Geography of Georgia

Georgia, one of the southeastern states of the United States. It is bordered by Rosetta Stone Language North and South Carolina, the Atlantic Ocean, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee. Covering 59,441 square miles (153,953 km2), Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River.Economically, politically, and socially, Georgia underwent vast changes in the latter half of the 20th century, becoming more urbanized and less regional in its outlook, while still retaining its Southern character.Georgia's state bird is the brown thrasherGeorgia in briefGeneral informationStatehood: Jan. 2, 1788, the fourth state.State abbreviations: Ga. (traditional); GA (postal).State capital: Atlanta, since 1868. Earlier capitals included Savannah (1733-1782), Augusta (1786-1795), Louisville (1796-1806), and Milledgeville (1807-1868).State motto: Wisdom, Justice, and Moderation.Popular name: The Empire State of the South.State song: "Georgia on My Mind." Words by Stuart Gorrell; music by Hoagy Carmichael.Symbols of GeorgiaState bird: Brown thrasher.State flower: Cherokee rose.State tree: Live oak.State flag and seal: The Georgia state flag, adopted in 2003, three alternating horizontal red and white stripes and features an image from one side of the state seal. Under the image are the words In God We Trust and surrounding it are 13 stars representing the original 13 states. The image from the seal is that of an arch supported by three pillars. The arch symbolizes the U.S. Constitution, and the pillars represent the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The state seal was adopted Rosetta Stone Software in 1914.Land and climateArea: 58,930 mi2 (152,627 km2), including 1,011 mi2 (2,618 km2) of inland water but excluding 47 mi2 (123 km2) of coastal water.Elevation: Highest--Brasstown Bald Mountain, 4,784 ft (1,458 m) above sea level. Lowest--sea level along the Atlantic coast.Coastline: 100 mi (161 km).Record high temperature: 112 °F (44 °C) at Greenville on Aug. 20, 1983.Record low temperature: –17 °F (–27 °C) in Floyd County on Jan. 27, 1940.Average July temperature: 80 °F (27 °C).Average January temperature: 47 °F (8 °C).Average yearly precipitation: 50 in (127 cm).PeoplePopulation: 8,186,453.Rank among the states: 10th.Density: 139 persons per mi2 (54 per km2), U.S. average 78 per mi2 (30 per km2).Distribution: 72 percent urban, 28 percent rural.Largest cities in Georgia: Atlanta (416,474); Augusta (199,775); Columbus (186,291); Savannah (131,510); Athens (101,489); Macon (97,255).EconomyChief productsAgriculture: beef cattle, broilers, cotton, eggs, greenhouse and nursery products, milk, peaches, peanuts, pecans.Manufacturing: chemicals, food products, paper products, textiles, transportation equipment.Mining: clays, crushed stone.GovernmentState governmentGovernor: 4-year term. Rosetta Stone English State senators: 56; 2-year terms.State representatives: 180; 2-year terms.Counties: 159.Federal governmentUnited States senators: 2.United States representatives: 13.Electoral votes: 15.Sources of informationFor information about tourism, write to: Georgia Department of Economic Development, Tourist Division, 285 Peachtree Center Avenue, NE, Suites 1000 1100, Atlanta, GA 30303-1230.