5 Fun Facts About Atlanta

Atlanta is Georgia’s largest city, with a population of just over 500,000, making it the 36th most populous city in the United States.

The city, along with its extensions into DeKalb County, forms the core of the Atlanta metro area, home to 6.3 million people and ranking as the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the country.

In this article, we’ll cover 5 fun facts about Atlanta that you should know.

1. Atlanta was originally a rail transit hub in the Southeastern United States. Now it’s an air transit hub

Atlanta was known as Terminus, denoting the southern end of the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The town adopted the name Marthasville in 1843 to honor the Georgia Governor’s daughter.

In 1845, the city was renamed Atlanta, referencing the Western and Atlantic Railroad that created the settlement.

The self-proclaimed capital of the South, Atlanta is major hub as a global transportation center. Core to that is Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest airport in the world and a three-hour flight from most major American cities.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

2. Atlanta became the Hollywood of the South through creating a market for tax incentives

Georgia passed Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act (“GEIIA”) in 2008 that launched a tax credit program wherein productions that spend over $500,000 in a year can have 20-30% of their costs reimbursed.

Through this act, film and television production in the Atlanta are surged, although it helps that the city has more affordable production costs than New York or Los Angeles, easy access to singular major global airport and a moderate climate.

Georgia lawmakers are seeking to limit the state’s generous film tax credit program, which has made the state a hub for major productions like The Hunger Games, Marvel movies, the Fast and Furious Franchise, and The Walking Dead.

3. Beyond film and tv, Atlanta is a city of the arts

In 1926, the Atlanta Historical Society established its first museum in a single room downtown. By 2016, the Atlanta History Center expanded to a 33-acre campus containing the world’s largest American Civil War artifact collection across 9 exhibition galleries.

The Georgia State Capitol, completed in 1889 at a cost of $1 million, houses 4 floors of museum exhibits including Civil War battle flags, Creek Indian artifacts, and Georgia’s original 1788 state charter. The building’s gold dome contains 43 ounces of Dahlonega gold from Georgia’s first gold rush.

The Atlanta Street Art Map highlights numerous vibrant artworks created by local and international artists.

>> Learn more: While Atlanta is the “Hollywood of the South,” Nashville is the “Music City.”

Ponce City Market in Atlanta

4. Atlanta birthed the Civil Rights Movement

Atlanta holds a key role in African American history. It is known as the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader of the American Civil Rights Movement.

The city was a major hub for campaigns like the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Birmingham Campaign, and the March on Washington. The King Center and Martin Luther King Jr National Historical Park stand in King’s honor.

King Center

• Address: 449 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, Georgia 30312
• Hours: 10 AM – 5 PM

National Historical Park

• Address: 450 Auburn Avenue, NE Atlanta, GA 30312
• Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM, closed major holidays

5. Several professional sports teams call Atlanta home

Atlanta is a major city with a rich history for professional sports. Below are the teams that call the Atlanta area home.

References:

• The King Center: https://thekingcenter.org/
• AP: Georgia is spending more than $1 billion subsidizing moviemaking. Lawmakers want some limits
• Atlanta History Center: Atlanta History Center
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: Atlanta Airport Official Website
• Georgia Aquarium: Georgia Aquarium
• Atlanta Symphony Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
• Atlanta Beltline: Atlanta Beltline
• Ponce City Market: Ponce City Market