Known as the 'Capital of the New South', Atlanta is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. A modern, vibrant metropolis with a booming economy and massive local development, the city is home to CNN, the headquarters of the worldwide cable TV news service and Coca Cola. The birthplace of Martin Luther King, Atlanta has been linked to the civil rights movement for a number of decades and the King Center is a living memorial dedicated to preserving his legacy and continuing his work for human rights and peace.

Atlanta is located in north central Georgia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Like most modern cities, the growth of the Atlanta metropolitan area has been driven by the expansion of suburban neighborhoods. Some of the most attractive areas include Gwinnett County to the East (population 434,030 and growing at an average of nearly 6 percent per year), Cobb County to the Northwest (population 508,922 and growing at 3.6 percent per year), and Cherokee County to the North (population 108,854 and growing at 5.2 percent per year). Fulton County itself boasts a population of 690,534 and a growth rate of 1.6 percent per year, while DeKalb County, located to the South and East of Atlanta, is home to 577,787 and growing at an annual rate of 1.5 percent. The transportation system in Atlanta is among the nation's finest.

During the 1970s, forward thinking city planners created MARTA, the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority. MARTA trains carry thousands of suburban commuters daily. Hartsfield International Airport is among the nation's busiest. It is the Southeastern hub for many major airlines, and is the home of Delta Airlines, one of the largest commercial air carriers in the world. Commuters who travel by personal automobile will find convenient access to outlying areas.

In 1996, Atlanta played host to the centennial Olympic Games amid a blaze of publicity showcasing the city and its achievements. The US$2 billion spent on this international sporting extravaganza has left the city with impressive accommodation, leisure, sports, conference and transport facilities.