Around the College Town: Atlanta

By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Despite being burned to the ground in the Civil War by General Sherman, Atlanta quickly recovered and is now home to powerful businesses and is an international transit city.

In our "Around the Town" feature, we will spotlight each of the hometowns of the ACC, SEC and SoCon schools.

Around the College Town: Atlanta

With a metro population of just over 5.2 million people, Atlanta is far from your typical college town. Georgia Tech, quite frankly, can often get lost in the shuffle. That said, the school's downtown location provides great opportunity for students as well as a stunning skyline setting. Born as a mere intersection stop at the crossing of two railroad lines, Atlanta has become the economic hub of the south. Despite being burned to the ground in the Civil War by General Sherman, Atlanta quickly recovered and is now home to powerful businesses like Coca-Cola, Turner Broadcasting, The Home Depot, AT&T, UPS and Delta Airlines and is an international transit city.

Atlanta's history is deeply rooted in the Civil Rights movement. From Martin Luther King, Jr. to Maynard Jackson, many black leaders have found success in the region. Atlanta has long been an entertainment hub, providing a great platform for country music singers in the mid 1900s and many rap and R&B artists now. From the Fox Theatre to the literary works of the likes of Margaret Mitchell, Alice Walker and Alfred Uhry, Atlanta has long helped give expression a large and diverse home. The city hosted the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996.

SouthernPigskin.com Restaurant Recommendation - The Varsity, where else? "What'll ya have?" has been an iconic phrase in the south's capital city since 1928. The answer: a chili-cheese dog or two, onion rings and a classic frosted orange.

SouthernPigskin.com Bar Recommendation - Tin Lizzy's Cantina has a few locations in Atlanta including one in mid-town. They offer a wide variety of margaritas, with cheap pitchers. Tin Lizzy's is known for having a fun, welcoming crowd.

Point of Interest - The world's largest aquarium is located in Atlanta. Among the many attractions are four whale sharks and four more beluga whales. The site has over 8.5 million gallons of salt and freshwater.

Fun Fact - Atlanta has 32 different streets with the name "Peachtree". A traveling hint, don't ask for directions. A GPS may come in handy.

Celebrity Confirmation - "While I was at GT, the city of Atlanta was beginning to boom and our athletic programs were taking off. Being in the middle of Atlanta during that time promoted an awesome atmosphere," -- former Georgia Tech All-American OL and GT Athletics Hall of Fame member John Davis.

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