Atlanta is located in
Fulton County and it is the county seat, as well as the State Capital in the
Metro Atlanta Region of the state. It is situated northwest of
Macon along Interstate 20, on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. The population estimate for 1998 was 403,819, an increase of 9,890 since 1990.
A railroad was built in northwest Georgia in 1836 and a settlement blossomed at the line's southern end. The town was named Atlanta with its incorporation in 1847. Atlanta was the main depot for Confederate military supplies. This made it a target of Union Gen. William T. Sherman during his march to the sea. He took the city in September 1864.
A major center of commerce, Atlanta is home to the Coca-Cola Company, CNN and the Centers for Disease Control.
Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Georgia are among 12 colleges in the area.
Atlanta is part of the Atlanta, Georgia metro area.
