Economy

Georgia was largely an agricultural state until the 1930's, when it began increasingly to diversify its economy. Today, manufacturing employs nearly a fifth of the labor force; farming, only two per cent. Many Georgians are employed in wholesale and retail trade, government (federal, state, and local), and the service industries. Atlanta is the leading commercial and industrial center in the southeastern United States.

In total value of manufactured goods and in value added, Georgia is one of the leaders in the South and is among the top 15 states nationally. In terms of employment, the manufacturing of textiles is the chief economic activity. The industry is concentrated mainly in the northwest quarter of the state. Other major employers include the food-processing, transportation equipment, printing, and paper industries.

In terms of total value of goods produced, the food and beverage industry ranks first. Closely following is the manufacture of transportation equipment, especially aircraft (Marietta and Savannah) and automobiles (Atlanta). The making of paper, chemicals, textiles, and electric and electronic equipment are also high-ranking industries.

Atlanta is the leading industrial center. Columbus, Savannah, Albany, Macon, and Augusta are also prominent manufacturing centers.

Georgia's agriculture has undergone many changes since the early 1930's, when farming was dominated by the growing of cotton and corn. Among the many far-reaching changes have been crop diversification, the decline of cotton as “king,” and a rapid expansion of poultry and livestock production. There have also been large reductions in the farm population and in tenant farming and a sharp drop in total farm acreage. Because of severe erosion and loss of soil fertility, many fields are no longer suitable for growing crops. Farms occupied about two-thirds of the state's land in the 1930's; today they occupy about a third.

Nearly 60 per cent of the cash farm receipts come from the marketing of poultry and livestock. Of greatest value are broilers and eggs. In the production of both, Georgia is one of the nation's leaders. Next in value are cattle, hogs, and dairy products.

Crop production is aided by a growing season of up to 300 days and a variety of soils. Peanuts, grown primarily in the southwest, are the chief cash crop. In peanut production Georgia leads all other states. Other major crops are corn, soybeans, tobacco, and—despite a dramatic decline in the acreage devoted to it—cotton. Pecans, peaches, watermelons, hay, and sweet potatoes are also significant crops. Georgia is the nation's leading producer of pecans and one of the top producers of peaches.

With nearly all of its forests commercially usable, Georgia is a major wood-producing state. Pines make up the vast majority of the trees harvested. Besides lumber, major forest products include plywood, pulpwood, and naval stores (turpentine and rosin). Most of Georgia's forests are privately owned.

The commercial fishing industry of Georgia is small compared with that of most other Atlantic and Gulf seaboard states. Shrimp and crabs make up most of the catch. Brunswick is the main fishing port and processing center.

Mineral production consists predominantly of clays and stone. Georgia's clay production, by value and tonnage, exceeds that of any other state. Nationally, Georgia ranks first in the production of kaolin, fire clay, and fuller's earth. Kaolin alone, by value, accounts for about 65 per cent of the state's total mineral output.

Georgians also a leading state in the quarrying of granite and marble, both dimension stone and crushed. A number of other minerals, nearly all of them nonmetals, are mined.

Transportation. Atlanta is the main transportation hub for roads, railways, and air routes in the southeastern United States. Among the many highways are eight Interstate routes. Amtrak provides passenger service to a number of Georgia's cities.

Of the more than a dozen airports with regularly scheduled service, the largest is Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. In number of commercial flights it is one of the busiest airports in the nation.

Ocean shipping is mostly through Savannah. Brunswick is also a seaport. The Intracoastal Waterway provides an islandsheltered route for barges and pleasure craft along the coast. Most of the inland barge traffic is on the Savannah River. Columbus is the chief inland port.