Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta [1] is in the Southeastern United States. It is Georgia's capital and largest city.

The city has a population of just under 500,000, and it is the core of the ninth most populated metropolitan area in the United States with over 5 million people. This is a city that blends the Old South with the New South. Post-modern skyscrapers and old historical homes can coexist within blocks of each other. The idea of the New South is also reflected by its people. Many new residents from different regions of the United States and the world have come to make their new home in Atlanta, making it one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. At the same time, the city is still able to retain its Southern charm.

Located on the Piedmont Plateau in the Northern Georgia, Atlanta is located almost entirely in Fulton County, while a part of the city limits extends into Dekalb County. The area size of the city limits is only 132 sq mi (343 km²), but Metro Atlanta which includes 28 counties has an area of 8,376 sq mi (21,693.7 km²). The Chattahoochee River, which forms the Northwestern boundary of the city limits of Atlanta, is a major source of water throughout the metro area. Aside from the river, the topography of Atlanta is assorted with rolling hills, forests, lakes and ponds, and granite Stone Mountain to the east.

Visitors

There are many interesting attractions to see in Atlanta such as the largest aquarium in the world, Georgia Aquarium, World of Coke and CNN Center, which are all within walking distance of one another. It is well worth the trip from cities such as Chattanooga, TN or Athens (Georgia)|Athens, GA for big name concerts, excellent dining and countless attractions.

Because of this, Atlanta has become a major conference and exhibition city. Most of the conference venues are located around Peachtree Center, and when there is a large show in town, it can sometimes seem as though every other person in the city is wearing a nametag.

Contact

• Local Calls: Atlanta area codes are 770, 404, and 678. All 10 digits of the phone number are required when making local calls.
• Directory Assistance: dial 411.

Stay safe

• Despite Atlanta's reputation, the city is not as dangerous as many perceive it to be. The crime rate has dropped during the late 1990s and 2000s, and has reached a near 40 year low in 2005. In the past, Atlanta was ranked in the top three for U.S. cities with the highest crime rates repeatedly for many consecutive years, but since 2005 the city's ranking has been off the top 10. Still, precautions should still be taken as in any other major city, such as not traveling alone at night, and being aware of which neighborhoods and areas are more prone to crime. In Atlanta, the Southwest and Southeast area have reported the most incidents of crime. Also to note, statistics indicate that 2006 and 2007 were two consecutive years of an increase in overall crime citywide, but the current rate is still lower than in the not-too-distant past. It should be noted that much of the crime is drug-related and out of sight so long as you are not in low-income areas. Outside of the perimeter, the crime rates are significantly lower (except perhaps in Dekalb County. Muggings are rare, even at night, and as a tourist/visitor to the city, you should be very safe.