Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is the 11th largest city in the United States. Over the past 10 years, the Atlanta metropolitan area saw a population increase of over 1 million. Like Houston, Dallas and Miami, Atlanta has grown into a city recognized the world over as a city of influence.

The “City Too Busy To Hate” got its name during the Civil Rights era because of its refusal to support segregation. Such a liberal attitude made Atlanta very popular with African-Americans. By 1972, the city’s population was predominantly black. Atlanta’s progressive attitude extended into politics as well. Since 1974, all of Atlanta’s mayors have been African-American.

Atlanta is built on what was once Creek and Cherokee territory. The land was opened to white settlement in 1823, and by 1835, the land had been ceded to the United States government under the Treaty of New Echota, resulting in a great migration west for the Creek and the Cherokee known as the Trail of Tears. In 1836, the construction of the Western and Atlantic Railroad connected Atlanta to the Midwest.

During the Civil War, Atlanta acted as a military and supply hub. In 1864, the Union targeted the city for invasion. Conquering Atlanta gave the North increased confidence that they would win the war; the Confederacy ultimately surrendered.

The city’s symbol, the phoenix, was chosen because of Atlanta’s rise from the ashes of General William T. Sherman’s attack. After rebuilding, Atlanta quickly developed into the South’s center for industry and commercial trade. In 1868, Atlanta was granted the honor of becoming Georgia’s fifth and final capital.

Atlanta’s continued growth brought with it racial tensions that led to The Atlanta Riot of 1906 and the 1915 lynching of a Jewish man accused of raping and murdering a thirteen-year-old girl. Racial tensions were nothing compared to the devastation caused by the Stock Market Crash of 1929. Thanks to help from the Coca-Cola Company, Atlanta survived the Great Depression. In 1935, the government built the first federal housing project in Atlanta to help homeless residents. During World War II, soldiers heading into battle were sent to Atlanta to train at Fort McPherson.

The city played a large part in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who was born in Atlanta, along with students from Atlanta’s historically black colleges and universities, spearheaded many of the movement’s activities. “The City Too Busy To Hate” continued to stand by its motto despite minor disturbances throughout the area.

Atlanta came through the Civil Rights era none the worse for wear, due mainly to its adherence to progressive thinking. By 1996, the avant-garde metropolis hosted the Centennial Olympic Games. Although the bombing of Centennial Olympic Park tainted the event, overall, the games were still a success and Atlanta persevered once more.

Atlanta’s climate is typically humid. The summers are hot and sticky, but the winters are generally mild. “Hotlanta,” as it’s called, can have temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, but this is rare. Atlanta receives ample rainfall each year but little more than a dusting of snow. Recent college graduates looking for entry level employment somewhere away from the frigid temperatures of the North would enjoy living in Atlanta.

Turner Broadcasting System calls Atlanta home. Ted Turner has made the city a prominent cable television programming center. A student looking for a college or university or a quality internship might like being close to the corporate headquarters of both the Coca-Cola Company and CNN – not to mention the Cartoon Network. Atlanta has many colleges and universities from which to choose:

*Georgia State University – the most popular majors here are Finance, Journalism, and Marketing/Marketing Management.

*Georgia Institute of Technology – the university with a 70:30 male to female ratio has majors in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business/Marketing and Computer and Information Sciences.

*Emory University – the most popular majors at the world-renowned liberal arts college are Business Administration/Management, Economics, and Psychology.

*Morehouse College – is a historically black college offering majors in Biology/Biological Sciences, Business Administration/Management, and Computer Science.

*The Art Institute of Atlanta – the most popular majors at this small institution is Commercial and Advertising Art and Culinary Arts/Chef Training.

Some other colleges and universities worth looking at in Atlanta are:

Spelman College
American Intercontinental University
Atlanta College of Art
Atlanta Metropolitan College
Atlanta Technical College
Bauder College
Brown S. Barber College
Georgia Baptist College of Nursing
Herzing College
Mercer University in Atlanta
Morris Brown College
National Institute of Technology
Berlitz Language Centers
Beulah Heights Bible College
Brown College of Court Reporting and Medical Transcription
Carver Bible College
Epps Air Service
Georgia Institute of Real Estate
Georgia Medical Institute-Atlanta Main Campus
Georgia School of Professional Psychology
Grady Health System Professional Schools

Those are only some of the many schools in Atlanta where a student can attain a great education. But Atlanta isn’t just a great place to learn, it’s a great place to work, too. With some of the world’s largest, most influential companies, Atlanta is a force to be reckoned with in the corporate world. Here are just some of the better known companies that call Atlanta home:

Coca-Cola Company (Coke) – the international soft drink giant offers entry level employment and internships in manufacturing, innovation, human resources, information technology, sales and account management.

Delta Airlines – the newly reorganized airline offers entry level jobs in accounting/auditing/finance, human resources, marketing/sales/account management, and engineering.

Sun Trust Bank – college students looking for internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level jobs can find them here in retail banking, bank operations, audit and risk management, and wealth and investment management.

Turner Broadcasting – this international media mega star has challenging entry level jobs and exciting internships in sales, accounting, human resources, information technology and engineering/technical operations.

Cingular Wireless – entry level jobs with one of the world’s best known cell phone companies are in business, management, sales, and contracts processing.

Atlanta has culture, diversity, a forward thinking government, and more than enough activities to satisfy all who come to make their homes there. Recent college graduates looking for entry level employment and students seeking colleges or internships can find excitement mixed with the vibrant community of Atlanta, Georgia.

*Statistics courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau - 2000 Census.
*Source: http://www.atlantaga.gov/