located in the southeastern United States
. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies
. The state is named after King George II
of Great Britain
. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution
, on January 2, 1788. It declared its secession from the Union on January 21, 1861, and was one of the original seven Confederate states
. It was the last state to be restored to the Union, on July 15, 1870.
The 2010 US Census reported 9,687,653 residents, making Georgia the ninth most populous state.
From 2007 to 2008, 14 of Georgia's counties ranked among the nation's 100 fastest-growing, second only to Texas
.
1732 James Oglethorpe is granted a royal charter for the colony of Georgia.
1733 Englishman James Oglethorpe founds Georgia, the 13th colony of the Thirteen Colonies, and its first city at Savannah (known as Georgia Day).
1788 Georgia becomes the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution
1814 Indian Wars: the Creek sign the Treaty of Fort Jackson, giving up huge parts of Alabama and Georgia.
1825 The Creek cede the last of their lands in Georgia to the United States government, and migrate west.
1861 American Civil War: Georgia joins South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Alabama in seceding from the United States.
1864 American Civil War: Battle of Resaca, Georgia ends.
1864 American Civil War: Confederate General John Bell Hood evacuates Atlanta, Georgia after a four-month siege by General Sherman.
1864 American Civil War: Sherman's March to the Sea: Confederate General John Bell Hood invades Tennessee in an unsuccessful attempt to draw Union General William T. Sherman from Georgia.
1870 Reconstruction era of the United States: Georgia becomes the last of the former Confederate states to be readmitted to the Union.