Georgia has a long and storied history. From fascinating bits of history to entertaining trivia and fun activities, learning about this southern state is anything but boring! Discover some interesting and fun facts about Georgia.
What Is Georgia Known For?
Georgia is known for many notable facts, events and accomplishments. From interesting agriculture to fun places to visit, discover some of the defining facts about this lovely state.
- Have you ever eaten a Vidalia onion? If so, by law, that means you've eaten food grown in Georgia. The Vidalia Onion Act of 1986 limits the use of the term Vidalia to onions grown in a specific region of Georgia. Vidalia onions are special because they're sweeter than they are spicy. They're Georgia's official state vegetable.
- Georgia earned its Peach State nickname because of the volume and quality of juicy, fresh peaches grown in the state each year. Peaches are the state's official fruit.
- Are you a fan of Coca-Cola? The company's corporate headquarters is in Atlanta, Georgia, along with an amazing museum where the secret formula is stored in a vault! When you visit Atlanta, be sure to tour the World of Coca-Cola Museum, where you can sample over 100 beverages in the Coca-Cola line!
- There is an authentic Bavarian village tucked away in the mountains of north Georgia. The town of Helen, Georgia is a charming paradise that feels like a European escape. Helen hosts a huge Oktoberfest celebration each fall, though it's a fabulous place for a fun family vacation any time of year.
- Georgia is super-serious about putting a stop to distracted driving. Their very strict laws allow only completely hands-free communication. It's even illegal for a driver to talk via speakerphone if the phone or other device is touching any part of their body.
- One of the more weird and creepy facts about Georgia is that it's home to one of the most haunted cities in the United States (U.S.). If you're feeling brave when you visit Savannah, there are many haunted locations to visit and ghost tours to take.
Historical Facts About Georgia
Georgia has been around since 1733, first as a colony and later as a state. Many interesting events of historical significance have occurred since that time.
- In 1996, the Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia. You can stroll through Olympic history by visiting Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.
- The Atlanta Braves have been Georgia's designated "boys of summer" since 1966. During the 1990s, they were the most dominant team in Major League Baseball (MLB). If you love baseball, be sure to visit the Braves Museum and Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
- Georgia is home to Indian Springs State Park, which is believed to be the oldest State Park in the U.S. The state acquired the park in 1825 and officially designated it as a State Forest Park in 1927. The park's focal point is a natural artisan spring. It offers many outdoor activities, as well as camping and cabin accommodations.
- How many capital cities can a state have? While there's not an official limit, Georgia's has certainly moved around a lot! Atlanta has been the state's capital since 1868, but it had four capitals before that time. Savannah was Georgia's first capital city, followed by Augusta, Louisville and Milledgeville.
- Want to attend the oldest state-supported university in the U.S.? Study hard and apply to the University of Georgia! It was established by law via the Georgia General Assembly in 1785. It is located in Athens, Georgia.
- Have you ever seen an original U.S. flag with 13 stars? Georgia is one of those stars! Georgia was the last of the original 13 colonies to be established.
- Here's a fun fact about the Georgia colony. It was originally created to be a debtor's colony. The original settlers were people who had been in prison in England for failing to pay their debts. They were released from prison, sent to the New World and provided with land to farm.
Facts About Famous People From Georgia
Many well-known figures hail from Georgia. You might recognize some of these names from current events, history class and pop culture.
- In 2021, Georgia's Raphael Warnock became the first African American Democrat elected to represent a southern state in the United States Senate. He is also the first Black person elected to represent Georgia in the Senate.
- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is a Georgia native. Before being elected to serve as the 39th president of the United States (POTUS) in 1976, he represented Georgia in the U.S. Senate. He was governor of Georgia before that. He grew up in Plains, Georgia and returned there after leaving the White House.
- The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He called Georgia home for all of his childhood and much of his adulthood. It was there that he served as co-pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
- Baseball is woven into Georgia's history. Jackie Robinson was born and raised in Cairo, Georgia. He was the first African American to transition from the Negro Leagues to a Major League Baseball franchise.
- Well-known actress Julia Roberts was born and lived in Smyrna, Georgia until after she completed high school. She has appeared in many movies, including several popular children's movies. She played Tinkerbell in Hook and voiced the spider in Charlotte's Web.
- Love country music? Some of the biggest names in country music call Georgia home. Notable country superstars from Georgia, along with their cities or towns, include Alan Jackson (Newman), Jason Aldean (Macon), Luke Bryan (Leesburg), Travis Tritt (Marietta), and Tricia Yearwood (Monticello) — to name just a few.
Getting to Know Georgia
Whether you've ever visited Georgia or not, chances are that you feel like you know the state a bit better now that you've had a chance to explore some fun facts about it. You'll probably think about Georgia the next time you bite into a fresh juicy peach or eat a sweet-tasting onion ring.
Now that you know more about Georgia, take the time to further explore the U.S. and its states. Begin by reviewing this list of words that describe the United States. Then choose another state to learn about, like fun facts from California. From there, explore a comprehensive list of all of the state abbreviations.