Atlanta was founded in 1837 as the southern terminus of the Western and Atlantic Railroad and was given the name Atlanta in 1845. During the Civil War, the city was burnt to the ground by Union troops in an attempt to disrupt communication and transportation between the Confederate States.Since its reconstruction, the city has played a vital role as a transport hub between north and south and is now an important national and international crossroads.

Atlanta dramatically expresses the transition from the 'Old South' to the New. In the city, tree-lined Georgian-style avenues lie alongside some of the country's most dazzling contemporary buildings.The setting of Gone With the Wind, the city has nevertheless shed much of its traditional deep-south identity to become a booming manufacturing centre; corporate giants, such as Coca-Cola, have made the city their home. Atlanta is also known as the birthplace and home of Dr Martin Luther King and has made a significant contribution over the years to the Civil Rights movement in the USA. The city has had a succession of black leaders, including the country's first African-American mayor, who came to office in 1974.

In 1996, Atlanta played host to the centennial Olympic Games amid a blaze of publicity showcasing the city and its achievements. The US$2 billion spent on this international sporting extravaganza has left the city with impressive accommodation, leisure, sports, conference and transport facilities.