Until the early nineteenth century, the site near the Chattahoochee River where Atlanta is located (originally named the Standing Peach Tree for a peach tree on a small hill about seven miles away) was virgin territory sparsely occupied by Creek and Cherokee Native American tribes. The first permanent white settlers arrived during the War of 1812, when Fort Gilmer was built at the Standing Peach Tree. After the war, the land around Fort Gilmer was slowly settled by farmers from northern Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. Then, in the late 1830s, the Western & Atlantic Railroad was constructed, connecting the Chattahoochee River with the town of Chattanooga to the north. The area thus became an important trade center, and a village soon developed at the southern end of the railroad. Initially called Terminus (after the word for the engineer's final stake) the village was chartered as Marthasville in 1843, then renamed Atlanta in 1845 and reincorporated in 1847.
By the end of the 1850s, the population of Atlanta had grown to 10,000 people (up from approximately 2,500 people in 1847), and the city had undergone extensive industrial development to become a railway hub, a vital trade link between North and South. Retaining the rough-and-tumble spirit of a frontier town, Atlanta had also progressed as a center of civilization and culture. When the Civil War broke out, Atlanta ceased trade with the North and was established as a Confederate military post. Because of its railroads and factories the city was a prime target, and it was bombarded by Union forces in July 1864.
The Battle of Atlanta was fierce. For a time Southern troops were able to defend the city, but military and civilian casualties from enemy shells and typhoid fever were high. The battle lost, the mayor, James Calhoun, and a few citizens surrendered on September 2, 1864. The fall of Atlanta was catastrophic. All civilians were evacuated, and 90 percent of the structures in the city were destroyed by Union Army General William T. Sherman's troops as they marched toward Georgia's Atlantic coast. Reconstruction began almost immediately after Sherman's army departed. Slowed by smallpox epidemics in 1865 and 1866 that forced the building of a temporary hospital, efforts to rebuild the city were nevertheless successful, and in 1868 Atlanta became the state capital (officially confirmed in 1877).
Expansion and growth continued through the nineteenth century and into the early decades of the twentieth, though the city was beset by periodic racial conflict. By 1920 the population of Atlanta had reached 200,000 people. The Great Depression brought more hard times, as it did throughout the country, but the city rose to meet the challenge of World War II. The transportation hub for the Southeast, Atlanta was one of the most important cities in the war effort.
After the war came renewed expansion in manufacturing, as well as a vital role in aviation. Having been a railroad center for most of its history, Atlanta was by the 1950s also the busiest and most important airline center in the South. In recent decades both the economy and cultural life have flourished, with Atlanta emerging as the major city of the "New South." While racial tension has troubled modern Atlanta, citizens have brought about a new spirit of cooperation and teamwork in the political process. Atlantans are optimistic about the future of their metropolis of more than four million inhabitants; a city that enjoys a nearly ideal climate and natural beauty, Atlanta has gained a momentum that promises continued growth and prosperity. Atlanta was the focus of world attention when it hosted the 1996 Centennial Summer Olympic Games. By most media accounts, the city has distinguished itself as world class and an economic leader. City leaders are buoyed by the trend back toward downtown living that has taken place in recent years. Business is thriving as many lucrative business projects are in development.
Atlanta's strength as a business community is reflected with its distinction as Inc. magazine's number one ranked city for doing business in America. Contributing to this is the dramatic growth of the metropolitan area's population between 1990–2000 of 38.9%, many of whom are employed at the wide variety of area corporations including two dozen on the Fortune 1000 list. The local economy is bolstered by the ldquo;the world's busiest passenger airport." of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Consumer goods find easy transport in the highly successful rail system.
Further, the area offers a vibrant arts scene along with beautiful parks and exciting activities. Many tourists are drawn to the historical significance of the area including its Civil War landmarks. This mix of history, tourism, job growth, and business opportunities all lends to the boundless prosperity that the area has enjoyed and its prospects for a bright future.
Historical Information: Atlanta History Center, 130 W. Paces Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, GA 30305-1366; telephone (404)814-4000