47+ Amazing Georgia Facts: From Ancient History to Vibrant Culture

Georgia might as well be called “Georgia, the country” because of its famous American equivalent. Unlike the United States, the country remains uncharted.

Georgia is a land of deep green valleys, snow-capped mountains, and implausibly positioned medieval cathedrals, bordered by Russia to the north, Azerbaijan to the east, Armenia and Turkey to the south, and the Black Sea to the west.

Fascinating Georgia facts

Georgia had the first known humans in Europe

Archaeologists discovered 1.8 million-year-old human skulls in the Georgian village of Dmanisi in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the oldest anywhere outside of Africa.

In 2022, they discovered a 1.8 million-year-old tooth in the area, establishing Georgia as the birthplace of the first known humans in Europe (and elsewhere outside of Africa). 

Wine was created in Georgia

The world’s first known winemakers were Stone Age farmers in southern Georgia. According to analysis, people were manufacturing wine on a significant scale as early as 6,000 BC.

To put this in context, prehistoric humans at the time were still employing stone and bone tools.

Georgia has a desired place between Europe and Asia

Georgia is strategically located at a crossroads between two continents and has been fought over by Persia, Turkey, and Russia.

Russia annexed it in 1801-04, and it won independence nearly two decades later in 1991. 

There are two breakaway republics in Georgia

Georgia’s difficulties did not stop with its independence. Abkhazia and South Ossetia are two breakaway regions.

The Georgian government and the majority of United Nations member nations consider both territories to be legally part of Georgia. Only Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria regard themselves as sovereign.

There is a history of blood feuds in Georgia

One of Georgia’s most intriguing facts is its history of blood feuds, defined in the dictionary as “a lengthy conflict between families involving a cycle of retaliatory killings.”

Even though the historical custom is currently illegal, it is still practiced in some parts of the country. 

Houses in Svaneti were built with individual fortifications

In Svaneti, a historical province in northeastern Georgia, the terrain is studded with ‘tower houses,’ one-of-a-kind constructions that acted as both dwellings and defense posts against intruders in the region.

Because protecting entire communities were complex, homes were erected with private fortifications. 

Georgian is one of the world’s most unique languages

Georgian has no resemblance to any other language save those that broke off and developed alongside it, particularly Svan, Mingrelian, and Laz, which comprise the Kartvelian languages. 

Georgian is one of the world’s only 14 existing scripts

One of the fascinating facts about Georgia is that while there are over 7,000 surviving languages in the world, only 14 unique scripts exist – and Georgian is one of them.

The highest mountain range in Europe is in Georgia

Many people believe that the Alps are Europe’s tallest mountain range, but the Caucasus Mountains, which run along Georgia’s border with Russia, are higher.

While Russia has Europe’s tallest peak (Elbrus at 5,642m / 18,510ft), Georgia’s Shkhara at 5,193m (17,037ft) is about 400m higher than Mont Blanc in France!

Georgia has the highest settlement in Europe

The historic villages of Ushguli in the hilly region of Svaneti are Europe’s highest towns, rising 2,100m (6,900ft) above sea level.

Stalin, joseph, was born in Georgia

Joseph Stalin was born in the Georgian city of Gori in 1878, a part of the Russian Empire. Gori’s Joseph Stalin Museum is dedicated to the dictator’s life. 

Katie Melua, a singer, was born in Georgia as well

Katie Melua was born in 1984 in Tbilisi. The singer moved away from Georgia when she was eight years old, yet she maintains close ties to the nation. In Winter, her 2016 album, was recorded in Georgia and featured the Gori Women’s Choir.

Abkhasia is known for its 100-year-old population

The Caucasus is claimed to have more healthy centenarians than any other region of the world. The Abkhasia region is particularly well-known, highlighted in The New York Times in 1971. 

A 6,000-room cave city is located in Georgia

Vardzia is a ‘fortress-monastery-palace complex’ cut into Georgia’s Erusheti Mountain. The 6,000-room cave city was erected as a sanctuary from the Mongol Empire’s raids, and it had a bakery, a chapel, wine cellars, an irrigation system, and royal apartments.

In space, there is a Georgian song

NASA‘s Voyager space probe was launched carrying a compilation of “Music from Earth,” which included Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Stravinsky, and Chakrulo, a Georgian polyphonic choral folk song.

Georgia is said to be the second Christian nation in the world

Georgia was one of the first countries to make Christianity its official religion in 337 AD, second only to Armenia in 301 AD.

St. George is Georgia’s patron saint

Georgia’s patron saint is St George. While the country isn’t formally named after the saint — its native name is ‘Sakartvelo’ – the English name is considered to be borrowed from him. 

