Atlanta is the capital and the most populous city of the state of Georgia, and the central city of the ninth most populous metropolitan area in the United States.  It is the county seat of Fulton County, although a portion of the city extends into Dekalb County.  As of July 2006 the city of Atlanta has a population of 483,108 and a metropolitan population of 5,138,223.  The July 2006 census estimate puts the combined statistical area (CSA) population at 5,478,667

A major city in its own right, Atlanta is considered a poster child for cities worldwide experiencing rapid urban sprawl, economic development, and growth. In the last decade, the Atlanta metropolitan area added over 1,150,000 residents – the fourth-largest gain in absolute numbers of any metropolitan area in the United States. The metro area has been #1 in single-family housing starts for 13 consecutive years. Atlanta is recognized as one of the driving forces of the " New South," and has in recent years, along with Miami undergone a transition from a city of regional commerce to a city of international influence.

Common nicknames for the city include A-Town, A-T-L (derived from its IATA airport ), The Big Peach, The 4-0-4 (derived from its  area code), and Hotlanta. The city is also one of three cities in the United States to host the Summer Olympic Games , doing so in 1996. (St Louis in 1904 and Los Angelos in 1932 and 1984 are the others)