Book-Online-Hotel.com Information United States Atlanta

Midtown Atlanta's skyline According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 343.0 km² (132.4 mi²). 341.2 km² (131.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.51% water.
At about 1000 feet or 300 meters above mean sea level, Atlanta sits atop a ridge south of the Denver.
According to folklore, its central avenue, Peachtree Street, runs through the center of the city on the Eastern Continental Divide. In actuality, the divide line enters Atlanta from the southwest, proceeding to downtown. From downtown, the divide line runs eastward along DeKalb Avenue and the CSX rail lines through Decatur. Rainwater that falls on the south and east side runs eventually into the Atlantic Ocean while rainwater on the north and west side of the divide runs into the Gulf of Mexico.
The latter is via the Chattahoochee River, part of the ACF River Basin, and from which Atlanta and many of its neighbors draw most of their water. Being at the far northwestern edge of the city, much of the river's natural habitat is still preserved, in part by the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. Downstream however, excessive water use during droughts and pollution during floods has been a source of contention and legal battles with neighboring states Alabama and Florida.

People and culture

Demographics City of Atlanta

Population by year [1] 1860
9,554 1870
21,789 1880
37,409 1890
65,533 1900
89,872 1910
154,839 1920
200,616 1930
270,366 1940
302,288 1950
331,314 1960
487,455 1970
496,973 1980
425,022 1990
394,017 2000
416,474 2004
425,000

Thematic map of African Americans, the largest ethnic group in Atlanta

Thematic map of African Americans, the largest ethnic group in Atlanta The census of 2000 states there are 416,474 people, (423,019 as of 2003 estimates), 168,147 households, and 83,232 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,221/km² (3,161/mi²). There are 186,925 housing units at an average density of 548/km² (1,419/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 61.39% Black, 33.22% White, 1.93% Asian, 0.18% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.99% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 4.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. The city has one of the largest gay populations in the nation; according to Census 2000 both DeKalb and Fulton counties are among the ten most heavily gay counties in America. There are several predominantly and largely gay neighborhoods, mostly in the Midtown area of the city.
There are 168,147 households out of which 22.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 24.5% are married couples living together, 20.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 50.5% are non-families. 38.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 3.16.
In the city the population is spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 35.2% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 32 years. For every 100 females there are 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $51,482 and the median income for a family is $55,939. Males have a median income of $36,162 compared to $30,178 for females. The per capita income for the city is $29,772, and 24.4% of the population and 21.3% of families are below the poverty line. 38.8% of those under the age of 18 and 20.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

See also: population of Atlanta

Crime

For several decades, Atlanta had been among the most violent cities in North America but in recent years the city has reduced violent crime considerably. While still high, the murder rate in 2004 was half that of New Orleans. In 2005, Atlanta recorded 93 homicides — the lowest total since 1963, and an almost 40% decrease from the 151 killings reported in 2002.
However, in 2005 Atlanta received embarrassing media attention for the high-profile Brian Nichols manhunt, who became internationally known as the "Courthouse Killer". In addition, broadcast media focused attention on a standoff involving a murder suspect (not an Atlanta resident) who perched himself on top of a construction crane for several days in the upscale Buckhead district.

The latest Uniform Crime Reports can be downloaded at the Atlanta Police Department's Website.

Attractions, events, and recreation

The Sweet Auburn district is preserved as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site.

The Varsity has been an Atlanta landmark for over 75 years.

Atlanta's Piedmont Park is the city's largest park.

