Discover the Peach State: 19 Fascinating and Fun Facts About Georgia You Never Knew

1. Georgia's Religious History

If you thought Georgia was all peaches and sweet tea, hold onto your pews, because this Southern state hosts a heavenly blend of heritage: Georgia is a bastion of religious history with some of America's oldest Black Baptist churches and Jewish congregations, including Catholicism brought by Spanish missionaries in the 1500s, the third-oldest Jewish congregation established in Savannah in 1735, and the First African Baptist Church and Springfield Baptist Church dating back to the 1770s.
Source => georgiaencyclopedia.org

2. Wormsloe's Haunted History

If spooky trees and ancient ruins give you the heebie-jeebies, you'll be thrilled to know that Georgia has a haunted house that's more "Living History" than Poltergeist: Wormsloe State Historic Site in Savannah boasts the city's oldest standing structure, the tabby ruin. This colonial estate of Noble Jones is a treasure trove reflecting Native American, African, and European cultural influences. You can take a walk down the eerie avenue of live oaks draped in Spanish moss, zip through the museum for artifacts, and join events to gain insight on life in colonial Georgia – think of it like time-traveling through history with a side of goosebumps!
Source => gadnr.org

Discover the hidden treasure of Blackbeard's infamous ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, found in North Carolina, and explore the legendary pirate's coastal escapades through fascinating artifacts at the NC Maritime Museum. 🏴‍☠️🌊🏺

=> Fun Facts about North-Carolina-For-Kids

3. Six Flags Over Georgia

Hold onto your hats, thrill-seekers, for Georgia's rollercoaster ride of history has a theme park to match: Six Flags Over Georgia, opened in 1967, is named in honor of the six nations that have taken turns claiming the Peach State - Spain, France, Great Britain, the United States, the Confederacy, and the state of Georgia itself.
Source => todayingeorgiahistory.org

4. World of Coca-Cola Museum

Feeling "bottled up" with curiosity about the world's favorite bubbly drink? Pop the cap on a fizzy journey back in time: At Atlanta's World of Coca-Cola Museum, visitors can see a miniature processing factory where bottles are filled entirely by hand, unlike the modern-day plants churning out a whopping 200 bottles per minute.
Source => thetravel.com

5. Gainesville's Chicken Etiquette

In Gainesville, Georgia, you won't catch anyone committing a fowl act of eating chicken with a fork: Gainesville, lovingly called the Poultry Capital of the World, has a 1961 ordinance claiming that their beloved chicken is a delicacy and must be eaten with one's hands, though the rule is tongue-in-beak and has barely ever been enforced, except for once as a practical joke on a 91-year-old birthday girl.
Source => smf-law.com

6. Georgia's Froggy Diversity

When Georgia's amphibious choir strikes up a nocturnal tune, they don't need no stinkin' record deal: Georgia is a mecca of froggy diversity, harboring a whopping 85 species of amphibians. The state's superstar soloist, the green tree frog, flaunts its svelte 2-inch frame, perfectly accessorized with bright green coloring, white racing stripes, and sensible toe pads, as they feast on bugs and occasionally cling to windows for an encore performance.
Source => statesymbolsusa.org

7. Haunted Savannah

Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters... in Savannah! The city's spirited past has left a spooktacular residue that's practically begging for a proton pack: Savannah, Georgia is known for its haunted history, as deadly battles, epidemics, fires, murders, and slavery have created supernatural remnants that seemingly lurk around the cobblestone streets and historic buildings.
Source => savannah.com

8. Georgia's Nutty Production

When life gives you pecans, Georgia makes the entire world's pecan pie: Georgia holds the title for the largest producer of pecans in the world, while also ranking fifth in the United States for blueberry production and proudly housing the self-proclaimed Poultry Capital of the World in its northeast region.
Source => lostamericana.com

9. Atlanta Olympics Flag Fracas

Flags and consternation, the Atlanta Olympic edition: In the 1996 Olympic games hosted by Atlanta, a flag fracas ensued when a pro-Confederate flag group protested against the rule that only the national flags of participating countries could be flown in official events - a rule so steadfast that Georgia's own state flag got caught in its web and a pre-1956 flag, sans any Confederate traces, was hoisted at the airport and city hall during the games, causing the group to offer free legal aid to anyone denied their flag-waving rights.
Source => tampabay.com

