Atlanta - wikipedia Atlanta This article is about the city in the U.S. state of Georgia. For other uses, see Atlanta ( disambiguation ). Atlanta, Georgia City City of Atlanta From top to bottom left to right : Atlanta skyline seen from Buckhead, the Fox Theatre, the Georgia State Capitol, Centennial Olympic Park, Millennium Gate, the Canopy Walk, the Georgia Aquarium, The Phoenix statue, and the Midtown skyline Flag Nickname ( s ) : The City in a Forest, ATL, The A, Hotlanta, The Gate City. ( See also Nicknames of Atlanta ) Motto : Resurgens ( Latin for rising again ) City highlighted in Fulton County, location of Fulton County in the state of Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta, Georgia Show map of Georgia ( U.S. state ) Show map of the US Show map of North America Show all Location in Georgia, United States & North America Coordinates : 33 ° 45 ′ 18 '' N 84 ° 23 ′ 24 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 33.75500 ° N 84.39000 ° W ﻿ / 33.75500 ; - 84.39000 Coordinates : 33 ° 45 ′ 18 '' N 84 ° 23 ′ 24 '' W ﻿ / ﻿ 33.75500 ° N 84.39000 ° W ﻿ / 33.75500 ; - 84.39000 Country United States of America State Georgia Counties Fulton, DeKalb Terminus 1837 Marthasville 1843 City of Atlanta December 29, 1847 Government Mayor Kasim Reed ( D ) Body Atlanta City Council Area City 134.0 sq mi ( 347.1 km ) Land 133.2 sq mi ( 344.9 km ) Water 0.8 sq mi ( 2.2 km ) Urban 1,963 sq mi ( 5,080 km ) Metro 8,376 sq mi ( 21,690 km ) Elevation 738 to 1,050 ft ( 225 to 320 m ) Population ( 2010 ) City 420,003 Estimate ( 2016 ) 472,522 Density 3,360 / sq mi ( 1,299 / km ) Urban 4,975,300 Urban density 2,540 / sq mi ( 979 / km ) Metro 5,710,795 ( 9th ) Metro density 660 / sq mi ( 255 / km ) CSA 6,365,108 ( 11th ) Demonym Atlantan Time zone EST ( UTC - 5 ) Summer ( DST ) EDT ( UTC - 4 ) ZIP codes 30060, 30301 - 30322, 30324 - 30334, 30336 - 30350, 30340, 30353, 30363 Area codes 404 / 678 / 470 / 770 FIPS code 13 - 04000 GNIS feature ID 0351615 Website atlantaga.gov Atlanta is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia, with an estimated 2016 population of 472,522. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, home to 5,710,795 people and the ninth - largest metropolitan area in the United States. Atlanta is the seat of Fulton County and a small portion of the city extends eastward into DeKalb County. In 1837, Atlanta was founded at the intersection of two railroad lines, and the city rose from the ashes of the American Civil War to become a national center of commerce. In the decades following the Civil Rights Movement, the city earned a reputation as `` too busy to hate '' for the relatively progressive views of its citizens and leaders compared to other cities in the Deep South. Atlanta attained international prominence, and it became the primary transportation hub of the Southeastern United States, via highway, railroad, and air, with Hartsfield -- Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world 's busiest airport since 1998. Atlanta rated a `` beta ( + ) '' world city that exerts a medium impact upon commerce, finance, research, technology, education, media, art, and entertainment. It ranks 40th among world cities and 8th in the nation with a gross domestic product of $270 billion. Atlanta 's economy is considered diverse, with dominant sectors that include logistics, professional and business services, media operations, and information technology. Atlanta has topographic features that include rolling hills and dense tree coverage. Revitalization of Atlanta 's neighborhoods, initially spurred by the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, has intensified in the 21st century, altering the city 's demographics, politics, and culture. Contents 1 History 1.1 Native American settlements 1.2 Western and Atlantic Railroad 1.3 Civil War 1.4 Rebuilding the city 1.5 Beginning 20th Century 1.6 Metropolitan area 's growth 1.7 Civil Rights Movement 1.8 1996 Summer Olympic Games 1.9 Recent history 2 Geography 2.1 Cityscape 2.2 Climate 3 Demographics 4 Economy 5 Culture 5.1 Arts and theater 5.2 Music 5.3 Tourism 6 Sports 7 Parks and recreation 8 Government and politics 9 Education 10 Media 11 Transportation 12 Tree canopy 13 Sister cities 14 See also 15 Notes and references 15.1 Notes 15.2 References 16 Further reading 17 External links History Main articles : History of Atlanta and Timeline of Atlanta Native American settlements Marietta Street, 1864 Prior to the arrival of European settlers in north Georgia, Creek Indians inhabited the area. Standing Peachtree, a Creek village located where Peachtree Creek flows into the Chattahoochee River, was the closest Indian settlement to what is now Atlanta. As part of the systematic removal of Native Americans from northern Georgia from 1802 to 1825, the Creek were forced to leave the area in 1821, and white settlers arrived the following year. Western and Atlantic railroad In 1836, the Georgia General Assembly voted to build the Western and Atlantic Railroad in order to provide a link between the port of Savannah and the Midwest. The initial route was to run southward from Chattanooga to a terminus east of the Chattahoochee River, which would then be linked to Savannah. After engineers surveyed various possible locations for the terminus, the `` zero milepost '' was driven into the ground in what is now Five Points. A year later, the area around the milepost had developed into a settlement, first known as `` Terminus, '' and later as `` Thrasherville '' after a local merchant who built homes and a general store in the area. By 1842, the town had six buildings and 30 residents and was renamed `` Marthasville '' to honor the Governor 's daughter. Later, J. Edgar Thomson, Chief Engineer of the Georgia Railroad, suggested the town be renamed `` Atlantica - Pacifica, '' which was shortened to `` Atlanta ''. The residents approved, and the town was incorporated as Atlanta on December 29, 1847. Civil War By 1860, Atlanta 's population had grown to 9,554. During the American Civil War, the nexus of multiple railroads in Atlanta made the city a hub for the distribution of military supplies. In 1864, the Union Army moved southward following the capture of Chattanooga and began its invasion of north Georgia. The region surrounding Atlanta was the location of several major army battles, culminating with the Battle of Atlanta and a four - month - long siege of the city by the Union Army under the command of General William Tecumseh Sherman. On September 1, 1864, Confederate General John Bell Hood made the decision to retreat from Atlanta, and he ordered the destruction of all public buildings and possible assets that could be of use to the Union Army. On the next day, Mayor James Calhoun surrendered Atlanta to the Union Army, and on September 7, Sherman ordered the city 's civilian population to evacuate. On November 11, 1864, Sherman prepared for the Union Army 's March to the Sea by ordering Atlanta to be burned to the ground, sparing only the city 's churches and hospitals. Rebuilding the city After the Civil War ended in 1865, Atlanta was gradually rebuilt. Due to the city 's superior rail transportation network, the state capital was moved from Milledgeville to Atlanta in 1868. In the 1880 Census, Atlanta surpassed Savannah as Georgia 's largest city. Beginning in the 1880s, Henry W. Grady, the editor of the Atlanta Constitution newspaper, promoted Atlanta to potential investors as a city of the `` New South '' that would be based upon a modern economy and less reliant on agriculture. By 1885, the founding of the Georgia School of Technology ( now Georgia Tech ) and the city 's black colleges had established Atlanta as a center for higher education. In 1895, Atlanta hosted the Cotton States and International Exposition, which attracted nearly 800,000 attendees and successfully promoted the New South 's development to the world. Beginning 20th century During the first decades of the 20th century, Atlanta experienced a period of unprecedented growth. In three decades ' time, Atlanta 's population tripled as the city limits expanded to include nearby streetcar suburbs. The city 's skyline emerged with the construction of the Equitable, Flatiron, Empire, and Candler buildings ; and Sweet Auburn emerged as a center of black commerce. The period was also marked by strife and tragedy. Increased racial tensions led to the Atlanta Race Riot of 1906, which left at least 27 people dead and over 70 injured. In 1915, Leo Frank, a Jewish - American factory superintendent, convicted of murder, was hanged in Marietta by a lynch mob, drawing attention to antisemitism in the United States. On May 21, 1917, the Great Atlanta Fire destroyed 1,938 buildings in what is now the Old Fourth Ward, resulting in one fatality and the displacement of 10,000 people. In 1907, Peachtree Street, the main street of Atlanta, was busy with streetcars and automobiles. On December 15, 1939, Atlanta hosted the premiere of Gone with the Wind, the epic film based on the best - selling novel by Atlanta 's Margaret Mitchell. The gala event at Loew 's Grand Theatre was attended by the film 's legendary producer, David O. Selznick, and the film 's stars Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, and Olivia de Havilland, but Oscar winner Hattie McDaniel, an African American actress, was barred from the event due to racial segregation laws and policies. Metropolitan area 's growth Atlanta played a vital role in the Allied effort during World War II due to the city 's war - related manufacturing companies, railroad network and military bases, leading to rapid population and economic growth. In the 1950s, the city 's newly constructed highway system allowed middle class Atlantans the ability to relocate to the suburbs. As a result, the city began to make up an ever - smaller proportion of the metropolitan area 's population. Civil Rights Movement During the 1960s, Atlanta was a major organizing center of the Civil Rights Movement, with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ralph David Abernathy, and students from Atlanta 's historically black colleges and universities playing major roles in the movement 's leadership. While minimal compared to other cities, Atlanta was not free of racial strife. In 1961, the city attempted to thwart blockbusting by erecting road barriers in Cascade Heights, countering the efforts of civic and business leaders to foster Atlanta as the `` city too busy to hate ''. Desegregation of the public sphere came in stages, with public transportation desegregated by 1959, the restaurant at Rich 's department store by 1961, movie theaters by 1963, and public schools by 1973. The Olympic flag waves at the 1996 games In 1960, whites comprised 61.7 % of the city 's population. By 1970, African Americans were a majority of the city 's population and exercised new - found political influence by electing Atlanta 's first black mayor, Maynard Jackson, in 1973. Under Mayor Jackson 's tenure, Atlanta 's airport was modernized, solidifying the city 's role as a transportation center. The opening of the Georgia World Congress Center in 1976 heralded Atlanta 's rise as a convention city. Construction of the city 's subway system began in 1975, with rail service commencing in 1979. Despite these improvements, Atlanta lost over 100,000 residents between 1970 and 1990, over 20 % of its population. 1996 Summer Olympic games Atlanta was selected as the site for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. Following the announcement, the city government undertook several major construction projects to improve Atlanta 's parks, sporting venues, and transportation infrastructure. While the games themselves were marred by numerous organizational inefficiencies as well as the Centennial Olympic Park bombing, the spectacle was a watershed event in Atlanta 's history that initiated a fundamental transformation of the city in the decade that followed. Recent History During the 2000s, Atlanta underwent a profound physical, cultural, and demographic transformation. Suburbanization, a booming economy, and new migrants decreased the city 's black percentage from a high of 67 % in 1990 to 54 % in 2010. From 2000 to 2010, Atlanta gained 22,763 white residents, 5,142 Asian residents, and 3,095 Hispanic residents, while the city 's black population decreased by 31,678. Much of the city 's demographic change during the decade was driven by young, college - educated professionals : from 2000 to 2009, the three - mile radius surrounding Downtown Atlanta gained 9,722 residents aged 25 to 34 holding at least a four - year degree, an increase of 61 %. Between the mid-1990s and 2010, stimulated by funding from the HOPE VI program, Atlanta demolished nearly all of its public housing, a total of 17,000 units and about 10 % of all housing units in the city. In 2005, the $2.8 billion BeltLine project was adopted, with the stated goals of converting a disused 22 - mile freight railroad loop that surrounds the central city into an art - filled multi-use trail and increasing the city 's park space by 40 %. Atlanta 's cultural offerings expanded during the 2000s : the High Museum of Art doubled in size ; the Alliance Theatre won a Tony Award ; and art galleries were established on the once - industrial Westside. Geography Main article : Geography of Atlanta Atlanta encompasses 134.0 square miles ( 347.1 km ), of which 133.2 square miles ( 344.9 km ) is land and 0.85 square miles ( 2.2 km ) is water. The city is situated among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and at 1,050 feet ( 320 m ) above mean sea level, Atlanta has one of the highest elevations among major cities east of the Mississippi River. Atlanta straddles the Eastern Continental Divide, such that rainwater that falls on the south and east side of