© 2010, Kevin C. Rose/AtlantaPhotos.com
METRO ATLANTA: An Executive Profile
Metro Atlanta is a premier
destination for business professionals
and families. The area is home to
5.3 million people and more than
148,000 businesses. Metro Atlanta’s
diverse economy, global access,
abundant talent, low costs of business
and living, and vibrant quality of life
photos: Georgia Department of Economic Development
are reasons to choose metro Atlanta.
1837 As the site for the
southern terminus of the
state-owned Western &
Atlantic Railroad, Atlanta
began as a town called
“Terminus.”
1847 Atlanta was
incorporated as a city.
1864 Atlanta, a strategic
transportation center during
the Civil War, was reduced
to ashes after General
Sherman’s victory in the
Battle of Atlanta.
1886 Atlanta pharmacist,
Dr. John S. Pemberton,
created the beverage
which became
“Coca-Cola.”
1914 The Federal
Reserve Bank established
a branch in Atlanta.
1925 Mayor Walter A. Sims
signed a lease on an abandoned
auto racetrack and commits
the City to developing it into an
airfield named Candler Field.
Four years later it became
Atlanta Municipal Airport.
Demographics
The Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is the business capital of the southeastern U.S.
and a global business hub. Metro Atlanta is one of the fastest growing metros in the U.S. and has
the 10th largest GDP in the U.S.
The Southeast’s population exceeds 78 million and employment is greater than 33 million. Gross
Domestic Product (GDP) in the Southeast measured $3.2 trillion in 2010, 22 percent of the U.S. If
the Southeast were a country, it would have the 5th highest GDP in the world, larger than the GDP
of all but four countries: United States, China, Japan and Germany.
Snapshot
Population (2010 Census)
Atlanta MSA
(28 Counties)
City of Atlanta
5,268,860
420,003
34.9
32.9
Median Age (2010 Census)
% of population 25 and over with a Bachelor’s degree
34.1%44.8%
(2010 Estimate)
% of population foreign-born (2010 Estimate)
Labor Force (2011)
Median Household Income (2010 Estimate)
World Ranking of Global Gross Domestic
Product (GDP) in Billions of U.S. Dollars, 2010
Rank Location
1936 “Gone With
The Wind” by Margaret
Mitchell was published.
The Pullitzer Prize novel
became the movie
3 years later.
GDP
1
U.S.A.
$14,658
2
China
$5,878
3
Japan
$5,459
4
Germany
$3,316
5
Southeast U.S.A.
$3,238
10
Canada
$1,574
15
Mexico
$1,039
20
Switzerland
$524
25
Taiwan Province of China
$431
27
State of Georgia, U.S.A
$403
30
South Africa
$357
35
United Arab Emirates
$302
38
Metro Atlanta, GA, U.S.A.
$272
1941 Delta Air Lines
relocated its headquarters
from Monroe, La.
to Atlanta.
1946 The Communicable
Disease Center (CDC) was
established in Atlanta.
13.5%
8%
2,686,993
189,229
$53,182
$41,631
Metropolitan Area
> 8 ,376 square miles
> 2 1,694 square kilometers
> 2 8 counties
North Carolina
Tennessee
South Carolina
ATLANTA
Alabama
Georgia
Port of Savannah
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Florida
1950 The Confederate
Memorial carving
was completed on
Stone Mountain.
1964 Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., a native Atlantan,
won the Nobel Peace Prize.
1971 The Airport’s name
changed to William B.
Hartsfield Atlanta
International Airport.
Atlanta has the lowest relative business costs
among the nation’s top 10 largest metro areas.
photos: Georgia Department of Economic Development
(KPMG, Competitive Alternatives: Guide to International Business Location, 2012)
1974 Atlanta Brave Hank
Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s
home run record with his
715th home run.
1975 R.E. “Ted” Turner’s
Turner Broadcasting System
(TBS) went on the air. Today,
the award-winning cable
stations CNN, TNT, and The
Cartoon Network are based
here in Atlanta.
1978 Another homegrown success story – The
Home Depot was founded
in Atlanta.
1982 Georgia-Pacific
moved its headquarters to
Atlanta from Portland, Ore.
1991 United Parcel
Service (UPS) relocated
its headquarters from
Greenwich, Conn. to
metro Atlanta.
1996 Atlanta hosted the
Centennial Olympic Games,
the first time the Summer
Games were held in the
eastern U.S.
Government
> A
tlanta is the capital city of Georgia. The Capitol Dome brightens Atlanta’s skyline and is layered
in 43 ounces of pure gold that was mined in Dahlonega, Georgia, the site of America’s first
“Gold Rush.”
