GEORGIA

---

Atlanta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Marietta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Savannah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219

The State in Brief

Nickname: Empire State of the South; Peach State

Motto: Wisdom, justice, and moderation

Flower: Cherokee rose

Bird: Brown thrasher

Area: 59,424 square miles (2000; U.S. rank: 24th)

Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 4,784 feet above sea level

Climate: Long, hot summers and short, mild winters

Admitted to Union: January 2, 1788

Capital: Atlanta

Head Official: Sonny Perdue (R) (until 2007)

Population

1980: 5,463,000

1990: 6,478,000

2000: 8,186,453

2004 estimate: 8,829,383

Percent change, 1990–2000: 26.4%

U.S. rank in 2004: 9th

Percent of residents born in state: 57.8% (2000)

Density: 141.4 people per square mile (2000)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 385,830

Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)

White: 5,327,281

Black or African American: 2,349,542

American Indian and Alaska Native: 21,737

Asian: 173,170

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 4,246

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 435,227

Other: 196,289

Age Characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 595,150

Population 5 to 19 years old: 2,414,770

Percent of population 65 years and over: 9.6%

Median age: 33.4 years

Vital Statistics

Total number of births (2003): 135,831

Total number of deaths (2003): 66,337 (infant deaths, 1,153)

AIDS cases reported through 2003: 14,023

Economy

Major industries: Paper and board, textiles, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, chemicals

Unemployment rate: 4.1% (December 2004)

Per capita income: $29,259 (2003; U.S. rank: 28th)

Median household income: $43,535 (3-year average, 2001-2003)

Percentage of persons below poverty level: 12.0% (3-year average, 2001-2003)

Income tax rate: Ranges from 1.0% to 6.0%

Sales tax rate: 4.0% (food and prescription drugs are exempt)