the divide flows into the Atlantic Ocean, while rainwater on the north and west side of the divide flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Atlanta sits atop a ridge south of the Chattahoochee River, which is part of the ACF River Basin. Located at the far northwestern edge of the city, much of the river 's natural habitat is preserved, in part by the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Cityscape Main articles : Architecture of Atlanta and Neighborhoods of Atlanta See also : List of tallest buildings in Atlanta The Downtown skyline The Midtown skyline The Buckhead skyline Most of Atlanta was burned during the Civil War, depleting the city of a large stock of its historic architecture. Yet architecturally, the city had never been particularly `` southern '' -- because Atlanta originated as a railroad town, rather than a patrician southern seaport like Savannah or Charleston, many of the city 's landmarks could have easily been erected in the Northeast or Midwest. The skyline of Midtown ( viewed from Piedmont Park ) emerged with the construction of modernist Colony Square in 1972. During the Cold War era, Atlanta embraced global modernist trends, especially regarding commercial and institutional architecture. Examples of modernist architecture include the 1,196,240 square feet ( 111,134 m ) Westin Peachtree Plaza ( 1976 ), Georgia - Pacific Tower ( 1982 ), the State of Georgia Building ( 1966 ), and the Atlanta Marriott Marquis ( 1985 ). In the latter half of the 1980s, Atlanta became one of the early adopters of postmodern designs that reintroduced classical elements to the cityscape. Many of Atlanta 's tallest skyscrapers were built in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with most displaying tapering spires or otherwise ornamented crowns, such as the 1,187,676 square feet ( 110,338.7 m ) One Atlantic Center ( 1987 ), 191 Peachtree Tower ( 1991 ), and the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta ( 1992 ). Also completed during the era is Atlanta 's tallest skyscraper, the Bank of America Plaza ( 1992 ), which, at 1,023 feet ( 312 m ), is the 61st - tallest building in the world and the 9th - tallest building in the United States. The Bank of America Plaza is the tallest building outside of New York City and Chicago, and was the last building built in the United States to be in the top 10 tallest buildings in the world until One World Trade Center was completed externally in May 2013. The city 's embrace of modern architecture translated into an ambivalent approach toward historic preservation, leading to the destruction of notable architectural landmarks, including the Equitable Building ( 1892 -- 1971 ), Terminal Station ( 1905 -- 1972 ), and the Carnegie Library ( 1902 -- 1977 ). The Fox Theatre ( 1929 ) -- Atlanta 's cultural icon -- would have met the same fate had it not been for a grassroots effort to save it in the mid-1970s. Atlanta is divided into 242 officially defined neighborhoods. The city contains three major high - rise districts, which form a north - south axis along Peachtree : Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead. Surrounding these high - density districts are leafy, low - density neighborhoods, most of which are dominated by single - family homes. Downtown Atlanta contains the most office space in the metro area, much of it occupied by government entities. Downtown is home to the city 's sporting venues and many of its tourist attractions. Midtown Atlanta is the city 's second - largest business district, containing the offices of many of the region 's law firms. Midtown is known for its art institutions, cultural attractions, institutions of higher education, and dense form. Buckhead, the city 's uptown district, is eight miles ( 13 km ) north of Downtown and the city 's third - largest business district. The district is marked by an urbanized core along Peachtree Road, surrounded by suburban single - family neighborhoods situated among dense forests and rolling hills. Craftsman bungalows in Inman Park Beath - Dickey House ( 1890 ) in Inman Park neighborhood, 2011 Surrounding Atlanta 's three high - rise districts are the city 's low - and medium - density neighborhoods, where the craftsman bungalow single - family home is dominant. The eastside is marked by historic streetcar suburbs built from the 1890s - 1930s as havens for the upper middle class. These neighborhoods, many of which contain their own villages encircled by shaded, architecturally - distinct residential streets, include the Victorian Inman Park, Bohemian East Atlanta, and eclectic Old Fourth Ward. On the westside and along the BeltLine on the eastside, former warehouses and factories have been converted into housing, retail space, and art galleries, transforming the once - industrial areas such as West Midtown into model neighborhoods for smart growth, historic rehabilitation, and infill construction. In southwest Atlanta, neighborhoods closer to downtown originated as streetcar suburbs, including the historic West End, while those farther from downtown retain a postwar suburban layout, including Collier Heights and Cascade Heights, home to much of the city 's affluent African American population. Northwest Atlanta contains the areas of the city to west of Marietta Boulevard and to the north of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, including those neighborhoods remote to downtown, such as Riverside, Bolton and Whittier Mill, which is one of Atlanta 's designated Landmark Historical Neighborhoods. Vine City, though technically Northwest, adjoins the city 's Downtown area and has recently been the target of community outreach programs and economic development initiatives. Gentrification of the city 's neighborhoods is one of the more controversial and transformative forces shaping contemporary Atlanta. The gentrification of Atlanta has its origins in the 1970s, after many of Atlanta 's neighborhoods had undergone the urban decay that affected other major American cities in the mid-20th century. When neighborhood opposition successfully prevented two freeways from being built through city 's the east side in 1975, the area became the starting point for Atlanta 's gentrification. After Atlanta was awarded the Olympic games in 1990, gentrification expanded into other parts of the city, stimulated by infrastructure improvements undertaken in preparation for the games. Gentrification was aided by the Atlanta Housing Authority 's eradication of the city 's public housing. Climate Atlanta 's Piedmont Park in winter Under the Köppen classification, Atlanta has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) with four distinct seasons and generous precipitation year - round, typical for the inland South. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures somewhat moderated by the city 's elevation. Winters are cool but variable, with an average of 48 freezing days per year and temperatures dropping to 0 ° F ( − 17.8 ° C ) on rare occasions. Warm air from the Gulf of Mexico can bring spring - like highs while strong Arctic air masses can push lows into the teens ( ≤ − 7 ° C ). July averages 80.2 ° F ( 26.8 ° C ), with high temperatures reaching 90 ° F ( 32 ° C ) on an average 44 days per year, though 100 ° F ( 38 ° C ) readings are not seen most years. January averages 43.5 ° F ( 6.4 ° C ), with temperatures in the suburbs slightly cooler due largely to the urban heat island effect. Lows at or below freezing can be expected 40 nights annually, but extended stretches with daily high temperatures below 40 ° F ( 4 ° C ) are very rare, with a recent exception in January 2014. Extremes range from − 9 ° F ( − 23 ° C ) on February 13, 1899 to 106 ° F ( 41 ° C ) on June 30, 2012. Dewpoints in the summer range from 63.6 ° F ( 18 ° C ) in June to 67.8 ° F ( 20 ° C ) in July. Typical of the southeastern U.S., Atlanta receives abundant rainfall that is evenly distributed throughout the year, though spring and early fall are markedly drier. The average annual rainfall is 50.2 inches ( 1,280 mm ), while snowfall is typically light at around 2.1 inches ( 5.3 cm ) per year. The heaviest single snowfall occurred on January 23, 1940, with around 10 inches ( 25 cm ) of snow. However, ice storms usually cause more problems than snowfall does, the most severe occurring on January 7, 1973. Tornadoes are rare in the city itself, but the March 14, 2008 EF2 tornado damaged prominent structures in downtown Atlanta. Climate data for Atlanta ( Hartsfield -- Jackson Int'l ), 1981 -- 2010 normals, extremes 1878 -- present Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high ° F ( ° C ) 79 ( 26 ) 80 ( 27 ) 89 ( 32 ) 93 ( 34 ) 97 ( 36 ) 106 ( 41 ) 105 ( 41 ) 104 ( 40 ) 102 ( 39 ) 95 ( 35 ) 84 ( 29 ) 79 ( 26 ) 106 ( 41 ) Mean maximum ° F ( ° C ) 69.6 ( 20.9 ) 73.2 ( 22.9 ) 80.8 ( 27.1 ) 85.0 ( 29.4 ) 89.3 ( 31.8 ) 94.6 ( 34.8 ) 96.3 ( 35.7 ) 95.4 ( 35.2 ) 91.4 ( 33 ) 84.4 ( 29.1 ) 77.5 ( 25.3 ) 70.8 ( 21.6 ) 97.6 ( 36.4 ) Average high ° F ( ° C ) 52.3 ( 11.3 ) 56.6 ( 13.7 ) 64.6 ( 18.1 ) 72.5 ( 22.5 ) 79.9 ( 26.6 ) 86.4 ( 30.2 ) 89.1 ( 31.7 ) 88.1 ( 31.2 ) 82.2 ( 27.9 ) 72.7 ( 22.6 ) 63.6 ( 17.6 ) 54.0 ( 12.2 ) 71.9 ( 22.2 ) Daily mean ° F ( ° C ) 43.3 ( 6.3 ) 47.2 ( 8.4 ) 54.3 ( 12.4 ) 62.0 ( 16.7 ) 70.1 ( 21.2 ) 77.3 ( 25.2 ) 80.2 ( 26.8 ) 79.4 ( 26.3 ) 73.5 ( 23.1 ) 63.3 ( 17.4 ) 54.0 ( 12.2 ) 45.3 ( 7.4 ) 62.6 ( 17 ) Average low ° F ( ° C ) 34.3 ( 1.3 ) 37.7 ( 3.2 ) 44.1 ( 6.7 ) 51.5 ( 10.8 ) 60.3 ( 15.7 ) 68.2 ( 20.1 ) 71.3 ( 21.8 ) 70.7 ( 21.5 ) 64.8 ( 18.2 ) 54.0 ( 12.2 ) 44.5 ( 6.9 ) 36.5 ( 2.5 ) 53.2 ( 11.8 ) Mean minimum ° F ( ° C ) 15.7 ( − 9.1 ) 20.9 ( − 6.2 ) 27.4 ( − 2.6 ) 35.2 ( 1.8 ) 47.6 ( 8.7 ) 58.5 ( 14.7 ) 65.1 ( 18.4 ) 63.7 ( 17.6 ) 51.4 ( 10.8 ) 38.5 ( 3.6 ) 29.5 ( − 1.4 ) 20.0 ( − 6.7 ) 12.1 ( − 11.1 ) Record low ° F ( ° C ) − 8 ( − 22 ) − 9 ( − 23 ) 10 ( − 12 ) 25 ( − 4 ) 37 ( 3 ) 39 ( 4 ) 53 ( 12 ) 55 ( 13 ) 36 ( 2 ) 28 ( − 2 ) ( − 16 ) 0 ( − 18 ) − 9 ( − 23 ) Average precipitation inches ( mm ) 4.20 ( 106.7 ) 4.67 ( 118.6 ) 4.81 ( 122.2 ) 3.36 ( 85.3 ) 3.67 ( 93.2 ) 3.95 ( 100.3 ) 5.27 ( 133.9 ) 3.90 ( 99.1 ) 4.47 ( 113.5 ) 3.41 ( 86.6 ) 4.10 ( 104.1 ) 3.90 ( 99.1 ) 49.71 ( 1,262.6 ) Average snowfall inches ( cm ) 1.3 ( 3.3 ) 0.4 ( 1 ) 0.8 ( 2 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0 ( 0 ) 0.4 ( 1 ) 2.9 ( 7.4 ) Average precipitation days ( ≥ 0.01 in ) 10.9 9.8 9.7 8.6 9.3 9.9 11.7 9.7 7.5 6.9 8.8 10.5 113.3 Average snowy days ( ≥ 0.1 in ) 0.8 0.6 0.3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.4 2.1 Average relative humidity ( % ) 67.6 63.4 62.4 61.0 67.2 69.8 74.4 74.8 73.9 68.5 68.1 68.4 68.3 Mean monthly sunshine hours 164.0 171.7 220.5 261.2 288.6 284.8 273.8 258.6 227.5 238.5 185.1 164.0 2,738.3 Percent possible sunshine 52 56 59 67 67 66 63 62 61 68 59 53 62 Source : NOAA ( relative humidity and sun 1961 -- 1990 ) Demographics Main article : Demographics of Atlanta See also : Religion in Atlanta Historical population Census Pop. % ± 1850 2,572 -- 1860 9,554 271.5 % 1870 21,789 128.1 % 1880 37,409 71.7 % 1890 65,533 75.2 % 1900 89,872 37.1 % 1910 154,839 72.3 % 1920 200,616 29.6 % 1930 270,366 34.8 % 1940 302,288 11.8 % 1950 331,314 9.6 % 1960 487,455 47.1 % 1970 495,039 1.6 % 1980 425,022 − 14.1 % 1990 394,017 − 7.3 % 2000 416,474 5.7 % 420,003 0.8 % Est. 2016 472,522 12.5 % U.S. Decennial Census Racial composition 2014 1990 1970 1940 Black or African American 51.4 % 67.1 % 51.3 % 34.6 % White 41.3 % 31.0 % 48.4 % 65.4 % -- Non-Hispanic 38.3 % 30.3 % 47.3 % n / a Asian 3.7 % 0.9 % 0.1 % - Hispanic or Latino ( of any race ) 4.7 % 1.9 % 1.5 % n / a The 2010 United States Census reported that Atlanta had a population of 420,003. The population density was 3,154 per square mile ( 1232 / km ). The racial makeup and population of Atlanta was 54.0 % Black or African American, 38.4 % White, 3.1 % Asian and 0.2 % Native American. Those from some other race made up 2.2 % of the city 's population, while those from two or more races made up 2.0 %. Hispanics of any race made up 5.2 % of the city 's population. The median income for a household in the city was $45,171. The per capita income for the city was $35,453. 22.6 % percent of the population was living below the poverty line. Atlanta has one of the highest LGBT populations per capita, ranking third among major American cities, behind San Francisco and slightly behind Seattle, with 12.8 % of the city 's total population identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. 