> The City of Atlanta is governed by a mayor and a 15-member city council that is managed by
the council president.
> T he 28 counties that make up metro Atlanta are individually governed by boards of
commissioners, city councils and mayors.
> A
tlanta’s symbol is the Phoenix, a legendary bird of Egyptian mythology, that rose from its own
ashes after the civil war with renewed strength and beauty. The seal of the city bears the
Phoenix and the Latin term, “Resurgens” which means “rising again.”
Taxes
250
200
150
100
50
0
> Georgia’s corporate income tax rate is 6 percent (single factor sales tax apportionment).
> Georgia’s sales tax base rate is 4 percent. Counties may add 1 to 3 percent as a local option.
The City of Atlanta adds 4 percent as a local option.
> Georgia’s individual income tax rate is a graduated tax based on an individual’s federal adjusted
gross income. The tax rate ranges from 1 to 6 percent based on 6 income brackets.
> P roperty tax rates (millage rates) are set locally by each county and city. Real and personal
property are assessed at 40 percent of fair market value.
National Average
Quality of Life
Metro Atlanta provides exceptional quality of life while maintaining affordability. Residents
Chicago,sports
IL
Boston,
MA Washington,
NYC, NY
culture,
and nightlife.
MetroDCAtlanta
experiences all four seasons
with cool winters, warm summers and abundant rainfall.
Atlanta,
GA
Denver,
CO
enjoy access
to arts,
Cost of Living Index: Select U.S. Metros
250
200
185.1
150
100
50
0
2000s Metro Atlanta
added over 1 million people
from 2000-2010.
National Average
97.3
105.0
Atlanta, GA
Denver, CO
2003 The Airport’s
name changed to
Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International
Airport.
114.7
Chicago, IL
137.3
Metro Atlanta
Maintains a Low
Cost of Living
143.3
Boston, MA Washington, DC
2009 NCR and First Data
relocated their headquarters
to metro Atlanta, increasing
the area’s FORTUNE 500
headquarters.
NYC, NY
2010 GE Digital Energy’s
Smart Grid Technology
Center of Excellence
was established in
metro Atlanta.
2011 Hartsfield-Jackson
Atlanta International
Airport had a recordbreaking year serving
92 million passengers.
2012 Thirteen metro
Atlanta-based companies are
ranked in the FORTUNE 500.
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Georgia is a top 10 state for education quality.
(Education Week, 2012)
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Education
Pre-K thru 12
Over 900,000 students are served through metro Atlanta’s 36 public school systems that
include over 1,200 elementary, middle and high schools. Metro Atlanta is also home to
approximately 400 private schools.
> M
etro Atlanta has several international schools that teach in languages other than English
including: German, Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese. > English-as-a-Second Language courses are available in every public school district.
> S everal schools also provide programming in International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced
Placement (AP).
> Georgia offers free Pre-K classes for 4-year-old children throughout the state.
Post-secondary
57 colleges and universities enroll more than 250,000 students in metro Atlanta. Georgia
residents have access to the HOPE tuition program which provides scholarships and grants for
higher education in Georgia.
> C ombined, metro Atlanta’s three largest public universities, Georgia State University (GSU),
Kennesaw State University (KSU) and the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) enroll
more than 75,000 students each year and are nationally recognized for excellence in their
programs. Other large public institutions include Southern Polytechnic State University,
Clayton State University, the University of West Georgia, and the University of Georgia
which is located just outside metro Atlanta.
> T he nation’s top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are located in the Atlanta
University Center (AUC). The AUC is home to Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse School of
Medicine, Morehouse College, and Spelman College.
> M
etro Atlanta is also home to Emory University with graduate programs in medicine, law,
and business that consistently rank among the nation’s top programs. Other top private schools
include Agnes Scott College, Mercer University and Oglethorpe University.
Technical
Metro Atlanta is home to the main campuses of seven technical colleges which enroll nearly
60,000 students a year. They are a vital workforce training and retooling resource for the local
business communities.
> Atlanta Technical College is among the top community colleges in the nation.
> T uition assistance through the HOPE grant is available to Georgia residents attending
technical colleges in Georgia.
2012 FORTUNE 500 Headquarters
2012 FORTUNE 1000 Headquarters
ASBURY
A U TO M OT I V E G R O U P
Business and Industry
Metro Atlanta has been recognized as an international gateway and the economic engine
of the southeast. FDI magazine has ranked Atlanta the No. 3 “Most Business Friendly
American Major City of the Future” and among the top ten “American Cities of the Future.”
