Change In Atlanta

In the South people are very proud and honored to be Southern. The lifestyle in states like Georgia is universal. They share common ideas, beliefs, attitudes and associations of life. Atlanta is a major city of the South but, instead of describing the changes in the city alone, i will discuss the changes in the Southern region that affects every state.
Religion is a key component of life in the South. It is highly common for people to express their personal relationship with God in churches by expressing their devotion. People usually sing along and praise for a common faith. Protestant congregations make the majority in the South.

Redevolpment

The South became industrialized by machinery used in maufacturing and proceeded to benefit the agricultural aspect of life. No longer did they need animal and hand labor for production. As manufactoring grew so did employment in the region. Jobs were created and urban development began to produce housing for the community.

"Today Atlanta is a business, financial, and commercial center without peer in the South. Enterprises from Coca-Cola to CNN originated in Atlanta and continue to be based there. During the first two-thirds of the 1990's, the Atlanta metropolitan area took in more new land than any city in North America." I stated earlier in my introduction that Atlanta had many major company headquarters in the city. This only helps to make a commercial metropolitan area that is gaining recognition for its population size worldwide and its continued success.




From: Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada, 7th edition, 2009

Southern Appalachia

Early settler's in the Southern Appalachia were mostly poor. European settlers were dominated by German and English immigrants. They saw acres of land for the benefit of agricultural farming. However, because the land was not suited to agriculture on a macro-level, the population began to scatter around the region. "Atlanta's early growth, for example, resulted largely from its role as a rail junction at the mountain's southern edge." (Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada, p. 151). The residents in the Southern Appalachian region were poor because they had no access to transportation such as highways. They were an isolated population therefore, their opportunities were limited. Poverty is a common attribute among people living in the region. It is also common even til this day.

Population

The Southern Appalachian Region is largely poor and is dominated by anglo-saxon white Americans. It makes them the United States largest region with a white dominated race and low income region. Religiously and politically the population is said to be conservative. Politically the people are conservative and usually vote Republican. Religion is also a major factor in which Protestanism is rooted in cultural traditions.



From: Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada, 7th edition, 2009

The Economy

Production of Goods 

Atlanta has been one of the thriving economic structures in the US. Although, like most cities it has suffered from the recession, it still creates jobs due to the trade and manufacturing companies that keep producing and distributing goods. Some of the goods produced are metal, hardware, textiles and steel. In 2003 the economy suffered from a small recession but, throughout the recession the labor force had in increase and the unemployment rate kept decreasing.

Development 

In 1996 the Summer Olympic games held in Atlanta help boost the economy. With the amount of revenue produced, construction of hotels, sporting venues, etc. More importantly the downtown area was in redevelopment and acres of land were added. Public transportation was the center of connecting homes, offices, malls and others together. Technology became a modern tool for the success of Atlanta's metropolitan areas.




From: Encyclopedia.com
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3441800193.html

Architecture

Atlanta is part of the changing south region in which it is progressing to a more modern society. The city is dominated by significantly tall structures (companies, buildings) that are not applying the style of the traditional old south. High-rise and mid-rise buildings are present in the downtown area and it composes much of the skyline area. Atlanta has been known to structure their buildings in the settings of modern and post modern vintage buildings. Like much of the South, much more modern societies are being structured around company and commercial buildings. The Bank of America Plaza building is the 38th tallest building in the world.


Atlanta's metropolitan area is growing at a rapid pace. Not only is the population increasing but, also the territory is growing in the northwest and northeast. Continued suburban development is increasing as Atlanta is one of the leaders in the progressive growth of the new south. However, there is still a large population living in urban poor neighborhoods. Development in the neighborhood has been ignored and poverty is becoming a major issue.

From: wikipedia.org
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta

Industry

During the second half of the 1800's Atlanta was in a stage of reconstruction. Stores were opening and the railroad lines were boosting transportation and economic expansion. Stores were booming with trade and usually garnered a substantial amount of revenue. Atlanta also served as a port for cotton. In the later decades the city began producing maufacturing companies, factories, textile companies and import industrial features that would bolster the economy. With these industries striving, jobs were in excess because labor was needed in all parts of the industry. Atlanta would develop a downtown area that would serve as a point of banking and investment for not only the city but the state itself. The population took a tremendous drop and growth came to a halt after the depression. In 1952 that changed with the annexation of Buckhead. The annexation would guarantee the city to acquire land that would triple it in size. Estimates determined that 100,000 new residents were added. As of today, the city continues to prosper. With the recession of today the population may be at a stalemate for now. As soon as the recession ends, jobs and population will increase and should boost Atlanta's economy.



