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118-580: The Georgia Conservancy's main office is in Midtown Atlanta . The group also has an office in Savannah, Georgia that focuses on issues affecting the Georgia coast. The group offers stewardship trips and has released guidebooks. The Georgia Conservancy was founded in 1967 after James MacKay , a former U.S. congressman from Decatur, Georgia , gathered a group of Georgians to discuss ways to protect

236-421: A 109-acre tract set to be protected. The Georgia Conservancy's Sustainable Growth program works to foster smart, sustainable development across Georgia. The team uses four different programs to accomplish this Blueprints for Sustainable Communities, a program designed to steer cities toward thoughtful land use decisions with regards for both economic interests and preserving the environment. Currently, Blueprints

354-616: A Jewish-American factory superintendent, was convicted of the murder of a 13-year-old girl in a highly publicized trial. He was sentenced to death but the governor commuted his sentence to life. An enraged and organized lynch mob took him from jail in 1915 and hanged him in Marietta . The Jewish community in Atlanta and across the country were horrified. On May 21, 1917, the Great Atlanta Fire destroyed 1,938 buildings in what

472-447: A blacksmith shop, a grocery store, and nothing else". A year later, the area around the milepost had developed into a settlement, first known as Terminus , and later 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 Governor Wilson Lumpkin's daughter Martha. Later, John Edgar Thomson , Chief Engineer of

590-593: A cash crop. The advent of the automobile and the establishment of Highway 9 in the 1920s began to bridge the distance between Milton and the expanding world beyond its borders. Despite these connections, the county faced insurmountable financial pressures from the Great Depression , the boll weevil infestation, and a prolonged drought. These challenges led to the dissolution of Milton County in 1932, with its territory being absorbed into Fulton County. The area retained its rural character for decades, even as

708-459: A city began in earnest when Georgia State Representative Jan Jones introduced the bill for the city of Milton in January 2005 with the intent of moving the bill forward in January 2006. This gave residents one full year to consider all the ramifications of cityhood before the bill could become law. A City of Milton Citizens' Committee helped coordinate information and research. On March 9, 2006,

826-614: 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 the Georgia Institute of Technology ) and the Atlanta University Center , a consortium of historically Black colleges made up of units for men and women, had established Atlanta as a center for higher education. In 1895, Atlanta hosted

944-492: A decreasing portion of the population, 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 and holding at least

1062-699: A five-person commission to serve as the interim government of Milton (composed of Ron Wallace, Brandon Beach , Gregory Mishkin, Dan Phalan and Cecil Pruitt). The city's first general election for Mayor and City Council was held on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. Joe Lockwood won the first mayoral election. The city of Milton was officially incorporated and adopted Fulton County's existing ordinances on December 1, 2006. Working initially out of converted commercial office spaces, city leaders began forging Milton’s unique identity as it transitioned to local governance. Plans were set in motion to launch Milton's own police services on May 1, 2007, and fire department 16 days later. At

1180-587: A four-year degree, an increase of 61%. This was similar to the tendency in other cities for young, college educated, single or married couples to live in downtown areas. Between the mid-1990s and 2010, stimulated by funding from the HOPE VI program and under leadership of CEO Renee Lewis Glover (1994–2013), the Atlanta Housing Authority demolished nearly all of its public housing, a total of 17,000 units and about 10% of all housing units in

1298-408: A handful of Conservancy members has grown into a program that now serves hundreds of people each weekend, many from communities of color that have historically not been included in outdoor recreation opportunities. In 2019, The Georgia Conservancy will host more than two dozen stewardship trips and events throughout the state. The trips involve a mixture of service and sightseeing. For the most part,

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1416-690: A major role in Atlanta's economy, as the city claims the nation's third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies (tied for third with Chicago ). It also hosts the global headquarters of several corporations such as The Coca-Cola Company , The Home Depot , Delta Air Lines , Arby's , AT&T Mobility , Georgia-Pacific , Chick-fil-A , Church's Chicken , Dunkin Donuts , Norfolk Southern Railway , Mercedes-Benz USA , NAPA Auto Parts , Papa Johns , Porsche AG , Newell Brands , Rollins, Inc. , Marble Slab Creamery , and UPS . Over 75% of Fortune 1000 companies conduct business operations in

1534-473: A postwar suburban layout. These include Collier Heights and Cascade Heights , historically home to much of the city's upper middle-class 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. The latter

1652-696: A strategic 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 decided to retreat from Atlanta, and he ordered

1770-531: A survey by the Williams Institute , Atlanta ranked third among major American cities, behind San Francisco and slightly behind Seattle , with 12.8% of the city's total population identifying as LGB. The Midtown and Cheshire Bridge areas have historically been the epicenters of LGBT culture in Atlanta. Atlanta formed a reputation for being a place inclusive to LGBT people after former mayor Ivan Allen Jr. dubbed it "the city too busy to hate" in