Metro Atlanta has grown into a leading global logistics hub and center for supply chain
management software. Atlanta is ranked 5th nationally in transportation and logistics employment. Seventy percent of the top 20 supply chain software providers have operations here.
More than 300 bioscience companies have operations in metro Atlanta. With
strengths in vaccine development, infectious disease and medical devices, Atlanta is often
referred to as the nation’s leader in Healthcare IT. Atlanta is home to the headquarters of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Cancer Society and the Arthritis
Foundation. Research facilities at Emory University, Georgia State University, Georgia Institute
of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, University of Georgia and Georgia Health
Sciences University are abundant and continue to grow.
Metro Atlanta is home to technology leaders AT&T Mobility, NCR, Equifax, IBM Internet
Security Systems, Siemens One, GE Digital Energy, Cox Enterprises, Global Payments, and
Manhattan Associates. Atlanta is a high-technology center with strengths in transaction
processing, digital content and distribution, software publishing, wireless and internet security.
Atlanta has been named the nation’s 2nd “Most Wired City” and the “Most Favorable U.S. City
for Data Centers.” Among U.S. metros, Atlanta’s high-tech economy is ranked in the top ten for
data processing, computer systems design, as well as architectural and engineering industries.
Metro Atlanta is home to the
headquarters of 26 FORTUNE
1000 companies including
United Parcel Service, The
Coca-Cola Company, The Home
Depot, Delta Air Lines, The
Southern Company, NCR and
First Data. Atlanta is also home
to the Sixth District Federal
Reserve Bank. Internationally
recognized nonprofits such as
Habitat for Humanity, CARE
USA, American Cancer Society
and the Arthritis Foundation are
headquartered here.
ATLANTA
photo © MAC 2012
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
people and products to the global marketplace.
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Atlanta’s transportation network easily connects
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Transportation
Air Service
The world’s most-traveled airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), has
five runways that serve more than 92 million passengers a year.
> L ocated in the southeastern region of the United States, more than 80 percent of U.S. consumers
can be reached from Atlanta in two flight hours or two truckload delivery days.
ATLANTA
Nonstop flights
to over 160
domestic
destinations
and nearly 70
international
destinations in
45 countries.
Air Cargo
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is served by 14 all-cargo airlines. The airport
received Air Cargo Week’s World Air Cargo Award for Airport of the Year in 2009, 2010 & 2012.
Highways
Three major highways (I-75, I-85, I-20) converge near the
central business district. The perimeter highway (I-285)
circles the city in a 62.7-mile loop. Georgia 400 is a sixlane highway providing yet another route to the city via
north metro Atlanta. Atlanta’s major highways contain
High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) and High Occupancy Toll
(HOT) lanes which decrease drive times during peak hours.
Rail
Abundant rail service makes Atlanta the rail center of
the Southeast.
> Over 5,000 railroad miles in Georgia - the largest intermodal hub in the region.
> Served by two class-one railroads (CSX and Norfolk Sourthern) and over 20 short-line companies.
Ocean
The Port of Savannah, located 250 miles from Atlanta, is the nation’s fastest-growing and
4th-largest container port.
Mass Transit
> M
etropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), with bus and rail services that cover over
1,000 miles, is the ninth-largest transit system in the U.S. Cobb County Transit (CCT) & Gwinnett
County Transit connect into MARTA at various points.
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
(New York Times, 2010)
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Atlanta is the top city for a value vacation.
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Major Attractions
> A
tlanta Botanical Garden – Maintains plant collections for the purpose of display, education,
research, conservation, and enjoyment. www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org
> T he Carter Center – Founded by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, the Center
is committed to advancing human rights and alleviating unnecessary human suffering.
www.cartercenter.org
> CNN Center – Journey into the heart of CNN Worldwide for an exciting glimpse of news and
broadcasting in action. www.cnn.com/StudioTour/
> S
tone Mountain Park – Located on 3,200 acres of natural beauty, Stone Mountain Park features
a wide variety of fun family activities and things to do. www.stonemountainpark.com
> M
artin Luther King Jr. Center and National Historic Site – The King Center is the official,
living memorial dedicated to the advancement of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., leader
of America’s greatest nonviolent movement for justice, equality and peace. www.thekingcenter.org
> Fernbank Museum of Natural History – A variety of hands-on exhibits about natural history
including Dinosaur Plaza, NatureQuest, and a Walk Through Time in Georgia.