From: NPS.gov
http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/industrial.htm

Population and Accessibility

POPULATION

Earlier in my introduction I stated that Atlanta's metropolitan area was inhabited by more than 5.4 million people. As of July 2009 an estimate was made that 540,921 people populate the city. It ranks 33rd in the entire nation as far as population size is concerned.

ACCESSIBILITY

Atlanta provides transportation such as subways, airlines, interstate roads, etc. Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport is said to be the worlds busiest airport as it provides domestic and internation flights. The assumption of the airport is based on measures taken by aircraft and passenger traffic. Atlanta also provides access to places by subway system. It is in the top ten among the most busiest subways in the US. It allows for easy access for job travel, and touring. The interstate roads are also a major factor in transportation. Again the interstate routes in Atlanta rank them in the top ten for most congested freeways in the nation. The downtown connector is formed by two interstate highways. It runs through the middle of the city and is known to be heavy in traffic. 

From: infoplease.com

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763098.html

Early Settlement

Native Americans once inhabited a portion of what is now Atlanta. The Creek Indians and the Cherokee Indians were the two tribes to be inhabiting the land. After the immigration by the settlers, the majority of the settlers were British.  In 1814 the settlers took over the land and built Fort Peachtree. In 1836 legislature allowed for the Western and Atlantic Railroads to be built in order to have a trade route.
Atlanta was also famous for having battles on their territory during the Civil War. The battle of Atlanta and the battle of Peachtree Creek are a couple but not all of the significant battles in the history of the city. It also served as grounds for military soldiers after the end of the war.





From: city-directory.com
http://www.city-directory.com/Overview/history/history1.htm

Physical Features

TOPOGRAPHY

Atlanta is located in the Southern Appalachians in the north-central area of Georgia. The toal area of Atlanta is 132 square miles. The elevation is at 1,010 feet above sea level and it is close to the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 343.0 km² (132.4 sq mi). 341.2 km² (131.7 sq mi) of it is land and 1.8 km² (1 sq mi) of it is water. The total area is 0.54% water. At about 1,050 feet (320 m) above mean sea level the airport is at 1,010 feet (308 m), Atlanta sits atop a ridge south of the Chattahoochee River.

CLIMATE

The city is classified as having a humid subtropical climate. Summers are usually very hot and humid and that is why we hear the phrase hotter than Georgia asphault. Winters are mild in tempature and receives plenty of rainfall and precipitation. The average temperature in January is 40 Degrees Farenheit and in July the temperatures reach an average of 89 Degrees Farenheit. Since the summers are humid the temperatures often pass the 100 degree mark.

VEGETATION

Atlanta is known for its climax vegetation. It is dominated by pine and mixed hardwood species. Roadsides feature diverse vegetation, from wild plums, ash, mimosa, and black locust to old field grasses to planted dogwoods, crepe myrtles, and redbud trees. The regions is also known for having a vast range of forests. The region is dominated mostly by pine forests.


From: City-data.com & sherpaguides.com
http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/Atlanta-Geography-and-Climate.html
http://www.sherpaguides.com/georgia/atlanta_urban_wildlife/natural_history/

Introduction

Atlanta is a city I eventually want to move to. I created this blog to share the important geographic features of Atlanta. It is a beatiful city in one of the largest states in the south (Georgia). It is located in the United States Southern Region.
Atlanta has the state of Georgia's largest population. It is also the capital of Georgia so it fits that it should have a rather large metropolitan area. More than 5.4 million people live in the metropolitan area, making it the ninth largest in the nation. The majority of Atlanta's population is ethnically dominated by African-Americans (55.8%) followed by Caucasians (38.4%). The city is also known for their sports teams like the Braves (MLB), Falcons (NFL) and Hawks (NBA). The city attracts many tourists and is in the top ten of touring attractions in the US. Large Corporations such as Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, AT&T and others hold their headquarters in Atlanta.