1888-470: A telegram to the state's Board of Regents requesting Georgia Tech not to engage in racially integrated events, Georgia Tech's president Blake R. Van Leer rejected the request and threatened to resign. The game went on as planned. In the 1960s, Atlanta became a major organizing center of the civil rights movement , with Martin Luther King Jr. , Ralph Abernathy , and students from Atlanta's historically Black colleges and universities playing major roles in

2006-473: A terminus east of the Chattahoochee River , which would 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 Foundry Street, Five Points . When asked in 1837 about the future of the little village, Stephen Harriman Long , the railroad's chief engineer said the place would be good "for one tavern,

2124-631: Is $ 1,179,000. Approximately 3.8% of the population lives below the poverty line . The vast majority of Milton is part of the ZIP code 30004, which has a median household income of $ 136,124. The city is represented in the Georgia House of Representatives by Jan Jones of the 47th District and Chuck Martin of the 49th District both Jones and Martin are Republicans. The city is represented in Georgia State Senate by Brandon Beach of

2242-443: Is 21 miles (34 km) southeast of Marietta , 27 miles (43 km) southwest of Alpharetta , 146 miles (235 km) southwest of Greenville, South Carolina , 147 miles (237 km) east of Birmingham, Alabama , and 245 miles (394 km) southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina . Despite having lost significant tree canopy coverage between 1973 and 1999, Atlanta now has the densest urban tree coverage of any major city in

2360-618: Is a growing population of Mexican ancestry throughout the region, with notable concentrations along the Buford Highway and I-85 corridor, and now extending into Gwinnett County. In 2013, Metro Atlanta had the 19th largest Hispanic population in the United States. The Atlanta area also has a fast growing Asian American population. The largest groups of Asian origin are those of Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Pakistani and Japanese descent. Pew Research Center ranks

2478-784: Is a key to protecting Georgia's water resources, its plants and animals, and its citizens. The Georgia Conservancy advocates for local, state and federal policies that encourage land conservation. The advocacy team meets with public officials and their staff at all levels of government to secure their support, or to thank them for their support of land conservation funding and legislation. The Georgia Conservancy also works with landowners to encourage them to place their land in permanent protection through conservation easements or through participation in various other state and federal programs that provide financial incentives for land protection. In 2018, Georgia Conservancy worked with officials from Milton, Georgia to prioritize conservation lands including

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2596-525: Is also based just outside of the city in suburban Cobb County . Milton, Georgia Milton is a city in Fulton County, Georgia , United States, located about 30 miles (48 km) north of downtown Atlanta . Incorporated on December 1, 2006, the population was 41,296 as of the 2020 census. Milton is one of the wealthiest cities in the state of Georgia and is known for its high quality of life, excellent schools, and affluent community. The city

2714-464: Is an ongoing research project that looks at the hundreds of tiny, rural towns scattered across the Deep South for answers on how they might they be reinvigorated with new economic purpose. The Georgia Conservancy maintains an office in historic downtown Savannah, headed by Coastal Director Charles McMillan, and is working on a range of projects to protect the nearly 100 miles of coastline throughout

2832-470: Is dominant. The eastside is marked by historic streetcar suburbs , built from the 1890s to the 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

2950-466: Is focused on a multi-year study of sea-rise on Georgia's coast. Blueprints will celebrate its 20th year in 2015. Good Urbanism seminars teach planning professionals, government officials and neighborhood residents about the importance of sustainable growth . School Siting workshops bring together diverse stakeholders to learn more about the EPA's guidelines for school siting. Bantam Towns In The Deep South

3068-561: Is metro Atlanta's largest employer. UPS , the world's largest courier company, operates an air cargo hub at Hartsfield-Jackson, and has their headquarters in neighboring Sandy Springs . Media is also an important aspect of Atlanta's economy. In the 1980s, media mogul Ted Turner founded the Cable News Network (CNN), Turner Network Television (TNT), HLN (HLN), Turner Classic Movies (TCM), The Cartoon Network, Inc. and its namesake television network , TruTV (truTV) and

3186-454: Is named after Revolutionary War hero John Milton , who is also the namesake of the former Milton County that included modern-day Milton between 1857 and 1931. With over 39 square miles of land, much of it agriculturally zoned, Milton is characterized by its rural and equestrian heritage, spacious residential lots, and a small-town feel combined with the amenities of a metropolitan area. It is bordered by Cherokee and Forsyth counties, as well as

3304-624: Is now the Old Fourth Ward , resulting in one fatality and the displacement of 10,000 people. 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,

