What Atlanta is known for

The Sweetwater Creek Destination derives much of its notoriety from the state capital nearby, but Sweetwater Creek State Park itself draws in crowds of people who are searching for a less urban environment without traveling hours away from the central city. The state park is home to various lakes and rivers, all surrounded by dense foliage. Interstate 20 runs directly north of the park, providing easy access to Atlanta. The area within or around Atlanta receives over 50 million visitors from all around the world on a yearly basis.[10] Much of this traffic is facilitated through the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. On the 2500+ acres that make up Sweetwater Creek, people often fish, feed ducks, or go on picnics. 

There are two playgrounds, a museum, a visitor center, and a gift shop. Trails throughout the park allow for nature-goers to go on informative hikes, which can be lead by park rangers. In the summer months, gear such as boats, canoes, and kayaks are available for rent.[2] Within the more metropolitan area of Atlanta, there are a few top-rated attractions. One of these is the Georgia Aquarium, home to animals such as whale sharks, Beluga whales, and sea turtles. The Georgia Aquarium is the largest aquarium in the western hemisphere and the third-largest in the world.[4] 

The World of Coca-Cola is another attraction nearby, serving as a museum that showcases the history of the cultures, products, and management which have been inspired by or associated with Coca-Cola products over the decades. The most popular time of year to visit Atlanta and Sweetwater Creek is in the summer (June to August). Tourism is high anytime between May and September. Travelers come from most of the southern United States and from all over the world to participate in summer activities such as the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, the AJC Peachtree Road Race, Decatur BBQ/Blues & Bluegrass Festival, and Dragon Con. With more attractions come higher lodging/hotel prices in the area during the summer. 

March through May contains milder weather and is a recommended time of year to visit the destination for more moderate temperatures and prices.[6] When it comes to resources, Georgia as a whole is known for being the number one producer of peanuts and pecans in the United States. Other prominent resources that they manufacture include cotton, tobacco, soybeans, and corn. Georgia's state fruit is the peach, aptly chosen because it is the fruit they grow the most of, followed behind by apples and watermelons.[7] Part of the movie The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1 was filmed in Sweetwater Creek.[5]

Geography

The land that makes up the Sweetwater Creek Destination is exclusively located in Georgia, within the United States. The city of Atlanta acts as its center point, with the zone expanding outward in a circular shape. This extension goes on for roughly ten miles past the outer edge of the city's boundary in every direction, including cities such as Marietta, Sandy Springs, Tucker, Ellenwood, and Campbellton. Hundreds of small communities fall within the region boundaries. 

The Sweetwater Creek Destination has a similar climate to other areas in the southeastern United States. The close proximity to the ocean causes the air to be humid and thick, though relatively easy to breathe considering the region's low elevation. This subtropical climate allows for the growth of dense groups of foliage and the overall distribution of greenery across the state of Georgia. This same environment is what makes it possible for the destination to produce crops such as tobacco, soybeans, and corn—all of which make up the area's economy.[7] 

There are a few highways that run through the Sweetwater Creek Destination that facilitate travel to and from the four cardinal directions. Interstate 20 cuts right past Sweetwater Creek State Park, offering western travel to Alabama or eastern passage through Atlanta and toward South Carolina. Interstate 75 runs from north to south, acting as one of the fastest methods to travel to states such as Florida or Tennessee. The terrain of the area is generally flat, though traveling from one community to another often brings small rises or falls in elevation with little to no perceptive difference. 

There are no significant mountains in the region surrounding Sweetwater Creek. Precipitation in Atlanta and Sweetwater Creek is a common occurrence. Annual rainfall averages at about 50 inches per year, which is a mean of four inches every month. During the summer, temperatures range from about 70 degrees (Fahrenheit) to 90 degrees. During that time, the air is noticeably humid and warm. As the land approaches the winter months, temperatures steadily drop until they reach their lowest range of 35-53 degrees.[6] 

Though the Sweetwater Creek Destination is mostly urban, visitors might come across some of the 300+ bird species known to Georgia. Fishing can yield catches such as trout, shiners, bass, chubs, and studfish, as a few examples. Further, into the countryside, there are livestock animals such as chickens and cows, in addition to the wide range of wild animals like foxes, coyotes, alligators, gopher tortoises, raccoons, and black bears.[8]

History

The Sweetwater Creek has been a part of the destination for nearly two centuries, having first been developed in the late 1840s. The countryside used to belong to the Cherokee Native Americans. The name Sweetwater can be linked to the name of one of their chiefs: Ama-Kanasta.[3]. The state of Georgia proposed taking the land and putting it into a lottery multiple times, but the United States government didn't want to remove the natives by force. It wasn't until President Andrew Jackson was in office that the proposal was finally appealed. Soon after, the Cherokees were forced to migrate to reservations, leaving the region to be divided into sections and sold in lotteries.[3] 

The land where Sweetwater Creek State Park now stands came into the hands of Charles J. McDonald and Colonel James Rogers. The two of them decided to build a water mill along Sweetwater Creek. Other business ventures stemmed out of the property for the next decade or so.[9] During the Civil War, the majority of the mill was burned to the ground, leaving only a few small portions remaining in the aftermath. What is left of the mill has since been preserved and is part of the Sweetwater Creek State Park.[9] 

As a larger region, Atlanta and its surrounding neighborhoods are known for being prominent locations for civil rights movements in the mid-1900s. After the end of WWII, many African-American veterans made their return to the area and started seeking equal rights. This led to many anti-segregation reforms in the following decades.[1] Currently, there are nearly 500,000 people living in the area. The majority of residents are black (roughly 50% of the population), with 38% of people being white and the remaining 12% being made up of Asians, Hispanics, and mixed-ethnicity citizens.