 Georgia
Area, 58,876 sq mi (152,489 sq km).
Pop, (2000) 8,186,453, an 26.4% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital and largest city, Atlanta.
Nickname, Empire State of the South.
Motto, Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.
State bird, brown thrasher.
State flower, Cherokee rose.
State tree, live oak. Although the trade and service sectors supply the majority of jobs in Georgia, manufacturing and agriculture remain important to the state's economy. In addition, federal facilities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, near Atlanta; Fort Benning, near Columbus; and the Kings Bay naval base, contribute to the economy.
Cotton, once Georgia's most valuable crop, has declined in importance; in the 1990s it was rivaled by peanuts, tobacco, and corn. Georgia is easily the nation's largest producer of peanuts. Tobacco is the principal crop in the central and southern sections of the state, peanuts in the southwest. Livestock and poultry raising account for the largest share of farm income; broilers, eggs, and cattle are major products.
The manufacture of textiles and textile products has long been Georgia's leading industry, centering mainly around Columbus, Augusta, Macon, and Rome. Other major manufactures include transportation equipment, foods, paper products, and chemicals. Automobile manufacturing is important around Atlanta. Much of Georgia is heavily forested with pine, and the state is a leading producer of lumber and pulpwood. Although the state is rich in minerals, mining is not as important as manufacturing and agriculture. The most valuable minerals produced are clays, stone, kaolin, iron ore, sand, and gravel. Georgia is famous for its fine marble.
Georgia’s affordable cost of living lets you maintain higher standards for the way you want to live, work and play. An outstanding quality of life also gives companies here – including 13 on the Fortune 500 list – a distinct advantage in attracting and keeping quality employees. More than 100,000 people move to the state each year, making Georgia among the top 10 fastest-growing states in the U.S. They come for the state’s excellent location, hospitable people, and warm climate, as well as superb health care, education and career opportunities. Georgia’s outstanding health care is provided by a statewide network of 188 hospitals, including specialized facilities; 29,000 physicians; and more than 5,000 dentists, many of whom came from one of the state’s four medical schools. Georgia’s university system is the fourth-largest in the country, totaling 13 state universities, four research universities, seven state colleges, two regional universities, nine two-year universities, plus an integrated network of 34 technical colleges with multiple campuses. To help ease tuition costs, Georgia sponsors the groundbreaking HOPE Scholarship program for its deserving students. This access to education assures that businesses in Georgia are fueled by skilled and knowledgeable employees. But Georgia isn’t all work and no fun; the state is a true center for art and entertainment. Most recently, the world’s largest aquarium joined world-class museums, ballet companies, theater groups and sports teams throughout the state to entertain residents and visitors alike. Related Sites:
Georgia health care information
Georgia Health Care and Medical Services
Emory University
Morehouse School of Medicine
Mercer Medical School
Medical College of Georgia
High Museum of Art
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Atlanta Ballet
Georgia Dept. of Education
University System of Georgia
Technical College System of Georgia
Atlanta.net
Georgia CVB Reference: http://www.georgia.org/WhyGeorgia/QualityOfLife/Pages/default.aspx
*Information from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition |