Fast Forward

Because this northwest region of Georgia is characterized by sedimentary rock, such as limestone and ironstone, coal mining was historically important to the area. Today, the major industries of the Appalachian and Valley & Ridge regions include textile manufacturing and tourism.

Home to Georgia’s highest peaks and the source for several rivers—including the Savannah and Chattahoochee—the Blue Ridge region is considered Georgia’s most visually stunning. Because of its natural beauty, outdoor recreation and tourism are the dominant industries in the Blue Ridge. Farmland, however, is scarce due to the region’s high amounts of rainfall and mountainous terrain.

Encompassing Atlanta, Columbus, Athens, Macon, and other urban centers, the Piedmont is the most populous and second largest geographic region in Georgia. With several Fortune 500 companies based in the Piedmont—such as The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Airlines, and The Home Depot—manufacturing and technology are of primary commercial importance.. Due to its rich soil, agriculture is a significant enterprise in the more rural areas of the region.

Covering approximately 60 percent of the state, the Coastal Plain is the largest region in Georgia. The inner coastal plain supports most of the agricultural production in the state; peanuts, peaches, and Vidalia onions are grown here. The outer coastal plain is dominated by pine forests and is home to Savannah and the Okefenokee Swamp. Because the outer coastal plain includes Georgia's connection to the Atlantic Ocean, economic activities include tourism, shipping and logistics, and seafood production.