10. "The Walking Dead" Town

Don't be dead-on-arrival in Senoia, Georgia, or you might just find yourself with a hearty helping of Coca-Cola-braised apocalypse: Senoia is the picturesque town famed for being the go-to filming location of AMC's cult classic, "The Walking Dead," and features a unique restaurant owned by Greg Nicotero and Norman Reedus themselves, called Nic & Norman's, where you can chow down on tantalizing dishes like Coca-Cola Braised Pork Shank – oh, and don't forget to snap some selfies with the roaming cosplayers!
Source => thetvtraveler.com

11. Georgia's Water Wars

Ever wondered why Georgia's always caught up in a H2O tussle with Florida and Alabama, like the Three Stooges fighting for a glass of water? Well, here's a splash of insight: Georgia's Metro Atlanta heavily depends on the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) and the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa (ACT) river basins for about 80% of its water supply, leading to decades-long "tri-state water wars" between the states. In 2021, the Supreme Court denied Florida's request for an equitable share of ACF Basin waters, and Metro Atlanta's water supply needs for 2050 were confirmed from Lake Lanier and the Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam.
Source => atlantaregional.org

12. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Impact

When Dr. Pillpatient prescribed Georgia a healthy dose of equality, one man took the prescription to heart: Martin Luther King Jr., born in Georgia, emerged as a leading figure in the African-American civil rights movement and inspired the nation with his tireless protests against racial injustice. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and honored posthumously with a commemorative stamp in 1999.
Source => postalmuseum.si.edu

13. Gopher Tortoise's Forest Savior

Did someone order a keystone pizza with extra gopher tortoise? Hold the pineapple: Longleaf pine forests in Georgia, now spanning a whopping 3 million acres, have experienced a major comeback after a century of decline, all thanks to restoration efforts that saved the humble gopher tortoise, a crucial critter that digs extensive burrows up to 40 feet long— which, by the way, provide shelter for over 350 other animal species!
Source => courthousenews.com

14. Amicalola Falls' Jaw-Dropping Beauty

Prepare to plunge into a jaw-dropping experience as Georgia shares its tears of joy with the world: Amicalola Falls, located in Amicalola Falls State Park near Dawsonville, is one of the state's tallest waterfalls with a staggering 729-foot drop, boasting a one-mile trail and 425 stair steps that allow visitors to marvel at its beauty from both top and bottom, particularly during the colorful autumn season.
Source => world-of-waterfalls.com

15. Military Hogwarts at Fort Benning

Ever wish you could learn from the masters, quite literally? Well, the U.S. Army Infantry School in Georgia might be your version of military Hogwarts: Fort Benning has produced famed five-star generals like Omar Bradley, George Marshall, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, as well as George Patton and Colin Powell. Known for its advanced tactics and skills training, such as airborne and Ranger schools, it serves as a hub for cutting-edge war technology and contributes over $750 million to the economy with its 35,000 military and civilian personnel.
Source => georgiaencyclopedia.org

16. Thomasville's Big Oak Party

Have you ever imagined a local hangout spot older than most countries, so ancient that it probably traded gossip with Plato, Aristotle, and the gang? Well, the party doesn't stop in Georgia: The Big Oak in Thomasville has been standing since about 1680! With roots in the Live Oak Society and a height of 72 feet and a circumference of 27.9 feet, this arborous colossus is both a major landmark and an impressive slice of history.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

17. Lake Lanier's Underwater Secrets

Ever thought real estate is a sunk cost? Try investing in an underwater race track: Lake Lanier in Georgia was created in the 1950s, submerging valley communities, an old auto-racing track, and the foundations of small buildings, and likely harboring unanticipated human remains despite relocation efforts.
Source => cnn.com

18. Georgia's Peanut Love Story

Aren't you nuts about Georgia? They surely are about peanuts! In fact, they're in a committed, decades-long relationship with these legumes: Georgia reigns as the top state for peanut production in the United States, responsible for nearly half of the country's peanut crop. They have their peanut love story rooted in the past, with George Washington Carver helping them discover over 300 uses for peanuts, and Thomas Jefferson publicly endorsing the American peanut dream by being the first US president to grow them.
Source => jimmycarter.info

19. Savannah's Wiener Dog Race

In the land of beer and bratwurst, Dachshunds reign supreme as they compete for the honor roll in their very own Oktoberfest: Savannah, Georgia celebrates its annual Oktoberfest by hosting the Wiener Dog Race, a quirky dash featuring wiener dogs and "almost wiener" dogs across different weight categories, vying for top dog in contests like best dressed, with Morrell Park as their battleground and the entry fee set at $25 per canine competitor.
Source => bringfido.com