3422-427: 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

3540-676: Is water. The city is situated in the Deep South of the southeastern United States among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains . At 1,050 feet (320 m) above mean sea level, Atlanta has the highest elevation among major cities east of the Mississippi River . Atlanta straddles the Eastern Continental Divide . Rainwater that falls on the south and east side of the divide flows into

3658-503: The 1996 Summer Olympics . The Games impacted Atlanta's development growth into the 21st century, and significantly sparked investment in the city's universities, parks, and tourism industry. The gentrification of some of its neighborhoods has intensified in the 21st century with the growth of the Atlanta Beltline . This has altered its demographics , politics , aesthetics , and culture . For thousands of years prior to

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3776-511: 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

3894-530: The Cotton States and International Exposition , which attracted nearly 800,000 attendees and successfully promoted the New South's development to the world. During the first decades of the 20th century, Atlanta enjoyed 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 grew taller with

4012-781: The Equitable Building (1892–1971), Terminal Station (1905–1972), and the Carnegie Library (1902–1977). In the mid-1970s, the Fox Theatre , now a cultural icon of the city, would have met the same fate if not for a grassroots effort to save it. More recently, preservationists may have made some inroads. For example, in 2016 activists convinced the Atlanta City Council not to demolish the Atlanta-Fulton Central Library,

4130-601: The Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta (1992). Also completed during the era is the Portman-designed Bank of America Plaza built in 1992. At 1,023 feet (312 m), it is the tallest building in the city and the 14th-tallest in the United States. The city's embrace of modern architecture has often translated into an ambivalent approach toward historic preservation, leading to the destruction of many notable architectural landmarks. These include

4248-588: The Georgia Railroad , suggested the town be renamed Atlanta , supposedly a feminine version of the word "Atlantic", referring to the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The residents approved, and the town was incorporated as Atlanta on December 29, 1847. 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

4366-665: The North to the Atlanta area. It has long been known as a center of African-American political power, education, entrepreneurship, and culture, often called a Black mecca . However, in the 1990s, Atlanta started to experience Black flight . African Americans have moved to the suburbs seeking a lower cost of living or better public schools. The African-American share of Atlanta's population has declined faster than that of any racial group. The city's share of Black residents shrank from 67% in 1990 to 47% in 2020. Blacks made up nine percent of new Atlanta residents between 2010 and 2020. At

4484-781: The Pew Research Center in 2014, but in recent decades the Roman Catholic Church has increased in numbers and influence because of new migrants to the region. Metro Atlanta also has numerous ethnic or national Christian congregations, including Korean and Indian churches. Per the Public Religion Research Institute in 2020, overall, 73% of the population identify with some tradition or denomination of Christianity ; despite continuing religious diversification, historically African-American Protestant churches continue prevalence in

4602-497: The Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) in the city. Around the same time, Cox Enterprises , now the nation's third-largest cable television service and the publisher of over a dozen American newspapers, moved its headquarters to the city. Notable sports networks headquartered in Atlanta include Warner Bros. Discovery Sports , NBA TV , Bally Sports South , and Bally Sports Southeast . The Weather Channel

4720-690: The US Postal Service recognizes Milton as a valid alias for ZIP code 30004, which is served from the Alpharetta post office . As of the 2020 United States census , there were 41,296 people, 13,540 households, and 10,366 families residing in the city. Milton is one of the wealthiest cities in the state of Georgia with a median household income of $ 142,845 and $ 178,317 for families. Between 2018 and 2022, 74% of people in Milton owned their home. The median sold home price as of September 2024

4838-439: The sixth-largest U.S. metropolitan area . Situated among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at an elevation of just over 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, Atlanta features unique topography that includes rolling hills, lush greenery, and the densest urban tree coverage of any major city in the United States. Atlanta was originally founded as the terminus of a major state-sponsored railroad, but it soon became

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4956-480: 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 (nearly 20 years after the US Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional). In 1960, Whites comprised 61.7% of the city's population. During

5074-420: The 10th annual award ceremony, it presented the award to Katherine Kennedy of Concrete Jungle. Atlanta Atlanta ( / æ t ˈ l æ n t ə / at- LAN -tə ) is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia . It is the seat of Fulton County , and a portion of the city extends into neighboring DeKalb County . With a population of 510,823 living within

5192-420: The 11th-largest economy among cities in the U.S. and the 22nd-largest in the world. Its economy is considered diverse, with dominant sectors in industries including transportation, aerospace, logistics, healthcare, news and media operations, film and television production, information technology, finance, and biomedical research and public policy. Atlanta established itself on the world stage when it won and hosted

