Atlanta is the capital of the state of Georgia, and it is the cultural and economic center of the South. Established in 1837 at the intersection of two railroad lines, Atlanta rose from the ashes of the American Civil War to become a national center of commerce and major organizing center of the civil rights movement. Atlanta is the primary transportation hub of the Southeastern United States, via highway, railroad, and air, with Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport being the world's busiest airport since 1998. Atlanta is ranked in the top twenty among world cities and 10th in the nation. The economy is considered diverse, with dominant sectors that include aerospace, transportation, logistics, professional and business services, media operations, film and entertainment, medical services, and information technology.
Revitalization of Atlanta's neighborhoods, initially spurred by the 1996 Summer Olympics, has intensified in the 21st century with the city approved $2.8 billion BeltLine project. As one of the most extensive, wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States, the Atlanta BeltLine is the catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive and sustainable city life. The BeltLine project plans to convert 22-miles of freight railroad loop that surrounds the central city into 33-miles of an art-filled, multi-use paved trails that connect 45 neighborhoods. The project will create 1,300 acres of new greenspace, 22-miles of pedestrian-friendly rail transit, 30,000 permanent jobs, and 5,600 units of affordable workforce housing. Half-way through completion, the project has stimulated retail and residential developments along the loop, altering the city's demographics, politics, aesthetics, and culture.