> W
oodruff Arts Center – Located in Midtown, the Center offers Atlantans a bold variety of performing and visual arts – both traditional and avant-garde. The Woodruff Arts Center includes the
Alliance Theatre, High Museum of Art, Young Audiences, 14th Street Playhouse and the Atlanta
Symphony Orchestra. www.woodruffcenter.org
> T he World of Coca-Cola – Visit The World of Coca-Cola Atlanta and trace the history of the
world’s most popular soft drink. www.worldofcoca-cola.com
> Z oo Atlanta – A private nonprofit wildlife park and zoological trust.
www.zooatlanta.org
> Georgia Aquarium – The world’s largest aquarium with over 8 million gallons of water, right in
the heart of downtown. www.georgiaaquarium.com
> T he Fox Theatre – The historic Fox Theatre is one of Atlanta’s premiere venues for live
entertainment. www.foxtheatre.org
Major Festivals
> Atlanta Dogwood Festival
> Atlanta Film Festival 365
> Atlanta Pride Festival and Parade
> DragonCon
> Festival Peachtree Latino
> Georgia Renaissance Festival
> National Black Arts Festival
> Taste of Atlanta
> 4th of July at Lenox Square and Centennial Olympic Park
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
Atlantans enjoy a variety of sports and
recreation throughout the year.
photo: Georgia Department of Economic Development
photo: D.J. Shockley, Courtesy of University of Georgia Sports
photo: Jarrett Jack, Courtesy of Georgia Tech Sports Information
Sports
Atlanta is home to eight professional sports franchises:
Team
League
Venue
Atlanta Braves
Major League Baseball (MLB)
Turner Field
Atlanta Dream
Women’s National Basketball
Association (WNBA)
Philips Arena
Atlanta Falcons
National Football League (NFL)
Georgia Dome
Atlanta Hawks
National Basketball
Association (NBA)
Philips Arena
Atlanta Silverbacks
North American Soccer
League (NASL)
Atlanta Silverbacks Park
Georgia Force
Arena Football League (AFL)
The Arena at Gwinnett Center
Gwinnett Braves
Minor League Baseball (MiLB)
Coolray Field
Gwinnett Gladiators
East Coast Hockey League (ECHL)
The Arena at Gwinnett Center
Atlanta has and continues to host major sporting events:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
ASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway – NASCAR Racing
N
The TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Course – PGA Golf
Chick-fil-A Bowl and Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game – College Football
SEC Championship – College Football
AJC Peachtree Road Race – 10K Road Race
Bank of America Football Classic – College Football
BB&T Atlanta Open – Tennis
Petit Le Mans – Auto Racing
Recreation
Metro Atlantans have many opportunities for outdoor recreation:
> More than 100 public, private and semi-private golf courses; over 300 golf days per year.
> Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona – for fishing, swimming, and boating.
> Recreation leagues and clubs for popular sports, such as tennis, softball, soccer, basketball,
cycling and running.
– The Atlanta Lawn Tennis Association (ALTA), the largest tennis-based community
association in the world with more than 80,000 members.
– The Atlanta Track Club (ATC), the second largest running organization in the United
States, serves runners and walkers of all ages and paces.
Healthcare
Metro Atlanta provides access to one of the most qualified, affordable, and efficient
healthcare systems in the country. Metro Atlanta’s healthcare community includes more than
80 hospital locations and over 100,000 healthcare practitioners and technicians.
SOURCES
Demographics: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), International Monetary Fund, U.S. Bureau
of Labor Statistics. Note: Southeastern U.S. as defined by BEA. History: Atlanta History Center, Atlanta Convention and
Visitors Bureau, City of Atlanta, U.S. Census Bureau, FORTUNE magazine. Government: State of Georgia, City of Atlanta.
Taxes: Georgia Department of Revenue. Quality of Life: Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) Cost of
Living Index. Education: Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education, Georgia Department of Education, National Center
for Education Statistics, University System of Georgia, Technical College System of Georgia. Business and Industry:
FDI magazine, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Georgia Department of Labor, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia
Department of Economic Development, Georgia Power, Georgia Bio, Forbes magazine, The Milken Institute, Jones Lang
LaSalle, FORTUNE magazine. Transportation: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia Power, Georgia
Department of Transportation, Georgia Ports Authority, MARTA. Attractions, Festivals, Sports and Recreation: Atlanta
Convention and Visitors Bureau, Atlanta Sports Council, Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Healthcare: U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, BusinessWise.
The Metro Atlanta Chamber Economic Development Division serves as an advocate and project manager on behalf of
relocating or existing companies. All assistance is confidential and at no cost.
EconomicDevelopment.MetroAtlantaChamber.com
+1.404.880.9000