7.3 % of Atlantans were born abroad ( 86th in the US ). Map of racial distribution in Atlanta, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people : White, Black, Asian Hispanic, or Other ( yellow ) In the 2010 Census, Atlanta was recorded as the nation 's fourth - largest majority - black city. It has long been known as a center of African - American political power, education, and culture, often called a black mecca. African - American residents of Atlanta have followed whites to newer housing in the suburbs in the early 21st century. From 2000 to 2010, the city 's black population decreased by 31,678 people, shrinking from 61.4 % of the city 's population in 2000 to 54.0 % in 2010. At the same time, the white population of Atlanta has increased. Between 2000 and 2010, the proportion of whites in the city 's population grew faster than that of any other U.S. city. In that decade, Atlanta 's white population grew from 31 % to 38 % of the city 's population, an absolute increase of 22,753 people, more than triple the increase that occurred between 1990 and 2000. Out of the total population five years and older, 83.3 % spoke only English at home, while 8.8 % spoke Spanish, 3.9 % another Indo - European language, and 2.8 % an Asian language. Atlanta 's dialect has traditionally been a variation of Southern American English. The Chattahoochee River long formed a border between the Coastal Southern and Southern Appalachian dialects. Because of the development of corporate headquarters in the region, attracting migrants from other areas of the country, by 2003, Atlanta magazine concluded that Atlanta had become significantly `` de-Southernized. '' A Southern accent was considered a handicap in some circumstances. In general, Southern accents are less prevalent among residents of the city and inner suburbs and among younger people ; they are more common in the outer suburbs and among older people. At the same time, some residents of the city express Southern variations of African American Vernacular English. Religion in Atlanta, while historically centered on Protestant Christianity, now involves many faiths as a result of the city and metro area 's increasingly international population. Protestant Christianity still maintains a strong presence in the city ( 63 % ), but in recent decades the Catholic Church has increased in numbers and influence because of new migrants in the region. Metro Atlanta also has numerous ethnic or national Christian congregations, including Korean and Indian churches. The larger non-Christian faiths are Judaism, Islam and Hinduism. Overall, there are over 1,000 places of worship within Atlanta. Economy Main article : Economy of Atlanta With a GDP of $304 billion, the Metro Atlanta economy is the eighth - largest in the country and 17th - largest in the world. Corporate operations play a major role in the economy, as the city claims the country 's third - largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies, and hosts the global headquarters of corporations such as The Coca - Cola Company, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, AT&T Mobility, Chick - fil - A, and UPS. Over 75 percent of Fortune 1000 companies conduct business operations in metro Atlanta, and the region hosts offices of over 1,250 multinational corporations. Many corporations are drawn to Atlanta by the city 's educated workforce ; as of 2014, 45 % of adults 25 or older in the city have at least 4 - year college degrees, compared to the national average of 28 %. The Coca - Cola world headquarters Atlanta began as a railroad town and logistics has remained a major component of the city 's economy to this day. Atlanta is an important rail junction and contains major classification yards for Norfolk Southern and CSX. Since its construction in the 1950s, Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport has served as a key engine of Atlanta 's economic growth. Delta Air Lines, the city 's largest employer and the metro area 's third - largest, operates the world 's largest airline hub at Hartsfield - Jackson and has helped make it the world 's busiest airport, both in terms of passenger traffic and aircraft operations. Partly due to the airport, Atlanta has become a hub for diplomatic missions ; as of 2017, the city contains 26 consulates general, the seventh - highest concentration of diplomatic missions in the United States. Media is also an important aspect of Atlanta 's economy. The city is a major cable television programming center. Ted Turner established the headquarters of both the Cable News Network ( CNN ) and the Turner Broadcasting System ( TBS ) in Atlanta. Cox Enterprises, the country 's third - largest cable television service and the publisher of over a dozen American newspapers, is headquartered in the city. The Weather Channel is headquartered just outside Atlanta in Cobb County. Information technology -- a business sector that includes publishing, software development, entertainment and data processing -- has garnered a larger percentage of Atlanta 's economic output. Indeed, Atlanta has been nicknamed the Silicon peach due to its burgeoning technology sector. As of 2013, Atlanta contains the fourth - largest concentration of information technology jobs in the United States, numbering 85,000. Atlanta ranks as the sixth fastest - growing city for information technology jobs, with an employment growth of 4.8 % in 2012 and a three - year growth near 9 %, or 16,000 jobs. Information technology companies are drawn to Atlanta 's lower costs and educated workforce. Recently, Atlanta has become a center for film and television production, largely due to the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, which awards qualified productions a transferable income tax credit of 20 % of all in - state costs for film and television investments of $500,000 or more. Film and television production facilities in Atlanta include Turner Studios, Pinewood Studios ( Pinewood Atlanta ), Tyler Perry Studios, Williams Street Productions, and the EUE / Screen Gems soundstages. Film and television production injected $6 billion into Georgia 's economy in 2015, with Atlanta garnering most of the projects. Atlanta has gained recognition as a center of production of horror and zombie - related productions, with Atlanta magazine dubbing the city the `` Zombie Capital of the World ''. The CNN newsroom Compared to other American cities, Atlanta 's economy has been disproportionately affected by the 2008 financial crisis and subsequent recession, with the city 's economy earning a ranking of 68 among 100 American cities in a September 2014 report due to an elevated unemployment rate, declining real income levels, and a depressed housing market. From 2010 to 2011, Atlanta saw a 0.9 % contraction in employment and only a 0.4 % rise in income. Though unemployment had dropped to 7 % by late 2014, this was still higher than the national unemployment rate of 5.8 % Atlanta 's housing market has struggled, with home prices falling by 2.1 % in January 2012, reaching levels not seen since 1996. Compared with a year earlier, the average home price in Atlanta fell 17.3 % in February 2012, the largest annual drop in the history of the index for any city. The collapse in home prices has led some economists to deem Atlanta the worst housing market in the country. Nevertheless, in August 2013, Atlanta appeared on Forbes magazine 's list of the Best Places for Business and Careers. Culture The Museum of Design Atlanta ( MODA ) Public Art on the BeltLine -- 2015 Object of Wo ( man ) by William Massey. Atlanta is a city located in the South that has a culture which is extremely dynamic. This is due to a large population of migrants from other parts of the U.S., in addition to many recent immigrants to the U.S. who have made the metropolitan area their home, establishing Atlanta as the cultural and economic hub of an increasingly multi-cultural metropolitan area. Thus, although traditional Southern culture is part of Atlanta 's cultural fabric, it is mostly the backdrop to one of the nation 's most cosmopolitan cities. This unique cultural combination reveals itself in the arts district of Midtown, the quirky neighborhoods on the city 's eastside, and the multi-ethnic enclaves found along Buford Highway. Movies such as Gone With the Wind ( 1939 ), Sharkey 's Machine ( 1981 ) and The Slugger 's Wife ( 1985 ) have been shot in Atlanta. Arts and theater Main article : Arts in Atlanta Atlanta is one of few United States cities with permanent, professional, resident companies in all major performing arts disciplines : opera ( Atlanta Opera ), ballet ( Atlanta Ballet ), orchestral music ( Atlanta Symphony Orchestra ), and theater ( the Alliance Theatre ). Atlanta attracts many touring Broadway acts, concerts, shows, and exhibitions catering to a variety of interests. Atlanta 's performing arts district is concentrated in Midtown Atlanta at the Woodruff Arts Center, which is home to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Alliance Theatre. The city frequently hosts touring Broadway acts, especially at The Fox Theatre, a historic landmark that is among the highest - grossing theatres of its size. As a national center for the arts, Atlanta is home to significant art museums and institutions. The renowned High Museum of Art is arguably the South 's leading art museum and among the most - visited art museums in the world. The Museum of Design Atlanta ( MODA ), a design museum, is the only such museum in the Southeast. Contemporary art museums include the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center and the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia. Institutions of higher education contribute to Atlanta 's art scene, with the Savannah College of Art and Design 's Atlanta campus providing the city 's arts community with a steady stream of curators, and Emory University 's Michael C. Carlos Museum containing the largest collection of ancient art in the Southeast. Music The stage of the Tabernacle during a live music show Main article : Music of Atlanta Atlanta has played a major or contributing role in the development of various genres of American music at different points in the city 's history. Beginning as early as the 1920s, Atlanta emerged as a center for country music, which was brought to the city by migrants from Appalachia. During the countercultural 1960s, Atlanta hosted the Atlanta International Pop Festival, with the 1969 festival taking place more than a month before Woodstock and featuring many of the same bands. The city was also a center for Southern rock during its 1970s heyday : the Allman Brothers Band 's hit instrumental `` Hot ' Lanta '' is an ode to the city, while Lynyrd Skynyrd 's famous live rendition of `` Free Bird '' was recorded at the Fox Theatre in 1976, with lead singer Ronnie Van Zant directing the band to `` play it pretty for Atlanta ''. During the 1980s, Atlanta had an active Punk rock scene that was centered on two of the city 's music venues, 688 Club and the Metroplex, and Atlanta famously played host to the Sex Pistols first U.S. show, which was performed at the Great Southeastern Music Hall. The 1990s saw the birth of Atlanta hip hop, a subgenre that gained relevance following the success of home - grown duo OutKast ; however, it was not until the 2000s that Atlanta moved `` from the margins to becoming hip - hop 's center of gravity, part of a larger shift in hip - hop innovation to the South ''. Also in the 2000s, Atlanta was recognized by the Brooklyn - based Vice magazine for its indie rock scene, which revolves around the various live music venues found on the city 's alternative eastside. Tourism Main articles : Tourism in Atlanta, Festivals in Atlanta, List of museums in Atlanta, and Cuisine of Atlanta Martin Luther King, Jr. 's childhood home The World of Coca - Cola As of 2010, Atlanta is the seventh-most visited city in the United States, with over 35 million visitors per year. Although the most popular attraction among visitors to Atlanta is the Georgia Aquarium, the world 's largest indoor aquarium, Atlanta 's tourism industry is mostly driven by the city 's history museums and outdoor attractions. Atlanta contains a notable amount of historical museums and sites, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, which includes the preserved childhood home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as his final resting place ; the Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, which houses a massive painting and diorama in - the - round, with a rotating central audience platform, depicting the Battle of Atlanta in the Civil War ; the World of Coca - Cola, featuring the history of the world - famous soft drink brand and its well - known advertising ; the College Football Hall of Fame which honors college football and its athletes ; the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, which explores the Civil Rights Movement and its connection to contemporary human rights movements throughout the world ; the Carter Center and Presidential Library, housing U.S. President Jimmy Carter 's papers and other material relating to the Carter administration and the Carter family 's life ; and the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum, where Mitchell wrote the best - selling novel Gone with the Wind. Atlanta contains various outdoor attractions. The Atlanta Botanical Garden, adjacent to Piedmont Park, is home to the 600 - foot - long ( 180 m ) Kendeda Canopy Walk, a skywalk that allows visitors to tour one of the city 's last remaining urban forests from 40 - foot - high ( 12 m ). The Canopy Walk is considered the only canopy - level pathway of its kind in the United States. Zoo Atlanta, located in Grant Park, accommodates over 1,300 animals representing more than 220 species. Home to the nation 's largest collections of gorillas and orangutans, the Zoo is one of only four zoos in the U.S. to house giant pandas. Festivals showcasing arts and crafts, film, and music, including the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, the Atlanta Film Festival, and Music Midtown, respectively, are also popular with tourists. A meal at The Varsity Tourists are drawn to the city 's culinary scene, which comprises a mix of urban establishments garnering national attention, ethnic restaurants serving cuisine from every corner of the world, and traditional eateries specializing in Southern dining. Since the turn of the 21st century, Atlanta has emerged as a sophisticated restaurant town. Many restaurants opened in the city 's gentrifying neighborhoods have received praise at the national level, including Bocado, Bacchanalia, and Miller Union in West Midtown, Empire State South in Midtown, and Two Urban Licks and Rathbun 's on the east side. In 2011, the New York Times characterized Empire State South and Miller Union as reflecting `` a new kind of sophisticated Southern sensibility centered on the farm but experienced in the city. '' Visitors seeking to sample international Atlanta are directed to Buford Highway, the city 's international corridor. There, the million - plus immigrants that make Atlanta