The 7th of January is Christmas in Georgia

For religious holidays, the Georgian Orthodox Church, which is followed by the majority of Georgians, adheres to the old Julian calendar. As a result, instead of the customary 25th of December, Christmas is celebrated on January 7th.

Georgia is a Biodiverse state

Georgia is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, with climates ranging from subtropical to alpine to semi-desert. Dense forest occupies 40% of the country and is home to lynxes, bears, and leopards.

The natives do not refer to their country as such Georgia

Georgian Letters Georgia Country InformationSurprisingly, the inhabitants do not refer to their home as Georgia.

The local Georgians call their country Saqartvelo or, in the local language.  The meaning of the name Georgia is also unknown.

One theory is that Christians believed St. George was the country’s patron saint during the Middle Ages. Clearly, the name stayed.

Kutaisi Church is one of Europe’s oldest cities

Kutaisi is located in the country’s west. It is now one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities.

Kutaisi was the capital of the Kingdom of Colchisfrom the second millennium BC until the third millennium BC. Needless to say, the city has withstood the test of time and war.

The Georgian language is spoken nowhere else on the planet

Although Georgian is the official and predominant language, knowing how to say hello and thank you in Georgian will get you nowhere else in the world.

Georgian has various dialects, and its alphabet is unlike anything other found in the world.

Like the rest of Georgia, it is old, dating back to the mid-4th century. This is difficult to grasp, but take solace in the fact that many young Georgians speak English better than Russian.

It has a diversified ecosystem

Landscape with a human and a dog looking out over the valley – Interesting and entertaining Georgia country information.

Another of our favorite Georgia fun facts is that it is one of the world’s most biologically varied places. The 12 climate zones of the country have resulted in an astonishing diversity of scenery and animals.

Outdoor enthusiasts will love skiing the slopes and trekking gorges, while animal aficionados can glimpse wolves, lynxes, and bears in the forest.

Georgia became the first state to join the Union in 1788

Despite being a part of British colonization in North America, Georgia did not immediately join the United States during the Revolutionary War. In truth, the Union did not exist before drafting the Constitution a few years later.

Georgia became the fourth state to join the United States, following Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. In 1788, state representatives ratified the constitution.

The most exposed granite mountain is Stone Mountain

Stone Mountain Park is only a few miles from downtown Atlanta. That name alone is impressive, but that’s not all. Stone Mountain has formed around 300 million years ago and is entirely constructed of granite.

It is also the world’s most enormous exposed solid mass of granite. The mountain is only a tiny portion of the granite bulk. It also runs for 9 kilometers underground.

Georgia’s southeast coast borders the Atlantic Ocean

While you may be aware that Georgia has borders with North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida, those aren’t the only ones; as many believe, Georgia isn’t a land-locked state.

A map will show that the southeast corner of Georgia touches the Atlantic Ocean. That implies the state is surrounded by six amazing other land or water bodies.

Jimmy Carter was a senator and governor of Georgia

He is the only president ever elected from Georgia. His political links to Georgia extend even further! He also served as the state’s governor and as a state senator.

Indian Springs State Park is Georgia’s oldest state park

Here’s one for you if you’re seeking for interesting Georgia facts. The exciting element about Indian Springs is that it is a state park in the heart of the state.

Indian Springs was established as a resort in 1825, making it Georgia’s oldest state park. It is also one of the country’s oldest state parks.

The Cherokee written alphabet was published in Georgia

Georgia has made some steps to honor its Cherokee heritage. Cherokee County’s formalization and the naming of the Cherokee Rose are just two examples of this.

It should come as no surprise that the first Cherokee-written alphabet and Cherokee newspaper were both published in Georgia. This allowed the Cherokee tribes’ culture in the state to spread and be preserved for future generations.

Atlanta was the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr.

Throughout history, many influential people have called Atlanta home. None, however, may be as compelling as Martin Luther King Jr.

MLK was born on January 15, 1929, and grew to become one of the civil rights movement’s most influential personalities. Though he is celebrated across the country, Atlanta is proud to be the birthplace of such a significant individual.

The oldest British fort in Georgia

As one of the original colonies, Georgia has many British constructions and forts that date back to its colonization. However, a lot of those forts have been destroyed over the years.

However, to allow for restoration, enough of Fort King George remained. It is the oldest British fort still standing in Georgia, as it was built in 1721.

It is the largest state in the eastern United States

A very interesting fact about Georgia is that it is the largest state in the eastern area of the United States, covering almost 59,425 square miles of land area. 

However, if you count both the sea and land areas, that is not the case because if you count everything within the state area, Michigan is the largest state at 96716 square miles.

It got its name after King George II

Georgia was named after King George II and established in 1732 as the last one among the original 13 colonies. James Oglethorpe suggested using this place as a felon colony and a refuge for London’s indebted prisoners.

