Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of the state of Georgia in the United States. The area now known as Atlanta has been inhabited for thousands of years, with various indigenous tribes living in the area prior to the arrival of European settlers.
The city itself was founded in 1837 as the endpoint of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, a transportation link being built between the port of Savannah and the Midwest. It was named after the Western and Atlantic's chief engineer, Stephen Harriman Long, and the city took the name "Terminus", which would later be shortened to "Atlanta".
Atlanta played an important role in the American Civil War as a supply center for the Confederate army. The city was eventually captured by Union forces in 1864 and was largely burned to the ground during the war. After the war, Atlanta was rebuilt and rapidly developed as a transportation hub and commercial center, becoming a key city in the southeastern United States.
In the 20th century, Atlanta continued to grow and develop, becoming an important center for the civil rights movement and a major center for business and industry. The city hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics and has seen significant economic growth in recent years.
The city itself was founded in 1837 as the endpoint of the Western and Atlantic Railroad, a transportation link being built between the port of Savannah and the Midwest. It was named after the Western and Atlantic's chief engineer, Stephen Harriman Long, and the city took the name "Terminus", which would later be shortened to "Atlanta".
Atlanta played an important role in the American Civil War as a supply center for the Confederate army. The city was eventually captured by Union forces in 1864 and was largely burned to the ground during the war. After the war, Atlanta was rebuilt and rapidly developed as a transportation hub and commercial center, becoming a key city in the southeastern United States.
In the 20th century, Atlanta continued to grow and develop, becoming an important center for the civil rights movement and a major center for business and industry. The city hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics and has seen significant economic growth in recent years.