home have established various authentic ethnic restaurants representing virtually every nationality on the globe. For traditional Southern fare, one of the city 's most famous establishments is The Varsity, a long - lived fast food chain and the world 's largest drive - in restaurant. Mary Mac 's Tea Room and Paschal 's are more formal destinations for Southern food. Sports Main article : Sports in Atlanta SunTrust Park Atlanta is home to professional franchises for four major team sports : the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball, the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association, the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League, and Atlanta United FC of Major League Soccer. The Braves, who moved to Atlanta in 1966, were established as the Boston Red Stockings in 1871 and are the oldest continually operating professional sports franchise in the United States. The Braves won the World Series in 1995, and had an unprecedented run of 14 straight divisional championships from 1991 to 2005. The Braves have a new home in 2017, having moved from Turner Field to Suntrust Park, which is located in the Atlanta Metropolitan area 10 miles ( 16 km ) northwest of downtown Atlanta in Cumberland / Galleria, Georgia. The Atlanta Falcons have played in Atlanta since their inception in 1966. The Falcons have won the division title six times ( 1980, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2012, 2016 ) and the NFC championship twice in 1998 and 2016. However, they have been unsuccessful in both of their Super Bowl trips so far, losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999 and to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI in 2017. The Atlanta Hawks began in 1946 as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, playing in Moline, Illinois. The team moved to Atlanta in 1968, and they currently play their games in Philips Arena. The Atlanta Dream is the city 's Women 's National Basketball Association franchise. Atlanta has had its own professional ice hockey and soccer franchises. The National Hockey League ( NHL ) has had two Atlanta franchises : the Atlanta Flames began play in 1972 before moving to Calgary in 1980, while the Atlanta Thrashers began play in 1999 before moving to Winnipeg in 2011. The Atlanta Chiefs was the city 's professional soccer team from 1967 to 1972, and the team won a national championship in 1968. In 1998 another professional soccer team was formed, the Atlanta Silverbacks of the North American Soccer League. Announced in April 2014, Atlanta United FC began play in Major League Soccer in 2017. Atlanta has been the host city for various international, professional and collegiate sporting events. Most famously, Atlanta hosted the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics. Atlanta hosted Super Bowl XXVIII in 1994 and Super Bowl XXXIV in 2000. In professional golf, The Tour Championship, the final PGA Tour event of the season, is played annually at East Lake Golf Club. In 2001 and 2011, Atlanta hosted the PGA Championship, one of the four major championships in men 's professional golf, at the Atlanta Athletic Club. In professional ice hockey, the city hosted the 56th NHL All - Star Game in 2008, three years before the Thrashers moved. In 2011, Atlanta hosted professional wrestling 's annual WrestleMania. The city has hosted the NCAA Final Four Men 's Basketball Championship four times, most recently in 2013. In college football, Atlanta hosts the Chick - fil - A Kickoff Game, the SEC Championship Game, and the Chick - fil - A Peach Bowl. Parks and recreation Main article : Parks in Atlanta Mosaiculture at the Atlanta Botanical Garden The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in northwestern Atlanta Atlanta 's 343 parks, nature preserves, and gardens cover 3,622 acres ( 14.66 km ), which amounts to only 5.6 % of the city 's total acreage, compared to the national average of just over 10 %. However, 64 % of Atlantans live within a 10 - minute walk of a park, a percentage equal to the national average. In its 2013 ParkScore ranking, The Trust for Public Land reported that among the park systems of the 50 most populous U.S. cities, Atlanta 's park system received a ranking of 31. Piedmont Park, located in Midtown, is Atlanta 's most iconic green space. The park, which underwent a major renovation and expansion in recent years, attracts visitors from across the region and hosts cultural events throughout the year. Other notable city parks include Centennial Olympic Park, a legacy of the 1996 Summer Olympics that forms the centerpiece of the city 's tourist district ; Woodruff Park, which anchors the campus of Georgia State University ; Grant Park, home to Zoo Atlanta ; and Chastain Park, which houses an amphitheater used for live music concerts. The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, located in the northwestern corner of the city, preserves a 48 mi ( 77 km ) stretch of the river for public recreation opportunities. The Atlanta Botanical Garden, adjacent to Piedmont Park, contains formal gardens, including a Japanese garden and a rose garden, woodland areas, and a conservatory that includes indoor exhibits of plants from tropical rainforests and deserts. The BeltLine, a former rail corridor that forms a 22 mi ( 35 km ) loop around Atlanta 's core, has been transformed into a series of parks, connected by a multi-use trail, increasing Atlanta 's park space by 40 %. Atlanta offers resources and opportunities for amateur and participatory sports and recreation. Jogging is a popular local sport, and the city hosts the Peachtree Road Race, the world 's largest 10 km race, annually on Independence Day. The Georgia Marathon, which begins and ends at Centennial Olympic Park, routes through the city 's historic east side neighborhoods. Golf and tennis are popular in Atlanta, and the city contains six public golf courses and 182 tennis courts. Facilities located along the Chattahoochee River cater to watersports enthusiasts, providing the opportunity for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, boating, or tubing. The city 's only skate park, a 15,000 square feet ( 1,400 m ) facility that offers bowls, curbs, and smooth - rolling concrete mounds, is located at Historic Fourth Ward Park. Government and politics Main articles : Government of Atlanta, List of mayors of Atlanta, and Crime in Atlanta Atlanta City Hall Atlanta is governed by a mayor and the Atlanta City Council. The city council consists of 15 representatives -- one from each of the city 's 12 districts and three at - large positions. The mayor may veto a bill passed by the council, but the council can override the veto with a two - thirds majority. The mayor of Atlanta is Kasim Reed, a Democrat elected on a nonpartisan ballot whose first term in office expired at the end of 2013. Reed was elected to a second term on November 5, 2013. Every mayor elected since 1973 has been black. In 2001, Shirley Franklin became the first woman to be elected Mayor of Atlanta, and the first African - American woman to serve as mayor of a major southern city. Atlanta city politics suffered from a notorious reputation for corruption during the 1990s administration of Mayor Bill Campbell, who was convicted by a federal jury in 2006 on three counts of tax evasion in connection with gambling winnings during trips he took with city contractors. As the state capital, Atlanta is the site of most of Georgia 's state government. The Georgia State Capitol building, located downtown, houses the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of state, as well as the General Assembly. The Governor 's Mansion is located in a residential section of Buckhead. Atlanta serves as the regional hub for many arms of the federal bureaucracy, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta also plays an important role in federal judiciary system, containing the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. Historically, Atlanta has been a stronghold for the Democratic Party. Although municipal elections are officially nonpartisan, nearly all of the city 's elected officials are registered Democrats. The city is split among 14 state house districts and four state senate districts, all held by Democrats. At the federal level, Atlanta is split between two congressional districts. The northern three - fourths of the city is located in the 5th district, represented by Democrat John Lewis. The southern fourth is in the 13th district, represented by Democrat David Scott. The city is served by the Atlanta Police Department, which numbers 2,000 officers and oversaw a 40 % decrease in the city 's crime rate between 2001 and 2009. Specifically, homicide decreased by 57 %, rape by 72 %, and violent crime overall by 55 %. Crime is down across the country, but Atlanta 's improvement has occurred at more than twice the national rate. Nevertheless, Forbes ranked Atlanta as the sixth most dangerous city in the United States in 2012. Education Main articles : List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, and List of private schools in Atlanta Tech Tower on the Georgia Tech campus Main Quad on Emory University 's Druid Hills Campus Due to the more than 30 colleges and universities located in the city, Atlanta is considered a center for higher education. The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the most prominent public universities in Atlanta ; it is a research university located in Midtown that has been consistently ranked among the nation 's top ten public universities for its degree programs in engineering, computing, management, the sciences, architecture, and liberal arts. Georgia State University is a major public research university located in Downtown Atlanta ; it is the largest of the 29 public colleges and universities in the University System of Georgia and is a significant contributor to the revitalization of the city 's central business district. Atlanta is home to nationally renowned private colleges and universities, most notably Emory University, a leading liberal arts and research institution that ranks among the top 20 schools in the United States and operates Emory Healthcare, the largest health care system in Georgia. The Atlanta University Center is also located in the city ; it is the largest contiguous consortium of historically black colleges in the nation, comprising Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morehouse School of Medicine, and Interdenominational Theological Center. Atlanta contains a campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design, a private art and design university that has proven to be a major factor in the recent growth of Atlanta 's visual art community. Fifty - five thousand students are enrolled in 106 schools in Atlanta Public Schools, some of which are operated as charter schools. The district has been plagued by a widely publicized cheating scandal that was exposed in 2009. Atlanta is served by many private schools, including parochial Roman Catholic schools operated by the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Media Main article : Media in Atlanta The primary network - affiliated television stations in Atlanta are WXIA - TV ( NBC ), WGCL - TV ( CBS ), WSB - TV ( ABC ), and WAGA - TV ( FOX ). The Atlanta metropolitan area is served by two public television stations and one public radio station. WGTV is the flagship station of the statewide Georgia Public Television network and is a PBS member station, while WPBA is owned by Atlanta Public Schools. Georgia Public Radio is listener - funded and comprises one NPR member station, WABE, a classical music station operated by Atlanta Public Schools. Atlanta is served by the Atlanta Journal - Constitution, its only major daily newspaper with wide distribution. The Atlanta Journal - Constitution is the result of a 1950 merger between The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution, with staff consolidation occurring in 1982 and separate publication of the morning Constitution and afternoon Journal ceasing in 2001. Alternative weekly newspapers include Creative Loafing, which has a weekly print circulation of 80,000. Atlanta magazine is an award - winning, monthly general - interest magazine based in and covering Atlanta. Transportation Main article : Transportation in Atlanta Concourse B at Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world 's busiest airport The Downtown Connector, seen at night in Midtown. Atlanta 's transportation infrastructure comprises a complex network that includes a heavy rail rapid transit system, a light rail streetcar loop, a multi-county bus system, Amtrak service via the Crescent, multiple freight train lines, an Interstate Highway System, several airports, including the world 's busiest, and over 45 miles ( 72 kilometres ) of bike paths. Atlanta has a network of freeways that radiate out from the city, and automobiles are the dominant means of transportation in the region. Three major interstate highways converge in Atlanta : I - 20 ( east - west ), I - 75 ( northwest - southeast ), and I - 85 ( northeast - southwest ). The latter two combine in the middle of the city to form the Downtown Connector ( I - 75 / 85 ), which carries more than 340,000 vehicles per day and is one of the most congested segments of interstate highway in the United States. Atlanta is mostly encircled by Interstate 285, a beltway locally known as `` the Perimeter '' that has come to mark the boundary between `` Inside the Perimeter '' ( ITP ), the city and close - in suburbs, and `` Outside the Perimeter '' ( OTP ), the outer suburbs and exurbs. The heavy reliance on automobiles for transportation in Atlanta has resulted in traffic, commute, and air pollution rates that rank among the worst in the country. