The People

Slightly less than three-fourths of Georgia's residents are native whites of European descent. Blacks make up 27 per cent of the total population, giving Georgia one of the-highest percentages of nonwhites among the 50 states. Georgia had a population of 8,186,453 in 2000—an increase of 1,708,237, or 26.4 per cent, over the 1990 total. Georgia moved from 11th to 10th place in rank among the states. The population density of the state of Georgia was 141.3 persons per square mile (54.6 per km 2).

Annual events in Georgia
January-March
Fasching Karnival in Helen (mid-January); Georgia Day in Savannah (early February); Rattlesnake Roundup in Claxton (early March); Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon (mid-March); Statewide Tours of Homes and Gardens (late March and early April).
April-June
Dogwood Festival in Atlanta (early April); Thomasville Rose Festival (late April); Georgia Renaissance Festival in Fairburn and Peachtree City (late April); Stay and See Georgia, Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta (early May); Blessing of the Shrimp Fleet in Brunswick (May); Vidalia Onion Festival (mid-May).
July-September
Georgia Shakespeare Festival in Atlanta (early July); Georgia Mountain Fair in Hiawassee (August); Beach Music Festival on Jekyll Island (mid-August); Powers Crossroads Arts and Crafts Festival in Newnan (Labor Day Weekend).
October-December
Andersonville Historic Fair in Andersonville (October); Georgia National Fair in Perry (October); Gold Rush Days in Dahlonega (October); Oktoberfest Celebration in Helen (October); Prater's Mill Country Fair near Dalton (October and May); Christmas on Jekyll Island (December); Marietta Pilgrimage in Marietta (December).