145 Fun Facts About Georgia That Will Amaze!

Welcome to the ultimate guide to fun facts about Georgia!

From its rich history and stunning landscapes to its unique traditions, Georgia is a treasure trove of surprises.

Whether you’re exploring its cultural quirks or natural wonders, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in this captivating state. Let’s dive into the facts!

Table of Contents

Historical Marvels of Georgia

Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788.
It’s named after King George II of Great Britain.
Savannah, Georgia, is home to the oldest public museum in the South, the Telfair Museum of Art.
The Cherokee syllabary, created by Sequoyah, emerged from this region.
Georgia hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
The Wesleyan College in Macon was the first college in the world chartered to grant degrees to women.
Sherman spared Savannah during his Civil War March to the Sea as a “Christmas gift” to President Lincoln.
Coca-Cola was invented in Atlanta in 1886 by John S. Pemberton.
Martin Luther King Jr., a civil rights leader, was born in Atlanta in 1929.
The state has the nation’s largest historical landmark district, in Savannah.
Georgia was a significant part of the Confederacy during the Civil War.
It is home to the Etowah Indian Mounds, a prehistoric Native American site.
The Augusta Canal, built in 1845, is the nation’s only industrial canal still in use.
Georgia’s “Peach State” nickname came from its reputation for producing high-quality peaches, but it wasn’t official until the mid-1900s.
President Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President, hails from Plains, Georgia.

Cultural Highlights of Georgia

The annual Masters Golf Tournament takes place in Augusta.
Georgia’s state dance is the square dance.
Vidalia onions, a sweet variety, can only be grown in certain parts of Georgia.
Atlanta’s Fox Theatre is one of the country’s grandest movie palaces.
The Varsity in Atlanta is the world’s largest drive-in restaurant.
Margaret Mitchell wrote “Gone with the Wind” while living in Atlanta.
Stone Mountain houses the largest high-relief sculpture in the world.
The “Georgia Guidestones,” often referred to as the American Stonehenge, stood in Elberton until 2022.
Georgia is home to over 75 distinct ethnic festivals each year.
The High Museum of Art in Atlanta is a major center for art in the Southeast.
The state song, “Georgia on My Mind,” was popularized by Ray Charles.
Tyler Perry Studios, one of the largest film production facilities, is located in Atlanta.
The Springer Opera House in Columbus is Georgia’s State Theatre.
Savannah’s St. Patrick’s Day parade is one of the largest in the nation.
The Okefenokee Swamp inspired parts of the musical “Porgy and Bess.”

Natural Wonders of Georgia

Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River by land area.
It boasts 47 state parks and more than 12,000 miles of hiking trails.
The Chattahoochee River spans 430 miles through Georgia.
Amicalola Falls is the tallest cascading waterfall in the Southeast.
Georgia’s coastline has 14 barrier islands, including the famous Jekyll Island.
The Blue Ridge Mountains run through the northern part of the state.
Providence Canyon is known as “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.”
Lake Lanier, Georgia’s largest lake, attracts millions of visitors annually.
The state has the most commercially grown pecans in the U.S.
Warm Springs, famous for its therapeutic waters, was a retreat for Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Sapelo Island is home to one of the last remaining Gullah-Geechee communities.
Tybee Island features a lighthouse dating back to 1736.
Tallulah Gorge is two miles long and nearly 1,000 feet deep.
Georgia’s Okefenokee Swamp is one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in the country.
The Peach State also grows more blueberries than peaches annually.

Quirky and Unusual Facts About Georgia

It’s illegal to keep a donkey in a bathtub in Georgia.
Gainesville is known as the Poultry Capital of the World.
The world’s largest college campus, Berry College, is located in Rome, Georgia.
The Waffle House Museum in Decatur is the first Waffle House ever opened.
Georgia has over 1,500 documented cemeteries.
Macon hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Festival, attracting visitors from around the world.
The state’s first brewery was established in 1738 in Savannah.
There’s a city named “Santa Claus” in Georgia.
It’s against the law to tie a giraffe to a telephone pole in Georgia.
The state has a roadside attraction called “The Big Chicken” in Marietta.
Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport is the busiest airport in the world.
You can visit a replica of Noah’s Ark in Locust Grove.
Georgia has a real-life town called “Climax.”
A bizarre law requires you to eat fried chicken with your hands in Gainesville.
The first gold rush in the U.S. started in Dahlonega in 1828.