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority ( MARTA ) provides public transportation in the form of buses and heavy rail. Notwithstanding heavy automotive usage in Atlanta, the city 's subway system is the eighth busiest in the country. MARTA rail lines connect key destinations, such as the airport, Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, and Perimeter Center. However, significant destinations, such as Emory University and Cumberland, remain unserved. As a result, a 2011 Brookings Institution study placed Atlanta 91st of 100 metro areas for transit accessibility. Emory University operates its Cliff shuttle buses with 200,000 boardings per month, while private minibuses supply Buford Highway. Amtrak, the national rail passenger system, provides service to Atlanta via the Crescent train ( New York -- New Orleans ), which stops at Peachtree Station. In 2014, the Atlanta Streetcar opened to the public. The streetcar 's line, which is also known as the Downtown Loop, runs 2.7 miles around the downtown tourist areas of Peachtree Center, Centennial Olympic Park, the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site, and Sweet Auburn. The Atlanta Streetcar line is also being expanded on in the coming years to include a wider range of Atlanta 's neighborhoods and important places of interest, with a total of over 50 miles of track in the plan. Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world 's busiest airport as measured by passenger traffic and aircraft traffic. The facility offers air service to over 150 U.S. destinations and more than 75 international destinations in 50 countries, with over 2,500 arrivals and departures daily. Delta Air Lines maintains its largest hub at the airport. Situated 10 miles ( 16 km ) south of downtown, the airport covers most of the land inside a wedge formed by Interstate 75, Interstate 85, and Interstate 285. Cycling is a growing mode of transportation in Atlanta, more than doubling since 2009, when it comprised 1.1 % of all commutes ( up from 0.3 % in 2000 ). Although Atlanta 's lack of bike lanes and hilly topography may deter many residents from cycling, the city 's transportation plan calls for the construction of 226 miles ( 364 kilometres ) of bike lanes by 2020, with the BeltLine helping to achieve this goal. In 2012, Atlanta 's first `` bike track '' was constructed on 10th Street in Midtown. The two lane bike track runs from Monroe Drive west to Charles Allen Drive, with connections to the Beltline and Piedmont Park. Starting in June 2016, Atlanta received a bike sharing program with 100 bikes in Downtown and Midtown, which expanded to 500 bikes at 65 stations as of April 2017. Tree canopy Main article : Atlanta tree canopy For a sprawling city with the nation 's ninth - largest metro area, Atlanta is surprisingly lush with trees -- magnolias, dogwoods, Southern pines, and magnificent oaks. `` '' National Geographic magazine, in naming Atlanta a `` Place of a Lifetime '' Atlanta has a reputation as a `` city in a forest '' due to an abundance of trees that is rare among major cities. The city 's main street is named after a tree, and beyond the Downtown, Midtown, and Buckhead business districts, the skyline gives way to a dense canopy of woods that spreads into the suburbs. The city is home to the Atlanta Dogwood Festival, an annual arts and crafts festival held one weekend during early April, when the native dogwoods are in bloom. The nickname is factually accurate, as the city 's tree coverage percentage is at 36 %, the highest out of all major American cities, and above the national average of 27 %. Atlanta 's tree coverage does not go unnoticed -- it was the main reason cited by National Geographic in naming Atlanta a `` Place of a Lifetime ''. The city 's lush tree canopy, which filters out pollutants and cools sidewalks and buildings, has increasingly been under assault from man and nature due to heavy rains, drought, aged forests, new pests, and urban construction. A 2001 study found that Atlanta 's heavy tree cover declined from 48 % in 1974 to 38 % in 1996. Community organizations and the city government are addressing the problem. Trees Atlanta, a non-profit organization founded in 1985, has planted and distributed over 75,000 shade trees in the city, and Atlanta 's government has awarded $130,000 in grants to neighborhood groups to plant trees. Sister Cities See also : List of sister cities in the United States Atlanta has 17 sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc. ( SCI ) : Montego Bay, Jamaica ( 1972 ) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ( 1972 ) Lagos, Nigeria ( 1974 ) Taipei, Taiwan ( 1974 ) Toulouse, France ( 1974 ) Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom ( 1977 ) Daegu, South Korea ( 1981 ) Brussels, Belgium ( 1983 ) Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago ( 1987 ) Tbilisi, Georgia ( 1988 ) Bucharest, Romania ( 1994 ) Cotonou, Benin ( 1995 ) Olympia, Greece ( 1995 ) Salcedo, Dominican Republic ( 1996 ) Nuremberg ( Nürnberg ), Bavaria, Germany ( 1998 ) Ra'anana, Israel ( 2000 ) Fukuoka, Japan ( 2005 ) See also List of people from Atlanta Urban forest Geography portal North America portal United States portal Georgia USA portal Atlanta portal Notes and references Notes Jump up ^ Mean monthly maxima and minima ( i.e. the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year ) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. Jump up ^ Official records for Atlanta were kept at the Weather Bureau in downtown from October 1878 to August 1928, and at Hartsfield -- Jackson Int'l since September 1928. References Jump up ^ `` '' Atlanta May No Longer Be the City in a Forest ``, WSB - TV ''. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` The service, dubbed the Atlanta Tourist Loop as a play on the city 's ' ATL ' nickname, will start April 29 downtown. '' `` Buses to link tourist favorites '' The Atlanta Journal - Constitution Jump up ^ `` Because we 're the only city easily identified by just one letter ''. Creative Loafing. November 23, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2012. Jump up ^ `` '' Love it or loathe it, the city 's nickname is accurate for the summer ``, Atlanta Journal - Constitution, June 16, 2008 ''. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Our Quiz Column ''. Sunny South. p. 5. ^ Jump up to : `` Annual Estimates of the Resident Population : April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015 -- Metropolitan Statistical Area ; and for Puerto Rico -- 2015 Population Estimates ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Annual Estimates of the Resident Population : April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015 -- Combined Statistical Area ; and for Puerto Rico -- 2015 Population Estimates ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 26, 2016. Jump up ^ The term `` Atlantans '' is widely used by both local media and national media. ^ Jump up to : `` Population and Housing Unit Estimates ''. Retrieved June 9, 2017. Jump up ^ `` American FactFinder ''. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 11, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2008. Jump up ^ `` US Board on Geographic Names ''. United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Population estimates, July 1, 2015 ( V2015 ) ''. US Census Bureau. Retrieved August 23, 2016. Jump up ^ `` '' Who 's right ? Cities lay claim to civil rights ' cradle ' mantle `` / ' '' Atlanta Journal - Constitution ' ' ``. Politifact.com. June 28, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Hinz, Greg ( January 26, 2017 ). `` World 's busiest airport title slips further from O'Hare's grasp ''. Crain 's Chicago Business. Retrieved February 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` DOT : Hartsfield - Jackson busiest airport, Delta had 3rd-most passengers ''. March 13, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Top Industry Publications Rank Atlanta as a LeadingCity for Business ''. AllBusiness.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2009. Retrieved April 5, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Doing Business in Atlanta, Georgia ''. Business.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2010. Jump up ^ `` GaWC -- The World According to GaWC 2016 ''. Lboro.ac.uk. Retrieved June 21, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Global Cities 2010 : The Rankings ''. Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on February 2, 2011. Retrieved November 6, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta : Economy -- Major Industries and Commercial Activity ''. City-data.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012. ^ Jump up to : Gournay, Isabelle. `` AIA Guide to the Architecture of Atlanta ''. University of Georgia Press. Retrieved September 28, 2011. Jump up ^ `` IDEALS @ Illinois : Governmentality : the new urbanism and the creative class within Atlanta, Georgia ''. Hdl.handle.net. May 22, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2013. Jump up ^ Pooley, Karen Beck ( April 15, 2015 ). `` Segregation 's New Geography : The Atlanta Metro Region, Race, and the Declining Prospects for Upward Mobility ''. Southern Spaces. Retrieved May 26, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Northwest Georgia 's Native American History ''. Chieftains Trail. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Fort Peachtree ''. www. Buckhead. Retrieved February 19, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Land Cessions of American Indians in Georgia ''. Ngeorgia.com. June 5, 2007. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` New Georgia Encyclopedia, `` Fulton County '' ``. Georgiaencyclopedia.org. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` New Georgia Encyclopedia, `` DeKalb County '' ``. Georgiaencyclopedia.org. June 19, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Creation of the Western and Atlantic Railroad ''. About North Georgia. Golden Ink. Retrieved November 12, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Thrasherville ''. Georgia Info. Retrieved February 6, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Ambrose, Andy. `` Atlanta ''. New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Georgia History Timeline Chronology for December 29 ''. Our Georgia History. Retrieved August 30, 2007. Jump up ^ Storey, Steve. `` Atlanta & West Point Railroad ''. Georgia 's Railroad History & Heritage. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta Old and New : 1848 to 1868 ''. Roadside Georgia. Golden Ink. Retrieved November 13, 2007. Jump up ^ Jackson, Edwin L. `` The Story of Georgia 's Capitols and Capital Cities ''. Carl Vinson Institute of Government, University of Georgia. Archived from the original on October 9, 2007. Retrieved November 13, 2007. Jump up ^ `` The South : Vast Resources, Rapid Development, Wonderful Opportunities for Capital and Labor... '' New York Times. June 8, 1895. Jump up ^ Klapper, Melissa, R., PhD. `` 20th - Century Jewish Immigration. '' Teachinghistory.org, accessed February 6, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta Premiere of Gone with the Wind ''. Ngeorgia.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010. ^ Jump up to : White flight : Atlanta and the making of modern conservatism By Kevin Michael Kruse. Google Books. February 1, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` '' The South : Divided City ``, Time magazine, January 18, 1961 ''. TIME. January 18, 1963. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ Hatfield, Edward. `` Bus Desegregation in Atlanta ''. New Georgia Encyclopedia. Georgia Humanities Council. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Rich 's Department Store ''. New Georgia Encyclopedia. Jump up ^ `` Negroes Attend Atlanta Theaters ''. Atlanta Journal. May 15, 1962. Jump up ^ `` APS Timeline ''. Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education. ^ Jump up to : `` Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places : Earliest Census to 1990 ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved January 2, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Campus Development ''. gwcca.org. Georgia World Congress Center Authority. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` History of MARTA -- 1970 -- 1979 ''. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. Archived from the original on February 4, 2005. Retrieved March 2, 2008. ^ Jump up to : `` Do Olympic Host Cities Ever Win ? - NYTimes.com ''. Roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com. October 2, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Olympic Games Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., 1996 ''. Encyclopædia Britannica online. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved January 2, 2008. Jump up ^ Tiffany Davis, B.A. ( January 22, 2009 ). `` The U.S. Census in the Past and Present '' ( PDF ). Spelman College. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on December 8, 2011. ^ Jump up to : Galloway, Jim ( March 23, 2011 ). `` A census speeds Atlanta toward racially neutral ground ''. The Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Dewan, Shaila ( March 11, 2006 ). `` Gentrification Changing Face of New Atlanta ''. The New York Times. Jump up ^ `` Urban centers draw more young, educated adults ''. USA Today. April 1, 2011. Jump up ^ Schneider, Craig ( April 13, 2011 ). `` Young professionals lead surge of intown living ''. ajc.com. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ Deirdre Oakley ; Erin Ruel ; G. Elton Wilson. `` A Choice with No Options : Atlanta Public Housing Residents ' Lived Experiences in the Face of Relocation '' ( PDF ). Georgia State University. