The State in Brief
Nickname: Empire State of the South; Peach State
Motto: Wisdom, justice, and moderation
Flower: Cherokee rose Bird: Brown thrasher
Area: 59,424 square miles (2000; U.S. rank: 24th)
Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 4,784 feet above sea level
Climate: Long, hot summers and short, mild winters
Admitted to Union: January 2, 1788 Capital: Atlanta
Head Official: Sonny Perdue (R) (until 2007)
Population
1980: 5,463,000
1990: 6,478,000
2000: 8,186,453
2004 estimate: 8,829,383
Percent change, 1990-2000: 26.4%
U.S. rank in 2004: 9th
Percent of residents born in state: 57.8% (2000)
Density: 141.4 people per square mile (2000)
2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 385,830
Racial and Ethnic Characteristics (2000)
White: 5,327,281
Black or African American: 2,349,542
American Indian and Alaska Native: 21,737
Asian: 173,170
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 4,246
Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 435,227
Other: 196,289
Age Characteristics (2000)
Population under 5 years old: 595,150
Population 5 to 19 years old: 2,414,770
Percent of population 65 years and over: 9.6% Median age: 33.4 years
Vital Statistics
Total number of births (2003): 135,831
Total number of deaths (2003): 66,337 (infant deaths,1,153)
AIDS cases reported through 2003: 14,023 Economy
Major industries: Paper and board, textiles, manufacturing, agriculture, forestry, chemicals
Unemployment rate: 4.1% (December 2004)
Per capita income: $29,259 (2003; U.S. rank: 28th)
Median household income: $43,535 (3-year average,2001-2003)
Percentage of persons below poverty level: 12.0% (3-year average, 2001-2003)
Income tax rate: Ranges from 1.0% to 6.0% Sales tax rate: 4.0% (food and prescription drugs are exempt)
