ATLANTA AND THE SOUTH

You do not have to be a Southerner to feel comfortable in Atlanta.

Yes, Atlanta is Southern. It calls itself the capital of the New South. It’s a city that’s proud of its history, but it’s a city that’s more excited about its future. Over the years as the city has prospered and grown, Atlanta has attracted new residents from around the country and around the world. Both the native and the new Atlantans love the city for its quality of life, for its diversity, for the many resources and opportunities, and of course for the great weather.

When the 2000 census statistics were released, more than half of metro-Atlanta residents reported being born outside Georgia. That statistic illustrates the amazing growth the city has experienced in the last few decades. Like America, Atlanta is a melting pot of people from all walks of life, from all over the world, and with diverse opinions, experiences, and tastes.

If you think “the South” means white columns and Spanish moss, you may be disappointed in Atlanta. Atlanta is a big city, and in some ways, it feels like every other large city in the U.S. You’ll find all the resources and opportunities you would normally expect from a large metropolitan area.

However, you can still find a few remnants of the Old South in Atlanta. If you wish to search these places out, try Mary Mac’s on Ponce de Leon Avenue for a taste of old Atlanta. At Peachtree Street and 10th, you may visit the Margaret Mitchell House were she penned her classic, Gone With the Wind.

ATLANTA STATS

4.5 million residence
9th largest metro
Largest city in S.E.
established 1837
"a city too busy to hate" —William Hartsfield