Posted in Georgia May 05, 2016 by

Here Are 10 Things They Don’t Teach You About Georgia In School

Georgia is predominantly known as the state with the best Southern cooking, and the world’s largest peaches, peanuts, and pecan purveyors. However, there is so much more to this fine state than what they teach in the textbooks. For example, we bet you didn’t know these random 10 facts about the wonderful state of Georgia:

We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
1. Georgia, with its plentiful pine forests throughout the state, produces one half of the WORLD's resin and turpentine and close to 75% of the United States' supply.
Flickr Andrey Belenko
2. The official state fish is the largemouth bass.
Flickr USFWS Mountain-Prairie
3. It was once illegal to put an ice cream cone in your back pocket in Atlanta.
Flickr Leo Hildalgo
Why anyone would want to do so....is beyond me. But apparently, the law may be enforced because if a horse followed you home, it wasn't considered stealing...
4. The only county in Georgia named after a woman is Hart county.
Flickr Amanda Shoemaker
The county was named after Nancy Hart, a patriot and warrior in the fight against the British during the Revolutionary War.
5. In 1945, Georgia became the first state to lower the legal voting age from 21 to 18.
Flickr Brian R.
6. Georgia is home to the invention of the Cherokee written alphabet.
Flickr Ali Eminov
7. The largest wild hog found ever discovered was found in Alapaha Georgia.
Flickr Loozrboy
This big guy weighed in at 1,000 pounds and measured over 12 feet in length. His nickname? "Hogzilla".
8. The Geographic Center of Georgia is in Twiggs County, 18 miles southeast of Macon.
Flickr Jimmy Emerson DVM
So if you ever want to travel to the middle of the state...
9. Each year Georgia serves as a host to the International Poultry Trade Show, the largest poultry convention in the world.
Flickr U.S. Department of Agriculture
10. Atlanta was originally named Terminus and Marthasville.
Flickr Jack Kennard
Marthasville was an option because of Governor Wilson Lumpkin’s daughter. Who's happy they changed it?!

Know any more fun facts about Georgia? We’d love to hear!