However, it was untimely founded to protect South Carolina from Spanish enemies in Florida.

In the entire United States, Georgia has the most varied soil

There are different types of soil in the state of Georgia. Clay, sand, and loam combine in several ways to create dozens of soil combinations.

Though other places in the United States have varied soil, Georgia is still a lot different than those places. Hence, this place has a wide variety of plant growth as well.

The tallest waterfall in Georgia: Amicalola Falls

Georgia is famous for its diverse landscape, and one of the best examples of this is definitely Amicalola Falls. This waterfall got its name from the Cherokee language and almost tells about the tumbling waters of the waterfall. 

The waterfall stands almost 730 feet in height, which makes it the tallest waterfall in the state. It is even the 3^rd tallest east of the Mississippi.

Georgia was the headquarter of the civil rights movement

Martin Luther King’s connection with this state, Georgia, drove the civil rights movement.

While this movement spread throughout the country, especially in the south, Georgia saw a major part of the action. Leaders of this movement assembled in Atlanta to assist in the fight for equal rights.

Also, here you will get to see the famous Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which covers almost 35 acres of the Atlanta area. Thus, it can encompass several sites important to the civil rights activist.

Cola-Cola was invested here

Another interesting fact about Georgia is that the world-famous brand Coca-Cola was invented in Georgia. In 1886, a pharmacist in Atlanta, Dr. John S. Pemberton, invented a specific syrup that would eventually develop into the famous beverage you love today.

The Georgia Aquarium: One of the world’s largest aquarium

You might be surprised that Georgia has a thriving aquarium in its territory. The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is famous as the largest aquarium in the United States.

Also, it is the third largest aquarium in the world. Here you will see 200 types of sea creatures and also more than 120000 total animals.

In Atlanta, the 1996 Olympics were held

The 1996 Olympics were a very special event. It marked the 100^th anniversary of the first Olympic games worldwide. Also, it was the site of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing, a terrorist attack that injured more than 100 individuals in attendance. 

However, the games did continue, even after the attack. In order to commemorate the camaraderie and bravery the countries showed in the aftermath of the events, this park has been maintained as a famous landmark.

Georgia: The largest peanut producer in the United States. 

Due to Georgia’s climate, it is a great spot for peanuts to grow, which has made the state famous as the biggest peanut producer in the entire country.

Almost 45% of all the peanuts used and sold in the United States come from Georgia. The industry is so big that it actually accounts for almost $600 million of the annual revenue of the state. 

Atlanta: The fifth capital of the state

Atlanta is, no doubt, Georgia’s most important city so that this city would be the capital of the state. However, that wasn’t always the case. Actually, Atlanta is the fifth city chosen as the state capital of Georgia.

The first one was Savannah, which was followed by Augusta, Louisville, and Milledgeville. In the year 1868, the capital was changed to Atlanta.

Atlanta was not always known as Atlanta

Though in 1837 Atlanta was founded, it wasn’t always known as Atlanta because the official name of this city was not Atlanta until 1845.

Originally, the city was named after the daughter of then governor. Her name was Martha, so the name of the city was Marthasville. Also, this city was nicknamed Terminus because the city was mainly a vital railway hub at that time. 

Georgia was the place where the first gold rush happened

While thinking about the gold mining history of the United States, many people think about the California gold rush of the 1840s-1850s. Yet, the nation’s first major gold rush took place decades earlier.

In the 1820s, gold was found in Dahlonega, Georgia. From there, word got leaked, and hopeful prospectors flocked to the state to try to find their fortune.

Georgia is divided into 159 counties

In order to make governing efficient, every state in the United States is divided into counties. While the average number of counties is 62, Georgia has more than that. This state has the second most number of counties, which is 159 in total. The only state that beats it is Texas, with 254 counties.

In Georgia, there are three hundred and eighty-three bird species

From north to south, Georgia has many diverse animal species. Also, Georgia is home to almost 383 different types of bird species.

Some of these birds reside in the state all year, while others only live there in winter when the weather gets too cold up north. However, the type of birds you may see will depend on your location within the state and also the terrain of that location.

So, Georgia is a state in the United States with many interesting facts, including its rich history, diverse wildlife, interesting culture, important locations, and many more.

At the end of this article, we learned 22 interesting facts that offer us a clear picture of this state, Georgia. You can see our website if you want to know some additional facts.

Georgia has the most diverse soil in the United States

While Georgia, like everywhere else, has many different types of soil, Georgia’s soil stands out. Sand, clay, and loam interact in various ways to form dozens of soil types.

Other parts of the country have various soil, but Georgia’s is especially so. This encourages the growth of a diverse range of plant species in the state.

In this article, we have read about the various facts Georgia. To know more, follow this website.