5310-400: The 1950s–70s, suburbanization and White flight from urban areas led to a significant demographic shift. By 1970, African Americans were the majority of the city's population and exercised their recently enforced voting rights and political influence by electing Atlanta's first Black mayor, Maynard Jackson , in 1973. Under Mayor Jackson's tenure, Atlanta's airport was modernized, strengthening

5428-586: The 1960s (referring to racial relations). Atlanta has consistently scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipal Equality Index that measures how inclusive a city's laws, policies and services are for LGBT people who live or work there. Religion in Atlanta, while historically centered on Protestant Christianity , now encompasses many faiths, as a result of the city and metro area's increasingly international population. Some 63% of residents identified as some type of Protestant according to

5546-498: The 1970s, after many of Atlanta's neighborhoods had declined and suffered 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 the city's 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

5664-587: The Atlanta area among the top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas by Indian population in 2019. Early immigrants in the Atlanta area were mostly Jews and Greeks . Since 2010, the Atlanta area has experienced notable immigration from India, China, South Korea, and Jamaica. Other notable source countries of immigrants are Vietnam, Eritrea, Nigeria, the Arabian gulf, Ukraine and Poland. Within a few decades, and in keeping with national trends, immigrants from England, Ireland, and German-speaking central Europe were no longer

5782-681: The Atlantic Ocean, while rainwater on the north and west side of the divide flows into the Gulf of Mexico . Atlanta developed on a ridge south of the Chattahoochee River , which is part of the ACF River Basin . The river borders the far northwestern edge of the city, and much of its natural habitat has been preserved, in part by the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area . Atlanta

5900-689: The Beltline has stimulated new and related development along its path. Under the Köppen classification , Atlanta has a humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) with generous precipitation year-round, typical for the Upland South ; the city is situated in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a, with the northern and western suburbs, as well as part of Midtown transitioning to 7b. Summers are hot and humid, with temperatures somewhat moderated by

6018-577: The Carolinas, and beyond brought new dynamics to the region. These early settlers engaged in trade with the Cherokee and, at times, intermarried, creating a blended frontier society. However, the relationship between the two groups became increasingly strained due to escalating demands for land by state and federal governments, a situation exacerbated by the discovery of gold in nearby Dahlonega in 1828. The subsequent desire for land acquisition led to

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6136-670: The Civil War ended in 1865, Atlanta was gradually rebuilt during the Reconstruction era . The work attracted many new residents. 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 had 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

6254-539: The Conservancy launched “Green Peaches” (known today as Generation Green), an organization for environmentally conscious young professionals. In 1996, The Georgia Conservancy launched its website georgiaconservancy.org. It is still the organization's current web address. The Conservancy's sustainable growth efforts launched in 1998 as part of Smart Growth conference hosted along with the EPA , Urban Land Institute, and

6372-485: The Conservancy's trips last no more than three days, and are usually on weekends. Many of the trips are family-friendly, as well. Destinations include Sapelo Island along the coast, The Okefenokee Swamp in the southern part of the state, the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta and Charles McMillan became the group's coastal director in 2015. Georgia Conservancy presents the Longleaf Award annually. In 2018, at

6490-491: The Georgia Conservancy has been guiding trips across the state that highlight Georgia's natural resources and provide the public with the opportunity to advocate for their protection. The group uses its network of partners and peers to provide public access to barrier islands, river systems and nature preserves that are normally inaccessible or off-limits to the public. What started out as six trips per year for

6608-571: The Successful Communities Partners. The Georgia Conservancy remains focused on advocacy, land conservation, sustainable growth , coastal protection, and stewardship trips. The Conservancy's advocacy team has decades of experience in state politics and is dedicated to using the political process to help work year-round on key issues such as water resources, habitat protection and land conservation. The group's advocacy program has scored some key successes: The Conservancy

6726-561: The US). 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

6844-481: The United Kingdom and Germany. Bosnian refugees settled in Atlanta. Vietnamese people, Cambodians, Ethiopians and Eritreans were the earliest refugees formally brought to the city. 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. Among them, 7.3% of Atlantans were born abroad ( 86th in

6962-546: The United States and is often called "City of Trees" or "The City in a Forest". Most of Atlanta was burned in the final months of the American Civil War, depleting the city of a large stock of its historic architecture. Yet architecturally, the city had never been traditionally "southern": Atlanta originated as a railroad town rather than a southern seaport dominated by the planter class, such as Savannah or Charleston . Because of its later development, many of

7080-492: 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. African-American veterans returned from World War II seeking full rights in their country and began heightened activism. In exchange for support by that portion of the Black community that could vote, in 1948 the mayor ordered the hiring of the first eight African-American police officers in

7198-603: The area from 1802 to 1825. The Creek were forced to leave the area in 1821, under Indian Removal by the federal government, and European American settlers arrived the following year. 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

