Atlanta serves as the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia, positioned as the seat of Fulton County with a portion extending into neighboring DeKalb County. According to the 2020 U.S. census, the city accommodates 498,715 residents within its limits, ranking as the eighth most populous city in the Southeast and the 38th in the entire United States. Furthermore, Atlanta forms the nucleus of the expansive Atlanta metropolitan area, boasting a population exceeding 6.2 million people (2022 estimate), thereby earning the designation of the eighth-largest U.S. metropolitan area. Nestled amidst the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains at an elevation surpassing 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level, Atlanta boasts distinctive topography, featuring rolling hills, verdant landscapes, and the most densely populated urban tree coverage among major U.S. cities.
Geography
In terms of geography, Atlanta encompasses 134.0 square miles (347.1 km2), comprising 133.2 square miles (344.9 km2) of land and 0.85 square miles (2.2 km2) of water. Positioned in the Deep South of the southeastern United States, Atlanta straddles the Eastern Continental Divide, standing at an elevation of 1,050 feet (320 m) above mean sea level. The city's unique location results in rainwater on the south and east side flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, while precipitation on the north and west side drains into the Gulf of Mexico. Atlanta's development occurred on a ridge south of the Chattahoochee River, forming part of the ACF River Basin, with the river bordering the city's far northwestern edge, and its natural habitat has been preserved, in part, through the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
Atlanta's strategic location places it 21 miles (33 km) southeast of Marietta, 27 miles (43 km) southwest of Alpharetta, 146 miles (234 km) southwest of Greenville, South Carolina, 147 miles (236 km) east of Birmingham, Alabama, and 245 miles (394 km) southwest of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Demographics
Examining demographics, the 2020 U.S. census discloses Atlanta's population of 498,715, with a population density of 3,685.45 persons per square mile (1,422.95/km2). Racially, the city comprises 51.0% Black or African American, 40.9% White, 4.2% Asian, and 0.3% Native American, with 1.0% identifying as other races. Additionally, 2.4% of the population reported two or more races, and Hispanics of any race constitute 6.0% of the city's population. The median household income stands at $66,657, and the per capita income is $54,414, while 20.2% of the population lives below the poverty line.