Georgia Is the Only US State That Starts With G (Guam Is Not an Official State)

Georgia stands alone as the only US state that starts with G. The history of this state runs from the colonial era to the Civil War, then into the civil rights movement.

Georgia also matters today for culture and business. Atlanta anchors film, music, and tech. Outside the city, the state offers mountains in the north, rivers and lakes inland, plus a long stretch of coast. Food, local music, and community pride give the place its character.

Table of Contents

History

Georgia began as one of the Thirteen Colonies. British settlers founded Savannah in 1733 under James Oglethorpe. Early years show a mix of plantation economy, trade, and frontier life. Revolutionary War events took place on Georgia soil. The state joined the Union soon after ratification of the Constitution in January 1788.

The antebellum years brought a plantation system built on slave labor. Civil War battles and occupation left deep scars on the landscape and on communities. Reconstruction brought political change and a long social struggle.

The twentieth century moved Georgia into new roles. Atlanta rose as a rail and commercial center. The civil rights movement found strong leaders and key moments in the state. National figures who were born or based in Georgia changed the national story on equal rights and civic power.

Geography

Georgia shows clear regional variety. The north holds mountains that reach nearly five thousand feet at Brasstown Bald. The central region sits on the Piedmont plateau with rolling hills and red clay. The south opens into a broad Coastal Plain that reaches the Atlantic.

Okefenokee Swamp appears as a vast freshwater wilderness on the border with Florida. Barrier islands and salt marshes line long stretches of coast. Rivers such as the Savannah, Chattahoochee, and Flint shape valleys and reservoirs that support cities and farms.

The climate runs from humid and warm across most of the state to cooler at higher elevations. Soil and water patterns support crops, forests, and a growing set of suburban and urban centers.

Surprising Facts

Georgia leads the nation in peanut farming, with major harvests that support farms, processors, and exports.
Vidalia onion carries a protected name, tied to a specific growing region and specific counties.
Coca-Cola began in Atlanta, and the brand remains a major presence in local business.
Martin Luther King Jr was born in Atlanta, and the city remains central to that legacy.
Savannah includes one of the largest historic districts in the United States, known for public squares and preserved homes.
Pinewood and other studios have put the state near the top for film and television production in the United States.
Okefenokee draws visitors and researchers with rare wildlife and a one-of-a-kind peatland swamp ecosystem.
The state tree is the live oak, and the state fruit is the peach.

Why Guam Is Not a State?

Guam belongs to the United States, but it counts as a US territory, not a state. People born there are US citizens, yet political power in Washington remains limited.

Guam sends one delegate to the House. That delegate can introduce bills and speak in debates, yet cannot cast a final vote on passing laws. Guam also has no senators. Residents do not vote for president in the general election.

Statehood has never happened because Congress has not approved it. Views on the future also vary. Some residents want statehood, some prefer independence, and many live with the current setup.

Guam plays a big role in defense and draws visitors through tourism and its unique local culture. Full rights that come with statehood, though, are not part of the deal today.

For now, Guam stays a territory that matters for defense, tourism, and local culture, but it does not share the full rights of the fifty states.

Final Thoughts

Georgia attracts people for work, school, and city life, especially around Atlanta.

Guam is different. It sits under the US flag, but only as a territory, not an official state. People are US citizens, yet representation and voting power in Washington are limited. Local culture stays strong, even with many major decisions made far from the island.

Up next in US states by letter series are the states that start with H.

Matthew Gray

I explore the facts that make places interesting. I research and write about geography, communities, local trivia, and population trends. My goal is to turn statistics into something anyone can enjoy, remember, and use. At North American Community Hub, I focus on stories hidden in numbers, like quirky rankings, surprising facts, and county-level patterns that say more than charts ever could. I like showing how data reveals the character of cities, towns, and everything in between. Outside of work, I read, travel, and keep notes on odd facts most people overlook.