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7316-450: The area, converting the dense forests into farmland and pastures. The agricultural landscape was dotted with small subsistence farms and a few larger plantations, with cotton emerging as a significant cash crop alongside the production of fruits, vegetables, and livestock. The community's roots deepened with the establishment of Milton County in 1857, named after John Milton , an American Revolutionary War hero and politician. Despite

7434-536: The arrival of European settlers in North Georgia , the indigenous Creek people and their ancestors inhabited the area. Standing Peachtree , a Creek village where Peachtree Creek flows into the Chattahoochee River , was the closest Native American settlement to what is now Atlanta. Through the early 19th century, European Americans systematically encroached on the Creek of northern Georgia, forcing them out of

7552-400: The bill establishing the new city of Milton (HB 1470) resoundingly passed both in the Georgia House of Representatives (127-21) and in the Georgia State Senate (49-0). At 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28, Governor Sonny Perdue signed the bill into law. A ballot referendum was approved by 85 percent of voters on July 18 to create the city of Milton. On August 4, Governor Perdue appointed

7670-542: The cities of Roswell and Alpharetta. The lands of what is now Milton, Georgia, were once the domain of the Cherokee Nation , whose presence in Georgia dates back over 10,000 years. This indigenous group, speaking an Iroquoian language, cultivated a society with a strong kinship system, with their social life revolving around village structures, ceremonial mounds , and agricultural practices, notably corn farming. The arrival of European settlers from coastal Georgia,

7788-433: The city approved the $ 2.8 billion BeltLine project. It was intended to convert a disused 22-mile freight railroad loop that surrounds the central city into an art-filled multi-use trail and light rail transit line, which would increase the city's park space by 40%. The project stimulated retail and residential development along the loop, but has been criticized for its adverse effects on some Black communities. In 2013,

7906-468: The city in the following decade. During the 2000s, the city of Atlanta underwent a profound physical, cultural , and demographic change. As some of the African-American middle and upper classes also began to move to the suburbs, a booming economy drew numerous new migrants from other cities in the United States, who contributed to changes in the city's demographics. African Americans made up

8024-480: The city limits, Atlanta is the eighth most populous city in the Southeast and 37th most populous city in the United States according to the 2020 U.S. census . It is the principal city of the much larger Atlanta metropolitan area , the core of which includes Cobb , Clayton and Gwinnett counties, in addition to Fulton and DeKalb. Metro Atlanta is home to more than 6.3 million people (2023 estimate), making it

8142-402: The city's economy to this day. In 2021, major freight railroad Norfolk Southern moved their headquarters to Atlanta, and the city hosts major classification yards for Norfolk Southern and CSX . Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport is the world's busiest airport , and the headquarters of Delta Air Lines . Delta operates the world's largest airline hub at Hartsfield-Jackson and

8260-629: The city's elevation. Winters are overall mild but variable, occasionally susceptible to snowstorms even if in small quantities on several occasions, unlike the central and southern portions of the state. Warm air from the Gulf of Mexico can bring spring-like highs while strong Arctic air masses can push lows into the teens °F (−7 to −12 °C). July averages 80.9 °F (27.2 °C), with high temperatures reaching 90 °F (32 °C) on an average of 47 days per year, though 100 °F (38 °C) readings are not seen most years. January averages 44.8 °F (7.1 °C), with temperatures in

8378-615: The city's landmarks share architectural characteristics with buildings in the Northeast or Midwest, as they were designed at a time of shared national architectural styles. During the late 20th century, Atlanta embraced the global trend of modern architecture , especially for commercial and institutional structures. Examples include the State of Georgia Building built in 1966, and the Georgia-Pacific Tower in 1982. Many of

8496-409: The city's metro area, and the region hosts offices of over 1,250 multinational corporations. Many corporations are drawn to the city by its educated workforce; as of 2014 , 45% of adults aged 25 or older residing in the city have at least four-year college degrees, compared to the national average of 28%. Atlanta was born as a railroad town, and logistics continue to represent an important part of

8614-617: The city's role as a transportation center. The opening of the Georgia World Congress Center in 1976 further confirmed 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 more than 100,000 residents between 1970 and 1990, over 20% of its population. At the same time, it developed new office space after attracting numerous corporations, with an increasing portion of workers from northern areas. Atlanta

8732-510: The city's southeast) and State Route 372 (more central), which is also known as Birmingham Highway. State Route 140 (Arnold Mill Road) is on the southwest part of Milton. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the city of Milton has a total area of 39.2 square miles (101.4 km ), of which 38.5 square miles (99.8 km ) is land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km ), or 1.59%, is water. The elevation ranges from 950 to 1,280 feet (290 to 390 m) above sea level . As of April 2007 ,

