Georgia has a rich and sweeping history that spans almost 3 centuries and many important events. From military conflicts to flourishing economic times, Georgia has always been a state that knows how to bounce back and make the most out of the circumstances it meets.
Settled in 1733 by James Oglethorpe, Georgia was the last of the original 13 colonies to be formed. Originally intended to be a debtors’ colony, Georgia’s true purpose was to be a military buffer zone for the rest of the colonies from the Spanish in Florida. It officially became a state in 1788.
Georgia is bordered to the south by Florida, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean and South Carolina, to the west by Alabama, and to the north by Tennessee and North Carolina. The state’s northern part is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, part of the Appalachian Mountains system. The Piedmont extends through the central part of the state from the foothills of the Blue Ridge to the Fall Line, where the rivers cascade down in elevation to the coastal plain of the state’s southern part. Georgia’s highest point is Brasstown Bald at 4,784 feet (1,458 m) above sea level; the lowest is the Atlantic Ocean. Georgia is the largest state entirely east of the Mississippi River in land area.
Georgia bypassed most of the action during the Revolutionary War. However, when the state seceded from the Union in 1861, it thrust itself into a war that would take its toll on its people and the landscape. Georgia was a hotbed of activity during the Civil War, with many important battles taking place within its borders.
After the war, Georgia was allowed to rejoin the Union in 1870 — the last Southern state to rejoin. During the time period of Reconstruction (1865-1877), Georgia regained its footing as a functional state. To learn more about Georgia click here