You’ve decided to visit the “City in a Forest,” our beloved city of Atlanta, most well-known as the capital of Georgia. Atlanta has a varied and storied history, packed full of fascinating tidbits that make our city the shining gem of the south.

Among them, Atlanta’s many names, misnomers, and legends. Find out below how Atlanta rose to be one of the most interesting cities in America, all with a name.

If you’ve ever been here before, you know that navigating the neighborhood can be a challenge. Atlanta boasts over sixty-eight streets in the city named “Peachtree” which is especially confusing as there are very few peach trees in the city. Peaches do not grow natively in Atlanta. It’s theorized that the popular name is actually a perversion of the name “Standing Pitch Tree” as the area was called by the First Nations at the time. No matter the reason, visitors were beckoned to the area by the promise of succulent peaches.

The city name itself is also a bit of a mystery. One of the more accepted stories is Chief Engineer of the Georgia Railroad, Edgar Thomson, named the city after his cross-country railroad, “Atlantica-Pacifica.” Another tale is he named the city after his oldest daughter. Either way, when you stroll the streets of our city, you’ll find no peaches or beaches, simply the enduring atmosphere of the South.

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Your Sotherly Host