8850-443: 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 woods and rolling hills. Surrounding Atlanta's three high-rise districts are the city's low- and medium-density neighborhoods , where the craftsman bungalow single-family home

8968-495: The city, stimulated by infrastructure improvements undertaken in preparation for the games. New development post-2000 has been aided by the Atlanta Housing Authority 's eradication of the city's public housing. As noted above, it allowed development of these sites for mixed-income housing, requiring developers to reserve a considerable portion for affordable housing units. It has also provided for other former residents to be given vouchers to gain housing in other areas. Construction of

9086-480: The city. After reserving 2,000 units mostly for elderly, the AHA allowed redevelopment of the sites for mixed-use and mixed-income, higher density developments, with 40% of the units to be reserved for affordable housing. Two-fifths of previous public housing residents attained new housing in such units; the remainder received vouchers to be used at other units, including in suburbs. At the same time, in an effort to change

9204-634: The city. Much controversy preceded the 1956 Sugar Bowl , when the Pitt Panthers , with African-American fullback Bobby Grier on the roster, met the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets . There had been controversy over whether Grier should be allowed to play due to his race, and whether Georgia Tech should even play at all due to Georgia's Governor Marvin Griffin 's opposition to racial integration. After Griffin publicly sent

9322-526: The construction of the Equitable , Flatiron , Empire , and Candler buildings. 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, when Whites attacked Blacks, leaving at least 27 people dead and over 70 injured, with extensive damage in Black neighborhoods. In 1913, Leo Frank ,

9440-470: The convergence point among several railroads, spurring its rapid growth. The largest was the Western and Atlantic Railroad , from which the name "Atlanta" is derived, signifying the city's growing reputation as a major hub of transportation. During the American Civil War , it served a strategically important role for the Confederacy until it was captured in 1864. The city was almost entirely burned to

9558-602: The county's initial opposition to secession , the broader state sentiment led Georgia into the Civil War , profoundly affecting the local population. At the turn of the 20th century, the area remained mostly forested and agricultural – the exception being small villages and crossroads with general stores and trading posts, mills and gins, churches, a few schools, and inns at the intersections of horse and carriage routes. While fruits and vegetables were grown, and cattle and pig farms existed, many people continued to raise cotton as

9676-453: The culture of those receiving subsidized housing, the AHA imposed a requirement for such residents to work (or be enrolled in a genuine, limited-time training program). It is virtually the only housing authority to have created this requirement. To prevent problems, the AHA also gave authority to management of the mixed-income or voucher units to evict tenants who did not comply with the work requirement or who caused behavior problems. In 2005,

9794-462: 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 the destruction of Atlanta's remaining military assets. After

9912-429: The east by Forsyth County and Alpharetta, and on the north and west by Cherokee County . The city's latest Comprehensive Plan divides Milton into eight "character areas" that each have, to some degree, their own unique attributes; they are Arnold Mill, Bethany, Birmingham, Central Milton, Crabapple , Deerfield, Milton Lakes and Sweetapple. The two major north–south roads that run through Milton are State Route 9 (in

10030-467: The effective, efficient execution and enforcement of city laws and ordinances. While Milton's government evolved, the city's population grew. The U.S. Census measured Milton's population at 32,661 in 2010; ten years later, the Census counted 41,296 residents – a more than 26% increase. Milton occupies the northern tip of Fulton County—bounded on the south by the cities of Roswell and Alpharetta , on

10148-565: The ground during General William T. Sherman 's March to the Sea . However, the city rebounded dramatically in the post-war period and quickly became a national industrial center and the unofficial capital of the " New South ". After World War II , it also became a manufacturing and technology hub. During the 1950s and 1960s, it became a major organizing center of the American civil rights movement , with Martin Luther King Jr. , Ralph Abernathy , and many other locals becoming prominent figures in

10266-487: The group helped to get the Chattooga River designated as a Wild and Scenic river. The area would later be featured in the hit film Deliverance . Working collaboratively with other groups, both from Georgia and across the nation, The Georgia Conservancy was able to protect four key nature areas around the state only a few years after its foundation. In 1976, Conservancy champion and charter member Jimmy Carter

10384-584: The group supported an amendment that would dedicate funds to conservation. Working with other organizations across Georgia and the U.S. during the 1980s and 1990s, the Conservancy pushed for increased support for threatened species along the coast, greater wetlands protection, the reauthorization of the Clean Air Act , the creation of the Georgia Superfund program, and an environmentally-friendly 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. In 1993,

10502-430: The last building designed by noted architect Marcel Breuer . 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

