From its early days as a Native American village to the destruction of the city during the Civil War, Atlanta has a long history. By the early 21st century, the city has been recognized as one of the largest in the country, featuring a number of infrastructural advantages over many other cities. One negative fact, however, is the large scale pollution that exists in the metropolitan area.
The land on which Atlanta, Georgia sits was once a Native American village. Known as "Standing Peachtree," it was sold to the United States in 1822 by the Cherokee and Creeks. The city of Atlanta was established in 1847.
The city proper has a size of 132.4 square miles, while the metropolitan area stretches over 8,000 square miles. According to 2007 figures, the city was the 33rd largest in the country with a population of 519,150. The metropolitan area had 5,376,290 people.
The Civil War saw Atlanta grow in importance to the infrastructure of the South as a railroad hub. However, General Sherman laid siege to the city for four months in 1864. His troops destroyed nearly all of the city's buildings on November 11 as they burnt Atlanta to the ground.
According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Atlanta is one of the worst American city for asthma sufferers. This stems from a 2007 report by the American Lung Association that ranked the city as having the 13th highest level of particle pollution in the country.
Atlanta features the 30th tallest building in the world, the Bank of America Plaza. This 1023-foot structure provides the city with the tallest building in the country next to Chicago and New York City.
