavated.

Hofwyl-Broadfield plantation- This was a thriving rice plantation in the 1850s. It's now a 1.268-acre wildlife preserve with a museum. In the museum you can see silver from the family collection and a model of Hofwyl-Broadfield during its heyday. You can watch a short film on the plantation's history and then walk a short distance to the antebellum home.

Ocmulgee National Monument- This park is 702-acres and has some of the most impressive Native American Indian mounds and archaeological remains in the southeast. A reconstructed thousand year old ceremonial earth lodge can be seen near the visitor center. You can also walk or drive to see the Great Temple Mound. While at the park you can also see a burial mound, temple mounds, prehistoric trenches, and the site of a colonial British trading post.

A few really great cities to visit in Georgia include:

Adairsville- The town was named in honor of Chief John Adair. He was a Scottish settler who married a Cherokee Indian girl. If you like history, antiquing, and food then this is a good place to visit.

Atlanta- There are many wonderful places to visit in Atlanta. The Georgia Aquarium is said to be the largest aquarium in the world. It houses 100,000 animals of 500 species. The more popular specimens include four young whale sharks, two beluga whales, and two manta rays. Underground Atlanta is a really great place to shop. You can also take a historical tour, which starts at the railroad depot. You can learn about the history of Atlanta from the Civil War and throughout the Civil Rights Movement. Stone Mountainhas been dubbed as the largest exposed piece of granite in the world, but it's actually a quartz monzonite rock, in geological terms, which means it not technically granite. It's well known for its bas-relief on its north face. This is the largest bas-relief in the world. The Confederate Memorial Carving depicts President Jefferson Davis, General Robert E. Lee, and General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Atlanta Zoo was founded in 1889 and houses over 1.300 animals of more than 220 species. It's also home to the largest collection of gorillas and orangutans in the United States.

Blue Ridgeis my hometown and another great place to visit if you love to shop for antiques. You can also travel via a locomotive from Blue Ridge to McCaysville/Copperhill, Tennessee. For more information on Blue Ridge check out my hub below titled Places To Visit In North Georgia..

Helen- This use to be a logging town that was in decline. Then it resurrected itself by becoming a replica of a Bavarian alpine town. It's a really great place to visit in October. You can see all the beautiful autumn leaves. Another great time to visit is the first weekend in June when they have the annual hot-air balloon race.

Savannah- This is Georgia's oldest city. It was established in 1733 by English settlers. It was also the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and then later on the first state capital of Georgia.

Another good place to visit is Brasstown Bald. It's the highest point in Georgia. If you like spectacular views then this is the place to visit. For more information on Brasstown Bald and more places to visit in Georgia check out my hubs below.

Historic Saint Mary, Georgia is the second oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States.

Gainsville is the chicken capital of the world and it's illegal to eat chicken with a fork

Georgia is the number one producer of peanuts, pecans, and peaches.

Every year Georgia hosts the International Poultry Trade Show, which is the largest poultry convention in the world.

The oldest portable steam engine in the United States is displayed at the Historical Railroad Shop in Savannah.

The Vidalia onion is known as the sweetest onion in the world, and can only be grown in the fields around Vidalia and Glennville.

Dr. John S. Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in May 1886 in Atlanta. It was first sold at a soda fountain in Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable.

Chickamauga National Park is the site of the bloodiest battle in American history.

In 1867, Dr. Charles Herty of Milledgeville discovered a method of making paper out of pine tree pulp.

Georgia became the first state to require birth registration in 1823.

John Henry "Doc" Holliday was from Griffin, Georgia.