10620-567: The link that had been established between automobile emissions and air pollution, leaders within the organization began calling for metro Atlanta to work on its public transit system in 1971. In 1974, The Conservancy celebrated a landmark decision by the Georgia Supreme Court in the “beach case,” Georgia v. Ashmore , decided in favor of the state and granting it the authority to protect marshes and tidal rivers and guaranteeing public access to all of Georgia's beaches. Also in 1974,

10738-604: The longest paved trail surface in the U.S. totaling about 300 miles (480 km). 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 . The College Football Hall of Fame relocated to Atlanta and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights museum

10856-490: The majority of Atlanta's foreign-born population. The city's Italians included immigrants from northern Italy, many of whom had been in Atlanta since the 1890s; more recent arrivals from southern Italy; and Sephardic Jews from the Isle of Rhodes, which Italy had seized from Turkey in 1912. Europeans from Great Britain , Ireland and Germany settled in the city as early as the 1840s. Most of Atlanta's European population are from

10974-789: The most notable examples from this period were designed by world renowned Atlanta architect John Portman . Most of the buildings that define the downtown skyline were designed by Portman during this period, including the Westin Peachtree Plaza and the Atlanta Marriott Marquis . In the latter half of the 1980s, Atlanta became one of the early homes of postmodern buildings that reintroduced classical elements to their designs. Many of Atlanta's tallest skyscrapers were built in this period and style, displaying tapering spires or otherwise ornamented crowns, such as One Atlantic Center (1987), 191 Peachtree Tower (1991), and

11092-425: 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 ,

11210-454: 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. The 2020 United States census reported that Atlanta had a population of 498,715. The population density was 3,685.45 persons per square mile (1,422.95/ km ). The racial and ethnic makeup of Atlanta (including Hispanics)

11328-421: The movement's leadership. In the modern era, Atlanta has remained a major center of transportation, with Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport becoming the world's busiest airport by passenger traffic in 1998 (a position it has held every year since, except for 2020), with an estimated 93.7 million passengers in 2022. With a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $ 473 billion in 2021, Atlanta has

11446-479: The movement's leadership. While Atlanta in the postwar years had relatively minimal racial strife compared to other cities, Blacks were limited by discrimination, segregation, and continued disenfranchisement of most voters. In 1961, the city attempted to thwart blockbusting by realtors by erecting road barriers in Cascade Heights , countering the efforts of civic and business leaders to foster Atlanta as

11564-593: The population was living below the poverty line in 2022. Circa 2024, of the Atlanta residents, 391,711 of them lived in Fulton County and 28,292 of them lived in DeKalb County. In the 1920s, the Black population began to grow in Southern metropolitan cities like Atlanta, Birmingham , Houston , and Memphis . The New Great Migration brought an insurgence of African Americans from California and

11682-604: The project received a federal grant of $ 18 million to develop the southwest corridor. In September 2019 the James M. Cox Foundation gave $ 6 Million to the PATH Foundation which will connect the Silver Comet Trail to The Atlanta BeltLine which is expected to be completed by 2022. Upon completion, the total combined interconnected trail distance around Atlanta for The Atlanta BeltLine and Silver Comet Trail will be

11800-414: The proportion of whites in the city had strong growth. In two decades, Atlanta's White population grew from 33% to 39% of the city's population. Whites made up the majority of new Atlanta residents between 2010 and 2020. The Hispanic and Latino populations of metro Atlanta have grown significantly in recent years. The largest Hispanic ancestries in Atlanta are Mexican , Puerto Rican and Cuban . There

11918-437: The region, yet Milton managed to preserve its pastoral identity, in part due to zoning that favored larger, septic -dependent lots conducive to horse farms and rural living. After the turn of the 21st century, a movement for local governance emerged, driven by the belief that the needs of the northernmost part of Fulton County were not adequately prioritized by distant county officials. The legislative process to establish

12036-702: The rest of North Georgia , particularly Atlanta, experienced explosive growth. People in the area tended to keep the same types of jobs, agriculture, and daily schedules as they had before the counties merged. Homes tended to be few and far between, racial segregation remained a reality, and the community revolved largely around churches, schools, and gathering spots like general stores and baseball diamonds. However, as Atlanta's population tripled between 1910 and 1960 and more roads were built and paved, people began settling further from Georgia’s capital city. The construction of State Route 400 and other infrastructure projects gradually brought more residents and development to

12154-401: The same time, Atlanta is home to a sizable foreign-born Black population, notably from Eritrea , Ethiopia , Ghana , Somalia , Liberia , and Nigeria . With many notable investments occurring in Atlanta initiated by the 1996 Summer Olympics , the non-Hispanic white population of Atlanta began to rebound after several decades of white flight to Atlanta's suburbs. Between 2000 and 2020,