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on December 18, 2014. Jump up ^ Husock, Howard. `` Reinventing Public Housing : Is the Atlanta Model Right for Your City ? '' ( PDF ). Manhattan Institute for Policy Research. Jump up ^ US Census Bureau 1990 census -- total number of housing units in Atlanta city Jump up ^ `` The Atlanta BeltLine in 5 ''. Atlanta Beltline. Atlanta Beltline Inc. Retrieved February 6, 2017. ^ Jump up to : Martin, Timothy W. ( April 16, 2011 ). `` The New New South ''. The Wall Street Journal. Jump up ^ `` Geographic Identifiers : 2010 Demographic Profile Data ( G001 ) : Atlanta city, Georgia ''. U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 21, 2015. Jump up ^ `` '' Altitudes of Major US Cities, '' Red Oaks Trading, Ltd ``. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ Yeazel, Jack ( March 23, 2007 ). `` Eastern Continental Divide in Georgia ''. Retrieved July 5, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Florida, Alabama, Georgia water sharing '' ( news archive ). WaterWebster. Retrieved July 5, 2007. Jump up ^ `` The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Atlanta ''. CrediFi. Retrieved October 16, 2016. Jump up ^ `` One Atlantic Center ''. CrediFi. Retrieved October 16, 2016. Jump up ^ `` World 's Tallest Buildings ''. Infoplease. Retrieved June 26, 2007. Jump up ^ `` City of Atlanta, `` Atlanta Neighborhoods '' ``. Atlantaga.gov. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` '' Neighborhoods ``, Central Atlanta Progress ''. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` MIDTOWN ATLANTA : NEIGHBORHOODS ''. October 13, 2007. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Districts and Zones of Atlanta ''. Emporis.com. Archived from the original on June 2, 2004. Retrieved June 26, 2007. Jump up ^ Atlanta : a city of neighborhoods -- Joseph F. Thompson, Robert Isbell -- Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Southerland, Randy ( November 19, 2004 ). `` What do Atlanta 's big law firms see in Midtown ? ''. Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved December 1, 2008. ^ Jump up to : Kirby, David ( November 2, 2003 ). `` A Tab of Two Cities : Atlanta, Old And New ''. The New York Times. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ ( AIA guide to the architecture of Atlanta, edited by Gerald W. Sams, University of Georgia Press, 1993, p. 195 ) Jump up ^ Greenfield, Beth ( May 29, 2005 ). `` SURFACING -- EAST ATLANTA -- The Signs of Chic Are Emerging -- NYTimes.com ''. Atlanta ( Ga ) ; Georgia : New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Dewan, Shaila ( November 19, 2009 ). `` An Upstart Art Scene, on Atlanta 's West Side -- NYTimes.com ''. Atlanta ( Ga ) : Travel.nytimes.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Stirgus, Eric ; Torpy, Bill ( November 1, 2009 ). `` Atlanta mayor 's race : Words of support ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` The Black Middle Class : Where It Lives '', Ebony, August 1987. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` '' Atlanta 's minorities see dramatic rise in homeownership ``, Chicago Tribune, June 27, 2004 ''. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ Wheatley, Thomas ( December 15, 2010 ). `` Wal - Mart and Prince Charles give Vine City a boost News & Views Creative Loafing Atlanta ''. Clatl.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta 's Public - Housing Revolution by Howard Husock, City Journal Autumn 2010 ''. City-journal.org. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Atlanta, Georgia Travel Weather Averages. Weatherbase. Retrieved on July 12, 2013. Jump up ^ Dorish, Joe ( May 1, 2013 ). `` All - time Record Hottest and Coldest Temperatures Ever Recorded in Atlanta ''. voices.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on August 23, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013. Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved November 30, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Monthly Averages for Atlanta, Georgia ( 30303 ) '' ( Table ). Weather Channel. Retrieved March 23, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Average Total Snowfall ( inches ) for Selected Cities in the Southeast Welcome -- Southeast Regional Climate Center ''. Sercc.com. Retrieved June 10, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta, Georgia ( 1900 -- 2000 ) ''. Our Georgia History. Retrieved April 2, 2006. Jump up ^ ThreadEx Jump up ^ `` Station Name : GA ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 19, 2013. Jump up ^ `` NowData -- NOAA Online Weather Data ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2016 - 04 - 12. Jump up ^ `` WMO Climatological Normals of Atlanta / Hartsfield INTL AP, GA ''. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 31, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta ( city ), Georgia ''. State & County QuickFacts. U.S. Census Bureau. ^ Jump up to : From 15 % sample Jump up ^ Data Access and Dissemination Systems ( DADS ). `` Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics : 2010 '' ( Select Atlanta ( city ), Georgia ), US Census Bureau ``. Archived from the original on August 15, 2014. Retrieved October 28, 2014. CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter ( link ) Jump up ^ Gary J. Gates ( October 2006 ). `` Same - sex Couples and the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Population : New Estimates from the American Community Survey '' ( PDF ). The Williams Institute. The Williams Institute. Retrieved June 30, 2013. Jump up ^ `` A CHAMPION FOR ATLANTA : Maynard Jackson : ' Black mecca ' burgeoned under leader '', Atlanta Journal - Constitution, June 29, 2003 Jump up ^ `` the city that calls itself America 's ' Black Mecca ' '' in `` Atlanta Is Less Than Festive on Eve of Another ' Freaknik ' '', Washington Post, April 18, 1996 Jump up ^ `` Atlanta emerges as a center of black entertainment '', New York Times, November 26, 2011 Jump up ^ Gurwitt, Rob ( July 1, 2008 ). `` Atlanta and the Urban Future ''. Governing Magazine. Governing.com. Retrieved February 2, 2017. Jump up ^ U.S. Census 2008 American Community Survey ^ Jump up to : `` Tongue Twisters '', ' ' Atlanta ' ' magazine. Books.google.com. December 2003. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Too Southern for Atlanta '', ' ' Atlanta ' ' magazine. Books.google.com. February 2003. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Bonesteel, Amy ( November 1, 2012 ). `` Is There an Atlanta Accent ? ''. Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved July 31, 2017. Jump up ^ Major U.S. metropolitan areas differ in their religious profiles, Pew Research Center Jump up ^ `` America 's Changing Religious Landscape ''. Pew Research Center : Religion & Public Life. May 12, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta, Ga ''. Information Please Database. Pearson Education, Inc. Retrieved May 17, 2006. Jump up ^ `` CNN Money -- Fortune Magazine -- Fortune 500 2011 ''. Jump up ^ `` EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 2010 - 2014 American Community Survey 5 - Year Estimates Atlanta, Georgia ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 9, 2016. Jump up ^ `` EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 2010 - 2014 American Community Survey 5 - Year Estimates U.S ''. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 9, 2016. Jump up ^ Glaeser, Edward L. `` Betting on Atlanta ''. Jump up ^ Allen, Frederick ( 1996 ). Atlanta Rising. Atlanta, Georgia : Longstreet Press. ISBN 1 - 56352 - 296 - 9. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta 's top employers, 2006 '' ( PDF ). Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original ( PDF ) on February 25, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2007. Jump up ^ `` CONSULAR OFFICES ''. Georgia.org. Georgia Department of Economic Development. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta Headquarters ''. cox.com. Cox Communications, Inc. Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017. Jump up ^ Kotkin, Joel ( April 18, 2012 ). `` The Cities Winning The Battle For Information Jobs ''. Forbes. Retrieved June 2, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Growing our region as high - tech hub -- Atlanta Business Chronicle ''. Bizjournals.com. October 28, 2011. Retrieved June 2, 2013. Jump up ^ tsabulis ( December 19, 2012 ). `` Technology thriving Atlanta Forward ''. Blogs.ajc.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2012. Retrieved June 2, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta becoming Southeast `` Silicon Valley '' ``. 11alive.com. June 6, 2013. Retrieved June 10, 2013. Jump up ^ Georgia Department of Economic Development Archived February 13, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Jump up ^ `` Georgia 's film and television industry economic impact reaches $6 billion in fiscal 2015 ''. Atlanta Business Chronicle. July 9, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2016. Jump up ^ Brown, Robbie ( October 18, 2011 ). `` Zombie Apocalypse ? Atlanta Says Bring It On ''. New York Times. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Heckert, Justin ( September 2011 ). `` Zombies are so hot right now ''. Atlantamagazine.com. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Mathis, George ( October 19, 2011 ). `` Atlanta the new ' Zombie Capital ' ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ `` '' Metro Monitor - September 2014 - Atlanta - Sandy Springs - Marietta Georgia ``, Brookings Institution ''. September 26, 2014. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Jump up ^ Bluestein, Greg ( June 25, 2012 ). `` Business boosters admit Atlanta in ' crisis ' amid effort to boost city 's economy ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2015. Jump up ^ Leinberger, Christopher B. ( May 28, 2012 ). `` New Olympic moment ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2015. Jump up ^ Leinberger, Christopher B. ( January 25, 2012 ). `` ' Hotlanta ' is n't what it once was ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Metro Atlanta unemployment rate falls to 7 percent ''. Atlanta Business Chronicle. November 27, 2014. Retrieved June 12, 2015. Jump up ^ `` '' US home prices drop for 6th straight month ``, Christopher s. Rugaber, Associated Press ''. Yahoo Finance. April 24, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` In Atlanta, Housing Woes Reflect Nation 's Pain ''. The New York Times. February 1, 2012. Jump up ^ Platt, Eric ( March 27, 2012 ). `` PRESENTING : The Worst Housing Market in the Country ''. Business Insider. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` Best Places For Business and Careers -- Forbes ''. Forbes. Retrieved January 18, 2014. Jump up ^ 18.6 % of City of Atlanta born in US outside South and 8.0 % foreign born ( compare to 7.1 % / 3.0 % for Macon, GA and 7.7 % / 3.2 % for Birmingham, AL ) : PLACE OF BIRTH BY CITIZENSHIP STATUS, 2010 ACS 1 - year estimates, U.S. Census American Fact Finder Jump up ^ Garner, Marcus K. ; Schneider, Craig ( December 18, 2010 ). `` Foreign - born population continues to grow in metro Atlanta ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on December 21, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Introduction in Atlanta at Frommer 's ''. Frommers.com. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ Barth, Jack ( 1991 ). Roadside Hollywood : The Movie Lover 's State - By - State Guide to Film Locations, Celebrity Hangouts, Celluloid Tourist Attractions, and More. Contemporary Books. Page 157. ISBN 9780809243266. Jump up ^ `` Fox Timeline ''. Fox Theatre. Archived from the original on March 14, 2014. Retrieved February 19, 2017. 1988 : Performance magazine names the Fox Theatre the number one grossing theatre in the 3,000 -- 5,000 seat category with the most events, the greatest box office receipts, and the highest attendance in the U.S. and 2009 : Billboard magazine names the Fox the No. 1 non-residency theatre for the decade with 5,000 seats or less. Jump up ^ Clary, Jennifer ( Summer 2010 ). `` Top 25 Big Cities ''. AmericanStyle Magazine ( 72 ). Jump up ^ Goldstein, Andrew ( December 9, 2009 ). `` Museum attendance rises as the economy tumbles ''. The Art Newspaper ( 208 ). Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` History - MODA ''. Museum of Design Atlanta. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Michael C. Carlos Museum Pictures, Atlanta, GA -- AOL Travel ''. Travel.aol.com. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ Daniel, Wayne W. ( November 1, 2000 ). Pickin ' on Peachtree : a History of Country Music in Atlanta, Georgia. Books.google.com. ISBN 9780252069680. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Rock 's Top Southern Sound Viewed as Lynyrd Skynyrd ''. The Robesonian. Lumberton, N.C. November 7, 1976. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ Henry, Scott ( October 1, 2008 ). `` Atlanta punk ! A reunion for 688 and Metroplex ''. Creative Loafing Atlanta. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ John Caramanica, `` Gucci Mane, No Holds Barred ``, New York Times, December 11, 2009 Jump up ^ Radford, Chad ( February 25, 2009 ). `` Damn hipsters : Is Atlanta falling prey to its indie cachet ? ''. Creative Loafing. Retrieved February 25, 2012. Jump up ^ Hines, Jack. `` The VICE Guide to Atlanta ''. VICE. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Murray, Valaer. `` List : America 's Most - Visited Cities ''. Forbes. Jump up ^ `` Members & Donors About Us ''. Georgia Aquarium. November 23, 2005. Archived from the original on October 9, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Big window to the sea ''. CNN. November 23, 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Many quiet delights to be found in Atlanta The Canadian Jewish News ''. Cjnews.com. March 2, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` 1999 - 2017 : Pandas to Present ''. Zoo Atlanta. