POPULATION: 447,841 (city), 5.5 million (metro) | TIME ZONE: Eastern | CLIMATE: Humid subtropical (four distinct seasons and generous precipitation year-round)
Founded in the 1800s at the intersection of two railroad lines, Atlanta has long been a center of commerce. The railroad lines zero milepost was at a stake driven into the ground in what is now the Five Points neighborhood. The location was originally dubbed Terminus. Next came the name Thrasherville, after a local merchant. Then, it was named Marthasville in honor of the governors daughter. Later, an engineer for the Georgia Railroad suggested naming the town Atlantica-Pacifica in a glowing example of why engineers should not be allowed to name things. It was shortened to Atlanta and has stuck ever since the city was incorporated as such in 1847.
NICKNAME(S):
The A
A-Town
Hotlanta
The ATL
The Big Peach
City in a Forest
City of Trees
Dogwood City
Empire City of the South
MOTTO:
Resurgens (rising again)
RANDOM SONG ABOUT THE CITY:
Oh, Atlanta by Little Feat
PRO SPORTS TEAMS
Atlanta Falcons (NFL)
Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
Atlanta Braves (MLB)
Atlanta United FC (MLS)
Atlanta Dream (WNBA)
Atlanta Gladiators (ECHL)
Atlanta Silverbacks (NASL)
Atlanta Xplosion (IWFL)
Atlanta Silverbacks Women (USL W-League)
Gwinnett Braves (IL)
Georgia Swarm (NLL)
ALSO KNOWN FOR...
The world's busiest airport
CNN
Coca-Cola
Home Depot
UPS
Centers for Disease Control
Georgia Aquarium, the world's largest
Martin Luther King Jr. & the Civil Rights Movement
Usher
OutKast, Jeff Foxworthy, Julia Roberts, Tyler Perry, Ted Turner, High Museum of Art, Extraordinary heat & humidity, Gone With the Wind