12272-417: The same time, city officials created the city code, developed community programs, conducted community events, and moved into city-owned properties, including a newly built city hall (opened 2017) and its Public Safety Complex (opened 2020). Joe Lockwood served as mayor for Milton’s first 15 years, succeeded by Peyton Jamison. Milton is also led by city managers who oversee all municipal operations as well as

12390-407: The state's natural resources. The organization was created as a non-partisan body “organized specifically to promote fellowship and good fun among its members”. The group's earliest conservation efforts were largely focused on protecting endangered places around the state. By 1968, the Conservancy had already begun to influence conservation and planning decisions along Georgia's coasts. Concerned by

12508-891: The state. The organization partnered with the University of Georgia's River Basin Center and the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources on a three-year study of the impacts of sea level rise on coastal Georgia. The Georgia Conservancy is a member of the Coastal Georgia Land Conservation Initiative (CGLCI), which works with public and private interests to conserve critical coastal lands and healthy ecosystems while promoting sustainable economic growth and development. Since 1967,

12626-413: The suburbs slightly cooler due largely to the urban heat island effect. Lows at or below freezing can be expected 36 nights annually, but the last occurrences of temperatures below 10 °F (−12 °C) were December 24, 2022 , and January 2014 , eight years apart. Extremes range from −9 °F (−23 °C) on February 13, 1899 to 106 °F (41 °C) on June 30, 2012 . Average dewpoints in

12744-712: The summer range from 63.7 °F (17.6 °C) in June to 67.8 °F (19.9 °C) in July. Typical of the southeastern U.S., Atlanta receives abundant rainfall that is evenly distributed throughout the year, though late spring and early fall are somewhat drier. The average annual precipitation is 50.43 in (1,281 mm), while snowfall is typically light and rare with a normal of 2.2 inches (5.6 cm) per winter. 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,

12862-526: The tragic Trail of Tears in 1832, mandated by President Andrew Jackson , which forcibly removed the Cherokee from Georgia to designated territories in present-day Oklahoma. Following the Cherokee removal , the State of Georgia implemented a land lottery system, with the final lottery in 1832 involving the territory that would become Milton. Settlers drawn by the prospect of land ownership began to populate

12980-460: The whole metropolitan area alongside historic Black Catholic churches. The larger non-Christian faiths according to both studies are Judaism , Islam , and Hinduism . Overall, there are over 1,000 places of worship within Atlanta. With a GDP of $ 385 billion, the Atlanta metropolitan area 's economy is the 8th-largest in the country and the 15th-largest in the world . Corporate operations play

13098-410: Was 51.0% Black or African American, 40.9% non-Hispanic white, 4.2% Asian and 0.3% Native American, and 1.0% from other races. 2.4% of the population reported two or more races . Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 6.0% of the city's population. The median income for a household in the city was $ 77,655 in 2022. The per capita income for the city was $ 60,778 in 2022. Approximately 17.7% percent of

13216-533: Was barred from the event due to racial segregation laws. 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. The defense industries attracted thousands of new residents and generated revenues, resulting in rapid population and economic growth. In the 1950s, the city's newly constructed highway system, supported by federal subsidies, allowed middle class Atlantans

13334-452: 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 speak in Southern variations of African-American English . Atlanta has a thriving and diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. According to

13452-538: Was constructed. The city of Atlanta was the subject of a massive cyberattack which began in March 2018. In December 2019, Atlanta hosted the Miss Universe 2019 pageant competition. On June 16, 2022, Atlanta was selected as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup . 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 )

13570-406: Was elected as president of the United States. In the latter part of the 1970s, the Conservancy utilized advocacy as a means of maximizing its statewide, and, in some cases, national, environmental impact. During the period, the Conservancy's efforts remained focused on Georgia's waterways, including its rivers, creeks and lakes, but also on Georgia's barrier islands and coastal communities. In 2018

13688-501: Was part of the team that worked with then-governor Sonny Perdue and the state Legislature during the 2010 General Assembly to craft and pass the nation's most progressive water conservation law. In 2012, the advocacy team helped to facilitate the permanent protection of Boyle's Island on the Altamaha River. The Georgia Conservancy's land conservation program was launched in 2011. The Conservancy believes that land conservation

13806-458: 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; however, for the first time, none of the $ 1.7 billion cost of the games was governmentally funded. While the games experienced transportation and accommodation problems and, despite extra security precautions, there

13924-503: Was the Centennial Olympic Park bombing , the spectacle was a watershed event in Atlanta's history. For the first time in Olympic history, every one of the record 197 national Olympic committees invited to compete sent athletes, sending more than 10,000 contestants participating in a record 271 events. The related projects such as Atlanta's Olympic Legacy Program and civic effort initiated a fundamental transformation of

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