Facts About Georgia Learning About US States in Special Ed

Welcome to Georgia

If you are teaching about the US states, here are some facts about Georgia you may want to know.

Georgia is located in the southeastern United States. Georgia borders Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and the Atlantic Ocean. Atlanta is the capital.

Let’s learn a little more about this great state.

And be sure to scroll to the end to get a free crossword puzzle with facts about Georgia.

A brief history of Georgia

Georgia became a state in 1788 and was the 4th state to join the United States.

Georgia was named for King George II who signed the charter allowing it to become a colony in 1732.

In 1733, Georgia was recognized as the 13th colony in America, the last of the original 13 colonies.

After gaining its freedom from Britain following the Revolutionary War, Georgia became a state in 1788.

In 1829 gold was discovered in Georgia. In order to allow miners more freedom looking for that gold, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 was passed. All the Cherokee and other tribes were forcibly removed from the state.

At the start of the Civil War, Georgia seceded from the Union in 1861.

In 1865, after the Civil War was over, Georgia was the last of the states to rejoin the Union.

The geography of Georgia

Georgia is the largest state east of the Mississippi River

There are several ways to examine Georgia’s geography and topography. We will focus on four main regions.

The North Georgia Mountain region is where you will find the Appalachian Plateau as well as the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Piedmont Region, in the center of the state, is where you will find most of the fertile farmland and forests.

The Coastal Plain, the southern half of the state, also has fertile fields as well as the Okefenokee Swamp. The Okefenokee Swamp is the largest swamp in North America and covers 700 square miles.

Finally, the Coastal Region is the area that borders the Atlantic Ocean.

Georgia's resources and industries

Agriculture is an important industry in Georgia, which means we get a lot of resources that come from farms.

Georgia has the nickname the Peach State and it does, indeed, produce a lot of peaches. This state is the third largest producer of peaches behind California and South Carolina. Although, some people will tell you these are the best tasting ones!!

Georgia is the largest producer of peanuts in the country. Almost ½ of all peanuts consumed come from this state.

Speaking of nuts, Georgia produces more pecans that anywhere else in the entire world!

If you have ever eaten a Vidalia onion, then it probably came from Georgia. They grow more of these sweet onions than any other state in the US.

Finally, you might be surprised to know that Georgia is one of the top 5 producers of blueberries in the US.

Much of the lumber and firewood in the country come from Georgia. Since more than half of the state is covered with woodland and forests, these resources are plentiful.

As far as industries, the textile industry is one of the most important in this state. Georgia produces a lot of yarn, cloth and clothing.

Atlanta has also become one of the more prominent and popular locations for the film industry. The Hunger Games, Stranger Things, and the Vampire Diaries were all filmed in Georgia.

Finally, tourism, especially historic sites like Savannah, is important to the healthy economy of this state.

Fun places to visit in Gerogia

If you plan to visit Georgia, there are some things you will want to know and make sure you get to see. This state has a rich history with some amazing sites to see.

If you visit Lumpkin, Georgia you will find Providence Canyon. It has been nicknamed the “Little Grand Canyon,” and if you go there, you will see why.

This 1000-acre state park has amazing views from the Rim Trail showcasing the orange, red and purple soil in the area. You can also hike down to the floor of the canyon as well.

If you visit the more mountainous region of the state, you will find Tallulah Falls. This is a 1000 foot deep gorge carved by the river and is about 2 miles long and has 6 different spectacular waterfalls. It has been called the “Niagara of the South.”

Georgia has a lot of history to see as well. Savannah is one of the most visited areas in the state. You can take a horse-drawn carriage down the cobbled streets and appreciate all the buildings and history from over 100 years ago.

Just off the coast, not far from Savannah, you can visit Fort Pulaski on Cockspur Island. This fort was built in 1847 but was severely damaged during the Civil War when armies began using cannons.

If you visit Atlanta you will want to make sure to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr National Historical Park. Here, you can see where Dr. King was born and grew up as well learn about his important work during the Civil Rights Era.

Also in Atlanta is the Georgia Aquarium. It is the largest aquarium in the US. You will find over 100,000 animals and fish living in the 10 million gallons of water here.

Finally, in Plains, Georgia, you will find the Jimmy Carter National Historic Park. See the farm and high school where this famous president grew up. There are lots of trails to explore and a visitor center full of information about this important man.

Fun facts about Georgia

Here are a few fun facts about Georgia. The Cherokee Rose is the state flower, and the Brown Thrasher is the state bird.

In Atlanta, there are over 50 streets with Peachtree in their name.

You will find the largest drive-in restaurant in the world in Atlanta. It covers 5 acres and is 2 stories high. Over 600 cars can park and have their food delivered to their open windows.