Biggest Cities in Georgia

Georgia's urban geography is highly centralized — Atlanta and its suburbs dominate the state in a way that few metro areas dominate their states.

Atlanta — 498,000 (city); 6.3 million (metro). The capital and by far the largest city. Metro Atlanta is the ninth-largest metro in the US and the economic capital of the entire southeastern US. Atlanta rebuilt itself after Sherman burned it in 1864 and has continuously grown since. The city is known for its diversity — it has one of the largest Black middle-class populations of any US city — its corporate concentration, its traffic (notorious), and its culture (the birthplace of hip-hop acts like Outkast and Ludacris, home to Tyler Perry Studios, and a nationally significant LGBTQ+ community centered in Midtown).

Augusta — 202,000 (city); 620,000 (metro). Georgia's second-largest city on the South Carolina border along the Savannah River. Augusta is globally known for The Masters golf tournament, held at Augusta National Golf Club each April. The Medical College of Georgia is a major employer and research institution.

Columbus — 206,000 (city); 340,000 (metro). On the Alabama border at the Fall Line, Columbus is home to Fort Benning (the US Army's largest infantry training base, now redesignated Fort Moore). The Chattahoochee Whitewater Park in downtown Columbus is the longest urban whitewater course in the world.

Savannah — 147,000 (city); 400,000 (metro). Georgia's oldest city and one of the most beautiful in the South. The Port of Savannah drives much of the economic growth; tourism is a major industry. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has transformed the city into a significant arts destination.

Athens — 127,000. Home of the University of Georgia (the oldest public university chartered in the US). Athens is a vibrant college town with an outsized music scene — R.E.M. and the B-52s both formed here. The Athens food scene has become nationally recognized.

Macon — 157,000. Middle Georgia's largest city, known for its Cherry Blossom Festival (the largest in the world outside Japan), its Antebellum architecture, and its music heritage — Otis Redding, Little Richard, and the Allman Brothers Band all came from Macon.