Facts and Information for Georgia

Map of U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuges in Georgia

Reference: www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/Georgia.html

Official Georgia State Website	http://www.georgia.gov/
State Capital	Atlanta
Origin of State Name	Georgia was named for King George II of England.
Joined the Union	Georgia became the 4th state on January 2, 1788.
State Bird	Ferruginous Mocking-bird also known as Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
State Game Bird	Bobwhite Quail
State Fish	Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides
State Amphibian	Green Tree Frog Hyla cinerea
State Marine Mammal	Right Whale
State Reptile	Gopher Tortoise
State Insect	Honeybee
State Butterfly	Tiger Swallowtail Papilio glaucus
State Tree	Live Oak
State Wildflower	Azalea
State Floral Emblem	Cherokee Rose
State Crop	Peanut
State Fruit	Peach
State Vegetable	Vidalia Onion
State Mineral	Staurolite
State Gemstone	Quartz
State Seashell	Knobbed Whelk
State American Folk Dance	Square Dance
State Festival	Georgia Folk Festival
State Fossil	Shark Tooth
State Song	"Georgia On My Mind" music by Hoagy Carmichael and lyrics by Stuart Gorrell
State Waltz	"Our Georgia" by James Burch of Thomasville in 1950
State Folk Life Play	"Swamp Gravy"
State Historic Drama	"The Reach of Song"
State Motto	"Wisdom, justice, and moderation"
State Nicknames	"The Peach State"
State Creed	"Accepting, as I do, the principles upon which Georgia was founded, not for self but others; -- its Democratic form of Government, based on 'Wisdom, Justice and Moderation'; --its natural resources; -- its Educational, Social and Religious advantages, making it a most desirable place to live -- I will strive to be a pure upright Citizen, rejecting the evils -- loving and emulating the good. I further believe it is my duty to defend it against all enemies, to honor and obey its laws, to apply the Golden Rule in all my dealings with my fellow Citizens. I feel a sense of pride in the history and heroic deeds accomplished by my forebears, and shall endeavor to so live that my State will be proud of me for doing my bit to make my State a better Commonwealth for future generations."
State Prepared Food	Grits
State Beef Barbecue Championship Cook-Off	"Shoot the Bull Barbecue Championship" in Hawkinsville, GA
State Pork Cook-off	“Slosheye Trail Big Pig Jig” in Vienna, Georgia.
State Theater	Springer Opera House in Columbus, GA
State Musical Theater	Jekyll Island Musical Theatre Festival A cooperative production of Valdosta State College and the Jekyll Island Authority
State Museum of Art	Georgia Museum of Art Athens, Georgia
State Transportation History Museum	Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth, GA
State 'Possum	Pogo Possum
State Atlas	The Atlas of Georgia Published by the University of Georgia’s Institute of Government in 1985
State Ballet	Atlanta Ballet
State Peanut Monument	Turner County Peanut Monument Located in Turner County, GA
State Botanical Garden	The State Botanical Garden of Georgia Operated under the auspices of the University of Georgia The Garden is located approximately three miles south of the University of Georgia campus.
Time Zone Location	EST - Eastern Standard (GMT - 5 hours)
Population projected estimate for year 2010 based on U.S. Census 2000 results.
Male	4,763,598
Female	4,825,482
Total	9,589,080
Crime Information	Crime Statistics for 1997 - 2006
Median Household Income (latest figures available)	$43,217
Unemployment Rate	4.4
10 Largest Cities by Population	Atlanta Augusta-Richmond County Columbus Savannah Athens-Clarke County Macon Roswell Albany Marietta Warner Robins
Cities and Towns	Georgia Cities & Towns
Counties	Georgia Counties
Major Universities	Major Georgia Universities
Major Rivers	Major Georgia Rivers
Major Lakes	Major Georgia Lakes
Total Land Area	57,906.14 Square Miles
Total Water Area	1,518.63 Square Miles
Total of Both Land And Water Area	59,424.77 Square Miles
General Coastline	100 Miles
Lowest Elevation	Atlantic Ocean; sea level
Highest Elevation	Brasstown Bald; 4,784 feet

REFERENCES
• georgia.gov, 2/9/2008, http://www.georgia.gov/
• Georgia Secretary of State | Georgia State Symbols, 02/24/2008 , http://sos.georgia.gov/state_symbols/state_symbols.html
• NWRS - Refuge Locator Map, 2/9/2008, http://www.fws.gov/refuges/refugeLocatorMaps/
• Interim Projections of the Male Population for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2030, 2/9/2008, http://www.census.gov/population/projections/SummaryTabA2.pdf
• Interim Projections of the Female Population for the United States and States: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2030, 2/9/2008, http://www.census.gov/population/projections/SummaryTabA3.pdf
• United States Crime Rates 1960 - 2006, 2/9/2008, http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/uscrime.htm
• Georgia (U.S. state), http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Georgia_%28U.S._state%29&oldid=190809608 (last visited Feb. 16, 2008).