Bonus Fun Facts About Georgia

Atlanta is sometimes called the “City in a Forest” for its tree canopy.
Chick-fil-A originated in Hapeville, Georgia.
Savannah has one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the U.S.
The first woman senator, Rebecca Felton, was from Georgia.
Zoo Atlanta houses one of the most significant panda populations in the U.S.
Georgia is the largest producer of peanuts in the U.S.
Savannah is home to the world’s only Waving Girl Statue.
The Coca-Cola headquarters remains in Atlanta.
The Atlanta BeltLine is one of the most ambitious urban revitalization projects.
Sweet tea became an official symbol of Southern hospitality here.
Georgia has the only four-time Grammy-winning bluegrass band, “The SteelDrivers.”
The Savannah River is a natural border with South Carolina.
In Georgia, it’s illegal to use profanity on a telephone.
Stone Mountain once served as a Native American spiritual site.
The University of Georgia is the oldest state-chartered university in the U.S.
Georgia has the world’s largest exposed piece of granite at Stone Mountain.
The state fruit, the peach, symbolizes Georgia’s agricultural heritage.
Brasstown Bald, Georgia’s highest peak, offers views of four states on clear days.
The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta was once the world’s largest aquarium.
The Savannah Historic District is one of the largest National Historic Landmark districts in the U.S.
Georgia’s annual azalea season draws thousands of visitors to its gardens.
Fort Pulaski near Savannah played a key role during the Civil War.
Atlanta’s CDC is one of the world’s top disease control organizations.
Georgia is the only state to have hosted three different Masters Golf Tournaments in Augusta.
The University of Georgia boasts the oldest collegiate mascot, Uga the bulldog.
There’s a law in Quitman, Georgia, prohibiting chickens from crossing the road.
The Savannah Bananas, a baseball team, are famous for their quirky promotions and entertaining games.
Georgia is one of the top five states in the U.S. for movie production.
The “Walk of Heroes” in Conyers honors Georgia veterans.
Georgia’s Cumberland Island has wild horses roaming freely.
Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield is a key Civil War historical site.
Atlanta was rebuilt after being burned during the Civil War, earning its nickname, “The Phoenix City.”
The state produces more pecans than any other in the U.S.
Georgia has its own state opera company, the Atlanta Opera.
The town of Helen is modeled after a Bavarian Alpine village.
Georgia has a thriving wine industry, particularly in the North Georgia Mountains.
In Savannah, moss-draped oak trees line many streets, creating iconic views.
Atlanta hosted the first professional soccer championship in the Southeast.
Georgia produces nearly half of the nation’s peanuts.
The Okefenokee Swamp is home to over 400 species of animals.
Ty Cobb, a legendary baseball player, was born in Narrows, Georgia.
The Savannah Riverfront is known for its cobblestone streets and vibrant nightlife.
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum is in Atlanta.
Georgia’s Rabun County is known for its spectacular waterfalls.
The world’s largest peach sculpture is in Gaffney, Georgia.
The state celebrates “National Vidalia Onion Week” each year.
The Georgia State Fair is one of the oldest in the nation.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport employs over 63,000 people.
Lake Allatoona provides drinking water for the Atlanta metro area.
The Tybee Island Pirate Festival draws thousands of visitors annually.
Dahlonega hosts a Gold Rush Festival every October.
Georgia ranks first in the U.S. for broiler chicken production.
The Macon Music Festival celebrates Georgia’s rich musical history.
Chickamauga Battlefield is one of the most haunted spots in Georgia.
Georgia has over 250 species of trees, making it a haven for nature lovers.
The annual Dogwood Festival in Atlanta honors the blooming dogwood trees.
The Atlanta Braves are one of baseball’s oldest professional teams.
The city of Dahlonega has a wine trail with award-winning wineries.
Plains, Georgia, is home to Jimmy Carter’s family farm and boyhood home.
The Savannah College of Art and Design is a leading art and design school.
Georgia’s Little Tybee Island is a pristine, uninhabited barrier island.
The Black Rock Mountain State Park is the highest state park in Georgia.
Peachtree Street in Atlanta is one of the city’s most iconic thoroughfares.
Georgia’s state vegetable is the Vidalia onion, known for its sweetness.
The Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace in Savannah honors the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Conclusion:
Georgia is a state bursting with history, culture, and natural beauty. With its fascinating quirks and traditions, it continues to inspire awe and curiosity in visitors and residents alike.

These 145 fun facts are just the beginning—explore Georgia and discover even more reasons to love the Peach State!