Atlanta is the capital and most populous city of Georgia and the seat of Fulton County, with portions of the city extending into neighboring DeKalb County. Roughly 530,000 people live within the city limits, at the center of a metro area that functions as the commercial and cultural hub of the Southeast. Atlanta's identity is rooted in its history as a railroad terminus and, later, a center of the civil rights movement, and today it is known for its corporate economy, its major airport, and a dense tree canopy that has earned it the nickname "the City in the Forest."
The city's layout is defined by its neighborhoods. Atlanta's planning department recognizes more than 240 neighborhoods grouped into neighborhood planning units, and the character varies sharply from one to the next. Buckhead anchors the city's northern edge with office towers, upscale retail, and established residential streets. Midtown and Downtown form the central business and cultural core, while east-side intown neighborhoods such as Inman Park, Virginia-Highland, Grant Park, and Cabbagetown offer some of the region's most distinctive historic housing and walkable commercial districts.
Culturally, Atlanta pairs major attractions with strong neighborhood life. Centennial Olympic Park anchors the downtown tourism district, and venues such as Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena host professional sports and major events. Ponce City Market and the Fox Theatre anchor entertainment, while Zoo Atlanta and Piedmont Park draw families across the region. The dining scene ranges from Southern classics to a broad international mix, concentrated downtown and along intown commercial corridors.
The Atlanta BeltLine is the city's defining public-space project: a 22-mile loop of trails, parks, and future transit that links 45 neighborhoods and has reshaped how residents move around the intown core. Public education is led by Atlanta Public Schools, and MARTA's rail and bus network connects the city to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the world's busiest, in under half an hour.
