The state of Georgia is home to several large and thriving cities. According to the 2000 United States census, the five largest towns are, in order: Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, and Athens. These all boast a healthy tourist business, and all were founded some time ago--the locals value their history.
Atlanta, the largest city with a population of 486,000, began as a settlement that sprang up around the terminus of the Macon-Augusta and Western-Atlantic railroads. Originally called "Marthaville" after Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin's daughter, the name "Atlanta" was a shortened version of the "Atlantica-Pacifical" title given the community when the train routes were completed in 1846.
Augusta has a population of approximately 189,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The city was established in 1736 and was named for Princess Augusta of Saxe Gotha. It was U.S. President Woodrow Wilson's boyhood home, and has three sports teams: the Green Jackets (baseball), Stallions (arena football), and Lynx (hockey).
The third-largest town, Columbus, boasts a population of about 188,600. Its refurbished and revitalized RiverWalk, which includes a new performing arts center, is a point of pride, as is its National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center. It was once the site of a Creek Indian village, and was established in 1828.
Savannah is the fourth-largest city in Georgia, with a population of approximately 127,900. Known as one of Georgia's most beautiful cities, Savannah was the site of several Revolutionary War battles and was an important stop during Sherman's March to the Sea during the Civil War. It is also the birthplace of the Girl Scouts. It is the setting for John Berendt's book "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil."
Athens is the state's fifth-largest city, with a population of approximately 111,580. It began as a settlement in Cherokee Indian territory. It is home to the University of Georgia. It is one of the few towns in Georgia spared Civil War battles, so most of its historic buildings remain intact.