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Park History ''. Piedmont Park Conservancy. Archived from the original on July 4, 2007. Retrieved July 7, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Frommer 's best bets for dining in Atlanta ''. MSNBC. May 30, 2006. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` About two ''. TWO urban licks. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Details Magazine -- Official Site ''. Kevinrathbun.com. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` America 's Hottest New Restaurants ''. The Daily Beast. November 18, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ Severson, Kim ( May 6, 2011 ). `` Atlanta serves sophisticated Southern ''. Atlanta ( Ga ) : Travel.nytimes.com. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Stuart, Gwynedd ( June 24, 2004 ). `` Highway to heaven Cover Story Creative Loafing Atlanta ''. Clatl.com. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` The Varsity : What 'll Ya Have ''. The Varsity. Retrieved July 7, 2007. Jump up ^ Stirgus, Eric. `` Braves go back, back, back ''. Politifact. Retrieved October 13, 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Story of the Braves. '' Atlanta Braves. Retrieved on April 29, 2008. Jump up ^ `` History : Atlanta Falcons ''. Atlanta Falcons. Archived from the original on February 25, 2009. Retrieved April 29, 2008. Jump up ^ `` A Franchise Rich With Tradition : From Pettit To ' Pistol Pete ' To The ' Human Highlight Film '. '' Atlanta Hawks. Retrieved on April 29, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Welcome to the Official Home of the Atlanta Dream ''. WNBA.com. WNBA Enterprises, LLC. January 22, 2008. Retrieved February 19, 2017. Jump up ^ Corso, Dan ( April 29, 2011 ). `` Atlanta has what it takes to host major events ''. Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 1, 2011. Jump up ^ `` '' List of parks, alphabetical ``, City of Atlanta ''. Atlantaga.gov. November 27, 2011. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ McWilliams, Jeremiah ( May 28, 2012 ). `` Atlanta parks system ranks below average ''. ajc.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta parks get low marks in national survey News Old Fourth Ward News ''. Oldfourthward.11alive.com. July 6, 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Accessed : 2 July 2013 ''. SaportaReport. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` City Profiles : Atlanta '' `` The Trust for Public Land '' Retrieved on July 2, 2013 Jump up ^ Benfield, Kaid ( July 27, 2011 ). `` The Atlanta BeltLine : The country 's most ambitious smart growth project ''. Grist. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Shirreffs, Allison ( November 14, 2005 ). `` Peachtree race director deflects praise to others ''. Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved January 1, 2008. Jump up ^ `` '' Runners to trek from Athens to Atlanta then run Georgia Marathon for charity '' Athens Banner - Herald, Feb. 11, 2012 ``. Online Athens. Retrieved October 28, 2014. Jump up ^ `` OLD FOURTH WARD SKATE PARK ''. Retrieved February 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta City Councilman H Lamar Willis ''. H Lamar Willis. Archived from the original on August 24, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Results : Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed re-elected to second term ''. Atlanta Journal Constitution. Jump up ^ Kestenbaum, Lawrence. `` Mayors of Atlanta, Georgia ''. The Political Graveyard. Archived from the original on February 18, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2008. Jump up ^ Josh Fecht & Andrew Stevens ( November 14, 2007 ). `` Shirley Franklin : Mayor of Atlanta ''. City Mayors. Archived from the original on February 16, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta 's former mayor sentenced to prison ''. CNN online. CNN. June 13, 2006. Retrieved January 2, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Commemorating CDC 's 60th Anniversary ''. CDC Website. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ). Retrieved April 18, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Georgia Federal Buildings ''. Gsa.gov. Retrieved May 17, 2012. Jump up ^ Leslie, Katie ( October 25, 2013 ). `` APD reaches a once - elusive goal of 2,000 officers ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Jump up ^ Edwards, David ( November 1, 2010 ). `` How to create a safer Atlanta ''. The Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2010. Jump up ^ Fisher, Daniel ( October 18, 2012 ). `` Detroit Tops The 2012 List of America 's Most Dangerous Cities ''. Forbes. Retrieved October 21, 2012. Jump up ^ Atlanta Business Chronicle ( November 3, 2003 ). `` Atlanta a magnet for young, single, educated -- Atlanta Business Chronicle ''. Bizjournals.com. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` About Emory Healthcare ''. Emory Healthcare. Retrieved August 3, 2011. Jump up ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 9, 2010. Jump up ^ `` New Georgia Encyclopedia : Atlanta Journal - Constitution ''. Georgiaencyclopedia.org. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta : Smart Travel Tips ''. Fodor 's. Fodor 's Travel. Archived from the original on October 18, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta, I - 75 at I - 85 ''. Worst City Choke Points, Forbes. February 6, 2006. Retrieved April 2, 2006. Jump up ^ Copeland, Larry ( January 31, 2001 ). `` Atlanta pollution going nowhere ''. USA TODAY. Gannett Co. Inc. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta traffic the worst in America ''. May 1, 2008. Jump up ^ `` Forbes says Atlanta now most polluted city in U.S ''. Bryancountynews.net. November 11, 2009. Retrieved July 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Transit Ridership Report - First Quarter 2011 '' ( PDF ). American Public Transportation Association. May 13, 2011. Archived ( PDF ) from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Jump up ^ `` '' Atlanta - Sandy Springs - Marietta, GA Metro Area ``, part of `` Missed Opportunity : Transit and Jobs in Metropolitan America '', Brookings Institution '' ( PDF ). May 2011. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Jump up ^ http://www.amtrak.com Amtrak Jump up ^ `` Atlanta Streetcar ''. Jump up ^ Flynn, Jason. `` Atlanta Streetcar Plan Approval May Not Matter Much ''. Curbed Atlanta. Vox Media. Retrieved October 13, 2016. Jump up ^ Tharpe, Jim ( January 4, 2007 ). `` Atlanta airport still the `` busiest '' : Hartsfield - Jackson nips Chicago 's O'Hare for second year in a row ``. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Archived from the original on January 6, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Jump up ^ `` '' ATL Fact Sheet ``, Hartsfield - Jackson Atlanta International Airport ''. Atlanta-airport.com. Retrieved February 13, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Delta Invites Customers to Improve Their Handicap with New Service to Hilton Head, Expanded Service to Myrtle Beach ''. News.delta.com. Retrieved April 5, 2010. ^ Jump up to : Duda, Clay ( November 23, 2011 ). `` Atlanta is on the road to becoming a bike - friendly city News Feature News & Views Creative Loafing Atlanta ''. Clatl.com. Retrieved October 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Is Bicycle Commuting Really Catching On ? And if So, Where ? - Commute ''. The Atlantic Cities. September 16, 2011. Retrieved October 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Duda, Clay ( June 30, 2010 ). `` Atlanta 's cycling community needs some help Opinion Creative Loafing Atlanta ''. Clatl.com. Retrieved October 16, 2012. Jump up ^ Duda, Clay ( July 1, 2010 ). `` Atlanta cycling statistics Cover Story Creative Loafing Atlanta ''. Clatl.com. Retrieved October 16, 2012. Jump up ^ `` 10th Street Cycle Track ''. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta launches first major expansion of Relay Bike Share program ''. www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved April 26, 2017. Jump up ^ Corson, Pete ( June 9, 2016 ). `` Atlanta kicks off bike sharing with a ride through downtown ''. Atlanta Journal - Constitution. Retrieved June 12, 2016. ^ Jump up to : Gumbrecht, Jamie ( September 17, 2009 ). `` Atlanta a National Geographic Traveler ' Place of a Lifetime ' ''. Inside Access. Archived from the original on December 30, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ Brown, Robbie ( July 21, 2011 ). `` Atlanta Finds Its Identity as Tree Haven Is Threatened ''. The New York Times. ^ Jump up to : Bonner, Jeanne ( March 4, 2010 ). `` WABE : Atlanta 's tree canopy at risk ( March 4, 2010 ) ''. WABE. Archived from the original on June 23, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ Warhop, Bill. `` City Observed : Power Plants ''. Atlanta Magazine. Archived from the original on June 7, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Tree Cover % -- How Does Your City Measure Up ? ''. DeepRoot Blog. April 25, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta, Georgia -- National Geographic 's Ultimate City Guides ''. Travel.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Changes in Atlanta 's Tree Canopy ''. Treenextdoor.org. October 30, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2011. Jump up ^ `` About Us ''. Trees Atlanta. Archived from the original on September 22, 2007. Retrieved September 28, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta Sister Cities Commission ''. Atlanta Sister Cities Commission. Retrieved March 28, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta Sister Cities Commission ''. City of Atlanta. Retrieved February 18, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Atlanta, Georgia ''. Sister Cities International. Archived from the original on September 25, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Tbilisi Sister Cities ''. Tbilisi City Hall. Tbilisi Municipal Portal. Archived from the original on July 24, 2013. Retrieved August 5, 2013. Jump up ^ `` Ra'anana : Twin towns & Sister cities -- Friends around the World ''. raanana.muni.il. Archived from the original on April 30, 2010. Retrieved March 24, 2010. Further reading Atlanta and Environs : A Chronicle of Its People and Events : Years of Change and Challenge, 1940 -- 1976 by Franklin M. Garrett, Harold H. Martin Atlanta, Then and Now. Part of the Then and Now book series. Craig, Robert ( 1995 ). Atlanta Architecture : Art Deco to Modern Classic, 1929 -- 1959. Gretna, LA : Pelican. ISBN 0 - 88289 - 961 - 9. Darlene R. Roth and Andy Ambrose. Metropolitan Frontiers : A Short History of Atlanta. Atlanta : Longstreet Press, 1996. An overview of the city 's history with an emphasis on its growth. Sjoquist, Dave ( ed. ) The Atlanta Paradox. New York : Russell Sage Foundation. 2000. Stone, Clarence. Regime Politics : Governing Atlanta, 1946 -- 1988. University Press of Kansas. 1989. Elise Reid Boylston. Atlanta : Its Lore, Legends and Laughter. Doraville : privately printed, 1968. Lots of neat anecdotes about the history of the city. Frederick Allen. Atlanta Rising. Atlanta : Longstreet Press, 1996. A detailed history of Atlanta from 1946 to 1996, with much about City Councilman, later Mayor, William B. Hartsfield 's work in making Atlanta a major air transport hub, and about the Civil Rights Movement as it affected ( and was affected by ) Atlanta. External links Find more aboutAtlantaat Wikipedia 's sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel guide from Wikivoyage Learning resources from Wikiversity Official city website Atlanta Department of Watershed Management Atlanta Police Department Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau Atlanta entry in the New Georgia Encyclopedia Atlanta Historic Newspapers Archive from the Digital Library of Georgia Atlanta History Photograph Collection from the Atlanta History Center Atlanta, Georgia, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Articles Relating to Atlanta and Fulton County City of Atlanta Fulton County Atlanta metropolitan area Georgia United States Topics Architecture Arts Crime Cuisine Demographics Economy Festivals Geography History Timeline Media Museums Music Neighborhoods Nicknames Parks People Religion Skyscrapers Tourism Transportation Tree canopy Education Colleges and universities Private schools Public schools Government City Council Fire Atlanta Housing Authority Invest Atlanta development authority Mayors Police Sports Atlanta Braves Atlanta Dream Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Hawks Atlanta United FC Georgia State Panthers Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Related Georgia State Capitol Miss Freedom Sister cities Category Portal Metro Atlanta Counties Barrow Bartow Butts Carroll Cherokee Clayton Cobb Coweta Dawson DeKalb Douglas Fayette Forsyth Fulton Gwinnett Hall Haralson Heard Henry Jasper Lamar Meriwether Newton Paulding Pickens Pike Rockdale Spalding Walton Major city Atlanta Municipalities and CDPs in Metro Atlanta 100k -- 250k Cumberland East Cobb Roswell Sandy Springs 25k -- 100k Alpharetta Brookhaven Duluth Douglasville Dunwoody East Point Gainesville Johns Creek Lawrenceville Mableton Marietta Milton Newnan Peachtree City Peachtree Corners Redan Smyrna Tucker 10k -- 25k Acworth Belvedere Park Buford Candler - McAfee Carrollton Cartersville Chamblee College Park Conyers Covington Decatur Doraville Druid Hills Fayetteville Forest Park Griffin Kennesaw Suwanee Lilburn Monroe Mountain Park North Decatur North Druid Hills Panthersville Powder Springs Riverdale Snellville Stockbridge Sugar Hill Union City Vinings Winder Woodstock Topics Architecture Arts Climate Crime Colleges and Universities Demographics Festivals Government Historic