Atlanta metropolitan area is located in north Florida.
Atlanta is the capital of and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia , with an estimated 2016 population of 472,522 .. state of Georgia. Georgia ( U.S. state ). Georgia. Georgia ( U.S. state ). capital. capital city. city. List of municipalities in Georgia ( U.S. state ). state. U.S. state. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area , home to 5,710,795 people and the ninth largest metropolitan area in the United States .. Atlanta metropolitan area. Atlanta metropolitan area. ninth largest metropolitan area. table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas. Atlanta is the county seat of Fulton County , and a small portion of the city extends eastward into DeKalb County .. Fulton County. Fulton County, Georgia. Fulton. Fulton County, Georgia. DeKalb. DeKalb County, Georgia. city. List of municipalities in Georgia ( U.S. state ). county seat. county seat. DeKalb County. DeKalb County, Georgia. In 1837 , Atlanta was founded at the intersection of two railroad lines , and the city rose from the ashes of the American Civil War to become a national center of commerce .. city. List of municipalities in Georgia ( U.S. state ). American Civil War. American Civil War. In the decades following the Civil Rights Movement , the city earned a reputation as `` too busy to hate '' for the relatively progressive views of its citizens and leaders compared to other cities in the Deep South .. city. List of municipalities in Georgia ( U.S. state ). Civil Rights Movement. Civil Rights Movement. Deep South. Deep South. Atlanta attained international prominence , and it became the primary transportation hub of the Southeastern United States , via highway , railroad , and air , with Hartsfield -- Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world 's busiest airport since 1998 .. Southeastern United States. Southeastern United States. air. air transportation. Atlanta rated an `` alpha - '' world city that exerts a significant impact upon commerce , finance , research , technology , education , media , art , and entertainment .. city. List of municipalities in Georgia ( U.S. state ). It ranks 40th among world cities and 8th in the nation with a gross domestic product of $ 270 billion .. gross domestic product. gross domestic product. Atlanta 's economy is considered diverse , with dominant sectors that include logistics , professional and business services , media operations , and information technology .. Atlanta has topographic features that include rolling hills and dense tree coverage .. dense tree coverage. Atlanta tree canopy. Revitalization of Atlanta 's neighborhoods , initially spurred by the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta , has intensified in the 21st century , altering the city 's demographics , politics , and culture .. city. List of municipalities in Georgia ( U.S. state ). Revitalization. Smart growth. 1996 Olympics. 1996 Summer Olympics