Atlanta's Piedmont Park is the city's largest park. Atlanta boasts a variety of museums on subjects ranging from history to fine arts, natural history, and beverages. Prominent among them are sites honoring Atlanta's participation in the civil rights movement. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in the city, and his boyhood home on Auburn Avenue in the Sweet Auburn district is preserved as the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Meetings with other civil rights leaders, including Hosea Williams and current Congressman John Lewis, often happened at Paschal's, a diner and motor inn which was a favorite for "colored" people, banned from "white" restaurants in an era of racial segregation and intolerance. King's final resting place is in the tomb at the center of the reflecting pool at the King Center.
Other history museums and attractions include the Atlanta History Center; the Atlanta Cyclorama and Civil War Museum (a huge painting and diorama in-the-round, with a rotating central audience platform, that depicts the Battle of Atlanta in the Civil War); the Carter Center and Presidential Library; and the Margaret Mitchell House and Museum.
The arts are represented by several theaters and museums, including the United States and enjoys a growing audience and international reputation.
Atlanta features the world's largest aquarium, the Georgia Aquarium, which officially opened to the public on November 23, 2005. The aquarium features over 100,000 specimens in tanks holding approximately eight million gallons of water. One unique museum is the World of Coca-Cola featuring the history of the world famous soft drink brand and its well-known advertising. Adjacent is Underground Atlanta, a historic shopping and entertainment complex situated under the streets of downtown Atlanta. In addition the Atlantic Station, a huge new urban renewal project on the northwestern edge of Midtown Atlanta, officially opened in October of 2005. While not a museum per se, The Varsity is the main branch of the long-lived fast food chain, featured as the world's largest drive-in restaurant.
The heart of the city's festivals is Piedmont Park. In 1887, a group of prominent Atlantans purchased 189 acres (0.76 km²) of farmland to build a horse racing track, later developed into the site of the Cotton States International Exposition of 1895. In 1904, the city council purchased the land for $99,000, and today it is the largest park in metro Atlanta, with more than 2.5 million visitors each year. The grounds were part of the Battle of Peachtree Creek – a Confederate division occupied the northern edge on July 20, 1864 as part of the outer defense line against Sherman's approach. Next to the park is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Zoo Atlanta, home to its own panda exhibit, is located in Grant Park.
Just east of the city, Stone Mountain is the largest piece of exposed granite in the world. On its face are giant carvings of Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson. It is also the site of impressive laser shows in the summer. A few miles west of Atlanta on I-20 is the Six Flags Over Georgia Theme Park, which opened near the city in 1967, and was the second theme park in the Six Flags chain.
Popular annual cultural events include:

Atlanta Dogwood Festival, a Spring arts and crafts festival at Piedmont Park.
Music Midtown - Three-day music festival in early summer. (Now on hiatus)
Atlanta Gay Pride [2]
Atlanta Jazz Festival [3], largest free jazz festival in the USA
Sweet Auburn SpringFest
Inman Park Festival [4]
Virginia-Highlands Summerfest [5]
Georgia Renaissance Festival [6]

Media

The major daily newspaper in Atlanta is Atlanta Nation.
The Atlanta metro area is served by a wide variety of local television stations, and is the ninth largest designated market area (DMA) in the U.S. with 2,059,450 homes (1.88% of the total U.S.). The major network television affiliates are WXIA 11 (NBC), WSB 2 (ABC), WGCL 46 (CBS), WAGA 5 (FOX), WATL 36 (WB), WUPA 69 (UPN), WUVG 34 (Univision), WPXA 14 (i), and WHSG 63 (TBN). There are also two PBS stations: WGTV 8 (PBS) and WPBA 30 (PBS), and one independently operated station: WATC 57, which carries religious programming, as well as TBS's Atlanta transmitter, WTBS.
Atlanta's radio stations include AM stations WSB 750 (News/Talk), WGST 640 (News/Talk), WCNN 680 (Sports/talk "The Fan"), WQXI 790 (Sports/talk "The Zone"), and several other religious and spanish-language stations. Atlanta's FM stations include WRAS 88.5 (college Radio "Album 88"), WBCX 89.1 (jazz/classical), WRFG 89.3 (indie "Radio Free Georgia"), WABE 90.1 (NPR), WREK 91.1 (Diverse "Wreck"), WWEV 91.5 (christian "Victory 91.5"), WCLK 91.9 (jazz "Jazz 92"), WZGC 92.9 (AAA "Dave FM"), WSTR 94.1 (top 40 "Star 94"), WLTM 94.9 (AC "94.9 Lite FM"), WBTS 95.5 (urban top 40 "95.5 the Beat"), WKLS 96.1 (classic rock "96 Rock"), WFOX 97.1 (classic hits "97.1 the River"), WPZE 97.5 (black gospel "Praise 97.5"), WSB-FM 98.5 (AC "B98.5FM"), WNNX 99.7 (alternative rock "99X"), WWWQ 100.5 (top 40 "Q100"), WKHX 101.5 (country "Kicks 101.5"), WAMJ 102.5 (urban AC "WR&B"), WVEE 103.3 (urban "V103"), WALR-FM 104.1 (urban AC/oldies "Kiss 104.1"), WFSH 104.7 (christian "104.7 the Fish"), WBZY 105.3 (modern rock "105.3 the Buzz"), WWVA-FM 105.7 (spanish top 40 "Viva 105.7"), WYAY 106.7 (classic country "Eagle 106.7"), WJZZ 107.5 (smooth jazz), and WHTA 107.9 (urban "Hot 107.9").
Several cable television networks also operate from Atlanta, including TBS, CNN, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, and TNT. These stations are owned by Turner Broadcasting System (now a subsidiary of Time Warner). The Weather Channel (owned by Landmark Communications) also broadcasts from the Atlanta area.
United States and are often inspected and shipped to stores nationwide. See also: list of newspapers in Atlanta

