Atlanta, Georgia is a vibrant city with a rich and colourful
past.
Atlanta's history began in 1837 when the city was built as the
final destination on the Western and Atlantic railroad line. The
city was originally called Marthasville in honour of the
Governor's daughter. Railroad connections earned the nickname
"Terminus", and the city's name was eventually changed to
Atlanta, the feminine form of Atlantic, another railroad
reference.
Since its humble beginning, Atlanta has quickly grown. Even in
today's expansive industrial and commercial world, Atlanta is
known as one of the largest transportation hubs across the
United States and worldwide. The Hartsfield Atlanta
International Airport is one of the country's busiest in terms
of daily passenger flights. With several direct flights to
Europe, Asia and South America, metro Atlanta has become a more
accessible home to over 1,000 international businesses. Because
of these international flights, more than 50 countries now enjoy
representation in Atlanta through trade offices, consulates and
chambers of commerce. These developments helped Atlanta grow
into an important banking center, and the city is known as the
world headquarters of Fortune 500 companies.
For over forty years, historic Atlanta has been significantly
associated to the civil rights movement. During the early days
of the movement, civil rights leaders moved forward and acted as
visionaries to develop the new south, an area that would become
Atlanta, Georgia. These visionaries possessed a fierce belief in
freedom, and made monumental sacrifices in the name of peace.
Atlanta's rise was made possible because of these civil rights
leaders. Through hard work and diligence, they helped Atlanta
grow into the modern cosmopolitan center it is today.
Throughout the evolution of historic Atlanta, it is interesting
to note that diehard Southerners still view the place as the
heart of the Old Confederacy. It's this blend of old and new
that makes Atlanta, Georgia a perfect example of the "New
South": a fast-paced modern community that still stands proud of
its heritage.
Over the past two decades, Atlanta has undergone unprecedented
growth. In the 1980s, the official population of the city
remained suspended at about 420,000. Since then however, the
metro population has exploded in growth. The population of
Atlanta is now nearly 40 percent greater, with 1.2 million more
residents. The city uses new development as a measure of this
growth. The ever-changing downtown skyline, plus the
construction of new skyscrapers in the outside perimeter
business districts of Midtown and Buckhead, is indicative of
Atlanta's population boom.
Since the late 1970s, dozens of incredible new skyscrapers have
reshaped the city's profile. Renowned architects like Marcel
Breuer, I. M. Pel and Philip Johnson have applied their vision
and formidable talents to create the new developments. Atlanta
is deemed the "Capital City of the Southeast", a city of the
future with strong ties to the past.
Despite the remarkable growth and undeniable cosmopolitan
qualities of historic Atlanta, there is an undisputed element of
"old" in this city of the "New South". During the turbulent
1960's, Atlanta was known as the "City Too Busy to Hate". Today,
it's proud to be called the "City Not Too Busy to Care". The
very soul of Atlanta is the heritage that enhances and improves
the quality of life in an otherwise contemporary community.
