Atlanta, GA

Overview |  Business |  Networking |  Pleasure

King of the New South

GEORGIA'S CAPITAL IS a city forever being reborn. It's in the DNA of the place, which was burned to the ground during the Civil War and has seen numerous (although less extreme) ups and downs ever since. In recent decades, Atlanta, despite its modest population, has grown up and taken its rightful place among the top tier of American cities — despite what you may see on reality shows like The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

It's without doubt the commercial and cultural center of the South, with a vibrant business sector (it's home to Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting and Delta Air Lines, among others), a heady entrepreneurial streak and a prominent and influential African-American arts scene. Atlanta is the home of Tyler Perry Studios, a black-owned film and TV production facility built on a scale to rival Hollywood. And with major recording stars like Usher, Outkast, Ciara, Young Jeezy, T.I. and Ludacris calling the city home, and labels like So So Def, Rowdy, LaFace and many more, ATL is widely considered the new capital of the business.

The city has suffered in the recession; unemployment, though trending down, remains above the national average. The next rebirth will surely come in the form of economic recovery. Care to help make it happen?

PEOPLE

ASIAN POPULATION
1.9%
BLACK POPULATION
56.8%
LATINO POPULATION (OF ANY RACE)
4.7%
WHITE POPULATION
37.7%
POPULATION GROWTH
14.0% since 2000 (U.S. average: +8%)
POPULATION EDUCATION: HIGH SCHOOL DEGREE (U.S. AVERAGE: 84%)
83.4%
POPULATION EDUCATION: UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE (U.S.AVERAGE: 27%)
41.2%
 
 
Atlanta GA Click to view larger image
Population:
City 439,000
Metro: 5,100,000
Neighboring Cities:
Montgomery, Alabama - 160 miles
Charlotte - 245 miles
Nashville - 250 miles
PROS

Business and cultural offerings unequaled anywhere else in the South; a relatively low cost of living for a major city.

CONS

The city's traffic and sprawling urban landscape are the stuff of nightmares.

 

in Business

The OneGeorgia Authority's Entrepreneur and Small Business Development Loan Program

is funded with proceeds from the state's share of the Master Tobacco Settlement. It helps fund small businesses — usually via loans ranging from $35,000 to $250,000 — especially those located in more rural areas of the state.

in Pleasure

Though the Atlantic Ocean is a good 250 miles east, Atlanta does offer the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, just north of downtown, and the immense Nantahala National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park are north of the city, across the Tennessee border. Atlanta has teams in all four major professional sports: baseball's Braves, basketball's Hawks, football's Falcons and hockey's Thrashers. The city is also home to the WNBA's Atlanta Dream.

in Networking

The Atlanta Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce

is a major advocate for African-American business throughout the city.