Music

Jermaine Dupri's 2001 hip hop single "Welcome to Atlanta" declares Atlanta the "new Motown", referencing the city of Detroit, Michigan, which was known for its contributions to popular music. A significant number of Atlantans have become successful musicians, including artists such as OutKast, Jerry Reed, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Blaque, Ludacris, T.I., Young Jeezy, Ying Yang Twins, D4L, Monica, Youngbloodz, and Lil Jon. Others, such as Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston and Brian Littrell of the Backstreet Boys, have moved to the city and made it their home. Of the many modern day recording artist/groups to be originated in Atlanta, TLC still by records sold, holds the crown for the biggest present day act with record sales hovering around the 50 million mark. Atlanta has also produced rock and pop music singers, such as alternative metal band Sevendust and modern rock band Collective Soul, and was a proving ground for Connecticut-born pop-rock-blues musician John Mayer.
Record Producers L.A. Reid and Babyface founded LaFace Records in Atlanta in the late-1980s; the label has eventually become the home to multi-platinum selling artists such as Toni Braxton, TLC, OutKast, Goodie Mob, Usher and Ciara, many of whom are Atlantans themselves. It is also the home of So So Def Records, a label founded by Jermaine Dupri in the mid-1990s, that signed acts such as Da Brat, Jagged Edge, Xscape, Dem Franchise Boyz, and Bow Wow. The success of LaFace and SoSo Def led to Atlanta as an established scene for record labels such as LaFace parent company Arista to set up satellite offices.
Atlanta's classical music scene includes well-renowned ensembles such as the Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Ballet, period-instrument ensemble Atlanta Boy Choir, and many others. Classical musicians include renowned conductors such as late Robert Shaw, Atlanta Symphony's Robert Spano, New Trinity Baroque's Predrag Gosta, and others.
Despite producing numerous famous musicians, however, Atlanta's live pop music scene has suffered in recent years. Due in part to harsher new laws dictating the closing times of bars and nightclubs, many small to medium sized venues have closed down. As a result, fewer and fewer touring acts are stopping by Atlanta, putting further financial strain on the remaining clubs and venues. In the early 1980s, Atlanta was the home of a thriving new wave music scene featuring such bands as The Brains and The Producers, closely linked to the new wave scenes in Athens, Georgia and other college towns in the southeast.

Sports Club

Sport
League
Stadium
Logo Atlanta Falcons
Football
National Football League; NFC
Georgia Dome

