Georgia, USA sits in the southeastern corner of the country, roughly between 30°N and 35°N latitude and 81°W and 85°W longitude.
Quick Fact
Georgia is an East Coast state with about 10.7 million people (as of 2026) and covers 59,425 square miles, ranking 24th in size among U.S. states.
Geographic Context
You’ll find Georgia where the Blue Ridge Mountains’ foothills meet the Piedmont plateau, which then slopes down to the coastal plain. That mix of subtropical and temperate climates makes it a fascinating crossroads for ecosystems, cultures, and businesses. Interstate 95 runs the coast-to-Great Lakes route, while the Chattahoochee River supplies drinking water to nearly half the state’s population.
Key Details
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| State capital | Atlanta |
| Largest city | Atlanta (517,000 people within city limits, 6.2 million in the metro area) |
| Elevation extremes | Highest point: Brasstown Bald at 4,784 ft; lowest point: sea level along the Savannah River delta |
| Official nickname | Peach State |
| Major agricultural exports | Pecans, peanuts, vidalia onions, blueberries |
| Time zone | Eastern Time (UTC-5) |
| Bordering states & water | North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, and the Atlantic Ocean |
Interesting Background
Georgia is where Sequoyah’s Cherokee written alphabet debuted in 1821, and it’s home to Amicalola Falls, a 729-foot drop that’s taller than any waterfall east of the Mississippi.
During the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church became a powerful platform for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s messages. Fast-forward to today, and Georgia’s population is now majority-minority, with 58 % of residents identifying as people of color according to 2025 Census estimates.
Practical Information
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world’s busiest, handling 110 million passengers in 2025.
If you’re visiting, MARTA’s rail system connects downtown Atlanta to midtown and the airport. Once you leave the city, though, a car becomes pretty much essential—whether you’re heading into the Appalachian foothills or down to the barrier-island beaches.
Since 2020, Georgia’s average temperature has climbed 2.1 °F, pushing peach harvests in central Georgia two weeks earlier.
For a great day trip, drive 20 miles east to Stone Mountain Park. The nightly laser show on the massive Confederate carving draws around 400,000 visitors every summer evening.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (2026 data), National Park Service waterfalls database, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