Districts History Media Museums Neighborhoods Parks People Public Schools Religion Skyscrapers Sports Tourism Transportation ( Atlanta ) Transportation ( Metro Atlanta ) Georgia Neighborhoods and districts of Atlanta Downtown Castleberry Hill Centennial Park District Fairlie -- Poplar Centennial Hill Hotel District Five Points Peachtree Center SoNo South Downtown Midtown Ansley Park Atlantic Station Colony Square Fox Theatre Historic District Loring Heights Historic Midtown Home Park Sherwood Forest Technology Square Buckhead Argonne Forest Brookwood Brookwood Hills Buckhead Forest Buckhead Village Chastain Park Collier Hills Garden Hills Historic Brookhaven Lindbergh Margaret Mitchell North Buckhead Paces Peachtree Hills Peachtree Park Pine Hills Tuxedo Park West Midtown Berkeley Park Blandtown Home Park Knight Park -- Howell Station Marietta Street Artery Underwood Hills Westside Provisions Eastside Atkins Park Cabbagetown Candler Park Druid Hills East Atlanta East Lake Edgewood Grant Park Glenwood Park Inman Park Kirkwood Lake Claire Lindridge / Martin Manor Little Five Points Morningside / Lenox Park North Ormewood Park Oakland Old Fourth Ward Ormewood Park Piedmont Heights Poncey -- Highland Reynoldstown Sweet Auburn Virginia -- Highland Southeast Benteen Park Boulevard Heights Chosewood Park High Point Joyland Lakewood Heights Peoplestown South Atlanta Summerhill Southwest Adair Park Adamsville Ashview Heights Bankhead Ben Hill Capitol View Capitol View Manor Cascade Heights Center Hill Collier Heights Dixie Hills English Avenue Fort McPherson Greenbriar Hunter Hills Just Us Mechanicsville Midwest Cascade Mozley Park Oakland City Perkerson Peyton Forest Pittsburgh Sylvan Hills Venetian Hills Vine City Washington Park West End Westview Upper Westside Bolton Carey Park Grove Park Riverside Scotts Crossing Whittier Mill Village List by area Table by population Former neighborhoods Category Portal Atlanta landmarks Current Commercial Atlantic Station AmericasMart Clermont Lounge Five Points Coca - Cola sign Lenox Square Mary Mac 's Tea Room Phipps Plaza Ponce City Market Underground Atlanta The Varsity Governmental Atlanta City Hall Elbert P. Tuttle United States Court of Appeals Building Federal Penitentiary Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Georgia Governor 's Mansion Georgia Railroad Freight Depot Georgia State Capitol Miss Freedom Monuments Atlanta from the Ashes ( The Phoenix ) Carnegie Education Pavilion Millennium Gate Oakland Cemetery Stone Mountain Confederate Memorial World Athletes Monument Museums APEX Museum Atlanta Contemporary Art Center Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum Atlanta History Center Callanwolde Fine Arts Center Children 's Museum of Atlanta College Football Hall of Fame Delta Flight Museum Fernbank Museum of Natural History Fernbank Science Center Hammonds House Museum High Museum of Art Jimmy Carter Library and Museum Joel Chandler Harris House ( Wren 's Nest ) King Plow Arts Center Margaret Mitchell House and Museum Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site Michael C. Carlos Museum Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia Museum of Design Atlanta National Center for Civil and Human Rights Rhodes Memorial Hall House Museum Robert C. Williams Paper Museum William Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum World of Coca - Cola Parks and wildlife Atlanta Botanical Garden BeltLine Stone Mountain Centennial Olympic Park Chastain Park Chattahoochee River Fernbank Forest Georgia Aquarium Grant Park Historic Fourth Ward Park Zoo Atlanta Piedmont Park Woodruff Park Performing arts Alliance Theatre Atlanta Symphony Hall Atlanta Civic Center Buckhead Theatre Center for Puppetry Arts Fox Theatre Goat Farm Arts Center King Plow Arts Center Plaza Theatre Shakespeare Tavern The Masquerade The Tabernacle Tara Theatre Variety Playhouse Woodruff Arts Center Residential ( former ) Asa G. Candler Jr. ( Callanwolde ) Water T. Candler ( Lullwater ) * Joel Chandler Harris ( Wren 's Nest ) Alonzo F. Herndon Edward H. Inman ( Swan House ) Martin Luther King, Jr. Ferdinand McMillan ( The Castle ) Margaret Mitchell Edward C. Peters ( Ivy Hall ) Amos Giles Rhodes ( Rhodes Hall ) Rufus M. Rose Craigie House Skyscrapers Historic ( pre-WWII ) Candler ( 1906 ) Flatiron ( 1897 ) Healey ( 1914 ) Hurt ( 1926 ) J. Mack Robinson ( Empire ) ( 1901 ) The Metropolitan ( 1911 ) Rhodes - Haverty ( 1929 ) Southern Bell ( 1929 ) William - Oliver ( 1930 ) Winecoff Hotel ( 1913 ) Downtown 25 Park Place ( Trust Company of Georgia ) 55 Marietta Street ( Fulton National Bank ) 191 Peachtree Tower Centennial Tower Equitable Five Points Plaza Fourth National Bank building Georgia Power Georgia - Pacific Tower Hyatt Regency Atlanta Marriott Marquis One Park Tower Peachtree Center Peachtree Summit State of Georgia Building SunTrust Plaza TWELVE Centennial Park Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel Midtown 12th & Midtown ( 1010 Midtown 10 Sixty Five Midtown 1075 Peachtree ) 1100 Peachtree 1180 Peachtree 1280 West AT&T Midtown Center Atlantic Center Plaza Atlantic Station ( 171 17th Street The Atlantic ) Bank of America Plaza The Campanile Coca - Cola Colony Square CNN Center Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta / GLG Grand Georgian Terrace Hotel Mayfair Condominiums One Atlantic Center ( IBM Tower ) Promenade II Spire ViewPoint Buckhead 2828 Peachtree 3344 Peachtree 3630 Peachtree Atlanta Financial Center Atlanta Plaza Buckhead Grand Mandarin Oriental Paramount at Buckhead Park Avenue Condominiums Park Place The Pinnacle Realm Resurgens Plaza Terminus Tower Place Perimeter Center Concourse Corporate Center V & VI ( King & Queen towers ) Park Towers I & II Three Ravinia Drive Sports venues Bobby Dodd Stadium Georgia State Stadium GSU Sports Arena McCamish Pavilion Mercedes - Benz Stadium Philips Arena SunTrust Park Former 688 Club Atlanta Cabana Motel Atlanta Hotel Atlanta -- Fulton County Stadium Atlanta ( Confederate ) Rolling Mill Atlantic Steel Mill Centennial Olympic Stadium † Coca - Cola Olympic City DeGive 's Opera House Equitable Building ( 1892 ) Fourth National Bank Georgia Dome 3rd Georgia Governor 's Mansion ( John H. James mansion ) Henry Grady Hotel Hotel Aragon Kimball House Loew 's Grand Theatre Masonic Temple National Museum of Patriotism Omni Coliseum Paramount Theater Piedmont Hotel Ponce de Leon amusement park Ponce de Leon Park ( ballpark ) Ponce de Leon Springs Republic Block Rich 's Riverbend Apartments Roxy Theatre SciTrek State Square Terminal Station Trout House Turner Broadcasting tower Turner Field † Union Stations : 1853 1871 1930 Post Office and Customs House / City Hall ( 1911 - 1930 ) Washington Hall † -- Centennial Olympic Stadium was rebuilt in 1997 as Turner Field. In turn, Turner Field was rebuilt as Georgia State Stadium in 2017. Planned Atlanta Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal Atlanta Symphony Center Municipalities and communities of DeKalb County, Georgia, United States County seat : Decatur Cities Atlanta ‡ Avondale Estates Brookhaven Chamblee Clarkston Decatur Doraville Dunwoody Lithonia Pine Lake Stone Mountain Stonecrest Tucker CDPs Belvedere Park Candler - McAfee Druid Hills Gresham Park North Decatur North Druid Hills Panthersville Redan Scottdale Neighborhoods and unincorporated communities Atlanta Chinatown Ellenwood ‡ Embry Hills International Village Lenox Park Northlake Pittsburg Smoke Rise Snapfinger Vista Grove Ghost town Constitution Footnotes ‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties Municipalities and communities of Fulton County, Georgia, United States County seat : Atlanta Cities Alpharetta Atlanta ‡ Chattahoochee Hills College Park ‡ East Point Fairburn Hapeville Johns Creek Milton Mountain Park ‡ Palmetto ‡ Roswell Sandy Springs South Fulton Union City Neighborhoods Campbellton Hopewell Red Oak Sandtown Serenbe Footnotes ‡ This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties State of Georgia Atlanta ( capital ) Topics Index Geology History Congressional delegations Government Law People Media Newspapers Radio TV Music Elections Geography State Parks Symbols Transportation Tourist Attractions Seal of Georgia Society Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Politics Sports Regions Atlantic coastal plain Blue Ridge Central Georgia Cumberland Plateau Golden Isles Historic South Lower Coastal Plain Metro Atlanta North Georgia North Georgia Mountains Northeast Georgia Piedmont Ridge and Valley Sea Islands Southern Rivers Southeast Georgia Southwest Georgia Tennessee Valley Wiregrass Region Largest cities Albany Atlanta Athens Augusta Columbus Johns Creek Macon Marietta Roswell Sandy Springs Savannah Valdosta Warner Robins Counties Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham Chattahoochee Chattooga Cherokee Clarke Clay Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln Long Lowndes Lumpkin Macon Madison Marion McDuffie McIntosh Meriwether Miller Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth ( Campbell ) ( Milton ) Capitals of the United States by jurisdiction Nation : US Washington States : AL Montgomery AK Juneau AZ Phoenix AR Little Rock CA Sacramento CO Denver CT Hartford DE Dover FL Tallahassee GA Atlanta HI Honolulu ID Boise IL Springfield IN Indianapolis IA Des Moines KS Topeka KY Frankfort LA Baton Rouge ME Augusta MD Annapolis MA Boston MI Lansing MN Saint Paul MS Jackson MO Jefferson City MT Helena NE Lincoln NV Carson City NH Concord NJ Trenton NM Santa Fe NY Albany NC Raleigh ND Bismarck OH Columbus OK Oklahoma City OR Salem PA Harrisburg RI Providence SC Columbia SD Pierre TN Nashville TX Austin UT Salt Lake City VT Montpelier VA Richmond WA Olympia WV Charleston WI Madison WY Cheyenne Territories : AS Pago Pago GU Hagåtña MP Saipan PR San Juan VI Charlotte Amalie Summer Olympic Games host cities 1896 : Athens 1900 : Paris 1904 : St. Louis 1908 : London 1912 : Stockholm 1916 : none 1920 : Antwerp 1924 : Paris 1928 : Amsterdam 1932 : Los Angeles 1936 : Berlin 1940 : none 1944 : none 1948 : London 1952 : Helsinki 1956 : Melbourne 1960 : Rome 1964 : Tokyo 1968 : Mexico City 1972 : Munich 1976 : Montreal 1980 : Moscow 1984 : Los Angeles 1988 : Seoul 1992 : Barcelona 1996 : Atlanta 2000 : Sydney 2004 : Athens 2008 : Beijing 2012 : London 2016 : Rio de Janeiro 2020 : Tokyo 2024 : Paris 2028 : Los Angeles Cancelled due to World War I ; Cancelled due to World War II Summer Paralympic Games host cities 1960 : Rome 1964 : Tokyo 1968 : Tel Aviv 1972 : Heidelberg 1976 : Toronto 1980 : Arnhem 1984 : New York City / Stoke Mandeville 1988 : Seoul 1992 : Barcelona / Madrid 1996 : Atlanta 2000 : Sydney 2004 : Athens 2008 : Beijing 2012 : London 2016 : Rio de Janeiro 2020 : Tokyo 2024 : Paris 2028 : Los Angeles Mayors of cities with populations exceeding 100,000 in Georgia Kasim Reed ( Atlanta ) Teresa Tomlinson ( Columbus ) Hardie Davis ( Augusta ) Robert Reichert ( Macon ) Eddie DeLoach ( Savannah ) Nancy Denson ( Athens ) Other states AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY VIAF : 130778640 ISNI : 0000 0004 0509 5133 GND : 4086063 - 2 BNF : cb12041770m ( data ) NDL : 00628095 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlanta&oldid=809006395 '' Categories : 1837 establishments in Georgia ( U.S. state ) Atlanta Cities in DeKalb County, Georgia Cities in Fulton County, Georgia Cities in Georgia ( U.S. state ) Cities in the Atlanta metropolitan area County seats in Georgia ( U.S. state ) Populated places established in 1837 Populated places on the Chattahoochee River Hidden categories : CS1 maint : Uses authors parameter All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from February 2017 Webarchive template wayback links Use mdy dates from May 2017 Coordinates on Wikidata Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2014 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2017 Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2013 Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2010 Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Good articles Talk Contents About Wikipedia Wikivoyage Afrikaans አማርኛ Ænglisc Asturianu Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه বাংলা Bân - lâm - gú Башҡортса Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Bikol Central Bislama Български བོད ་ ཡིག Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Cebuano Čeština Chamoru Chi - Chewa Corsu Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Diné bizaad Eesti Ελληνικά Emiliàn e rumagnòl Español Esperanto Estremeñu Euskara فارسی Føroyskt Français Frysk Gaeilge Gàidhlig Galego 贛 語 Gĩkũyũ ગુજરાતી 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Ido Ilokano Bahasa Indonesia Interlingua Interlingue Ирон Íslenska Italiano עברית ಕನ್ನಡ Kapampangan ქართული Қазақша Kernowek Kiswahili Kreyòl ayisyen Kurdî Кыргызча Кырык мары Ladino لۊری شومالی Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Ligure Lingála Lumbaart Magyar Македонски Malagasy മലയാളം Māori मराठी მარგალური Bahasa Melayu Mìng - dĕ̤ng - ngṳ̄ Монгол မြန်မာဘာသာ Nederlands नेपाल भाषा 日本 語 Нохчийн Norsk Norsk nynorsk Novial Occitan Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча पालि پنجابی Picard Piemontèis Polski Português Qaraqalpaqsha Română Romani Runa Simi Русский Саха тыла संस्कृतम् Sardu Scots Shqip Sicilianu Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina Ślůnski Soomaaliga کوردی Sranantongo Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் Taqbaylit తెలుగు ไทย Тоҷикӣ Türkçe Twi Українська اردو ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche Vèneto Vepsän kel ' Tiếng Việt Volapük Winaray ייִדיש Yorùbá 粵語 Žemaitėška 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 6 November 2017, at 15 : 48. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: what year did atlanta become the capital of georgia
Answer: 1868