Atlanta Falcons Logo

Atlanta Braves
Baseball
Major League Baseball; NL
Turner Field

Atlanta Braves Logo

Atlanta Hawks
Basketball
National Basketball Association
Philips Arena

Atlanta Hawks Logo

Atlanta Silverbacks
Soccer
USL First Division
Silverbacks Park

Atlanta Silverbacks Logo

Atlanta Thrashers
Ice Hockey
National Hockey League
Philips Arena

Atlanta Thrashers Logo

Georgia Force
Arena Football
Arena Football League
Philips Arena

Georgia Force Logo

Games of the XXVI Olympiad

Games of the XXVI Olympiad Atlanta has a rich sports history, including the second intercollegiate football game in the South, Auburn University vs. University of Georgia in 1892. This game is often considered the Oldest Rivalry in the South. Currently it hosts college football's annual Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Peachtree Road Race, the world’s largest 10K race. Atlanta was the host city for the Centennial 1996 Summer Olympics. Centennial Olympic Park, built for 1996 Summer Olympics, sits adjacent to CNN Center and Philips Arena. It is now operated by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority.
The city is also host to four different major league sports. The Atlanta Braves baseball team has been the Major League Baseball franchise of Atlanta since 1966; the franchise was previously known as the Boston Braves (1912-1952), and the Milwaukee Braves (1953-1965). The team was founded in 1871 in Boston, Massachusetts as a National Association club, making it the oldest continuously operating sports franchise in North American sports. The Braves won the World Series in 1995 and have had an unprecedented run of fourteen straight divisional championships since 1991. Before the Braves moved to Atlanta, the Atlanta Crackers were Atlanta's professional baseball team from 1901 until their last season in 1965. They won 17 league championships in the minor leagues. The Atlanta Black Crackers were Atlanta's Negro League team from around 1921 until 1949.
The Atlanta Falcons American football team plays at the Georgia Dome. They have been Atlanta's National Football League franchise since 1966. They have won the division title three times, and a conference championship once, only to go on to lose to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXIII. Super Bowl XXVIII and XXXIV were held in the city.
The St. Louis Hawks (1955-68). Their only NBA championship was in 1958, when they were the St. Louis Hawks.
From 1992 to 1996 Atlanta was home to the short-lived Quebec City and became the Quebec Rafales.
In 1999 the Calgary in 1980, becoming the Calgary Flames. The Thrashers have yet to make it to the playoffs. Both the Thrashers and the Hawks play in Philips Arena.
The Nashville in 2002. The 2005 National Conference champions currently play in Philips Arena.
The final event of the PGA Tour season, THE TOUR Championship, is played annually at East Lake Golf Club. This golf course is used because of its connection to the great amateur golfer Bobby Jones, an Atlanta native.
From 2001 to 2003 Atlanta hosted the Atlanta Beat soccer team of the defunct Women's United Soccer Association. They appeared in two of the three Founders Cup championships held, losing to the Bay Area CyberRays in 2001, and the Washington Freedom team in 2003. Currently, Atlanta is the home of the Atlanta Silverbacks of the United Soccer Leagues First Division (Men) and W-League (Women)
The SEAFL and USAFL National Championships.
Other nearby sports facilities include Atlanta Motor Speedway, a 1.5 mile (2.4 km) NASCAR race track in Hampton, Georgia.
Atlanta is home to the Chick-fil-A Bowl (formerly known as the Peach Bowl) which is played at the Georgia Dome and matches a SEC team against an ACC opponent, as well as the SEC Championship Game in football annually, as well as hosting the basketball and gymnastics championships on several occasions. See also: U.S. cities with teams from four major sports

Religion

Being the unofficial capital of the 'bible belt', a geographic region considered among the most highly religious in western civilization, As the see of the Provincial See for the Province of Atlanta. The city is also a major Southern Baptist center.

Infrastructure

Government

Atlanta City Hall

Atlanta City Hall Atlanta is governed by an at-large elected mayor and a city council. The city council consists of representatives of twelve districts from the city as well as three at-large positions. The mayor may veto a bill passed by the council, but the council may override with a two-thirds majority. The current mayor of Atlanta is Shirley Franklin.
Possibly owing to the city's Combined sewer overflows will also be eliminated, so that runoff water is separated, preventing diluted sewage from overflowing at sewage treatment plants during heavy rains.

The Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta

The Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta .
As the Peachnet, and is the county seat of Fulton County, with which it shares responsibility for the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System.

Transportation

MARTA provides public transportation in Atlanta.

MARTA provides public transportation in Atlanta. Atlanta is served by Atlanta/Fulton County Airport-Brown Field (IATA: FTY, ICAO: KFTY). See List of airports in the Atlanta area for a more complete listing.
Three major interstate highways intersect the city; I-20 runs east-west, while I-75 runs NW to SE and I-85 runs NE to SW, and join together as the Downtown Connector through the center of the city. I-285 (also known as "the Perimeter") encircles the city and some of its inner suburbs. I-75 just north of the Windy Hill Road interchange in Cobb County is one of the widest freeways (seventeen lanes) in the entire world. The intersection of I-85 and I-285 in Doraville, locally referred to as Spaghetti Junction, is one of the tallest in the eastern United States. Metropolitan Atlanta is crisscrossed by thirteen freeways (in addition to the aforementioned interstates, I-575, Georgia 400, Georgia 141, I-675, Georgia 316, I-985, Stone Mountain Freeway (US 78), and Langford Parkway (SR 166)). The Georgia Department of Transportation operates Georgia Navigator to disseminate current traffic (travel times, camera images, accidents) and road (construction, flooding, ice, debris) conditions throughout the state.
MARTA is the public transit agency in the city, operating the subway and bus system within Fulton and Dekalb Counties. Clayton County, Gwinnett County and Cobb County all operate separate, autonomous transit authorities, all consisting of a bus network, with no rail. However, many commuters in Atlanta and the surrounding suburbs use automobiles as their primary mode of transportation. This results in heavy traffic during rush hour and contributes to Atlanta's air pollution problems. In recent years, the Atlanta metro area has ranked at or near the top of the longest average commute time in the US.
Atlanta grew up as a railroad town and is still today a major rail junction, with several busy freight lines belonging to New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at 1688 Peachtree St. N.W., several miles north of downtown and not well located for onward public transportation. An ambitious long-standing proposal would create a Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal in downtown adjacent to Philips Arena and the Five-Points MARTA station which would link MARTA bus and rail, intercity bus service, proposed commuter rail service to other Georgia cities, and Amtrak in a single facility.
United States and Canada. The Greyhound terminal is situated at 232 Forsyth Street, on the southern edge of the downtown area and directly beneath MARTA's Garnett rail station.
The proposed Beltline would create a greenway and public transit system in a circle around the city from a series of mostly abandoned rail lines. This rail right-of-way would also accommodate multi-use trails connecting a string of existing and new parks. In addition, there is a proposed streetcar project that would create a streetcar line along Peachtree from downtown to Buckhead as well as possibly another East-West line. [7]

Education

Public schools

The public school system (Atlanta Public Schools) is run by the Atlanta Board of Education. Currently, the system has an active enrollment of 51,000 students, attending a total of 85 schools: 59 elementary schools (three of which operate on a year-round calendar), 16 middle schools, 10 high schools, and 7 charter schools. The school system also supports two alternative schools for middle and/or high school students, two community schools, and an adult learning center. The school system also owns and operates radio station WABE-FM 90.1 (the National Public Radio affiliate) and PBS television station WPBA 30.

Private schools

Notable private schools in Atlanta include The Galloway School, Holy Spirit Preparatory School, Pace Academy (Buckhead), The Lovett School (Buckhead), Blessed Trinity Catholic High School, The Westminster Schools (Buckhead). The Atlanta International School (Buckhead).

Colleges and universities

Some of the prominent institutions of higher education in Atlanta include Emory University, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Mercer University, and Oglethorpe University. Atlanta University Center, a consortium of historically-black colleges and universities, is also located in the city. Schools that are part of this consortium include Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College,Spelman College and Morehouse School of Medicine. Other schools in the city include the Reformed Theological Seminary and the Savannah College of Art and Design which opened a Midtown campus in 2005 and acquired the Atlanta College of Art shortly thereafter.
Institutions in the surrounding metro area include Agnes Scott College (Decatur), DeVry University (Decatur), Clayton State University (Morrow), Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw), Georgia Perimeter College, Gwinnett University Center (soon to be known as Georgia Gwinnett College, in Lawrenceville), The University of West Georgia (Carrollton), and Southern Polytechnic State University (Marietta).