Peachy Keen on Atlanta: 5 Sweet Facts About the Peach State’s Capital

This fall, BAPA is heading south for its annual forum! The 2026 BAPA Forum will take place in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 9th–11th. What better way to sweeten the wait than by sharing some fun facts about the city? 

Atlanta hosted the Olympics

You might already know that Atlanta will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but did you know that it also hosted the 1996 Summer Olympic Games? In 1996, every single one of the 197 national Olympic committees invited to compete sent their athletes to Atlanta—the first time such an occurrence happened in Olympic history! 

It’s the 36th most populated city in the US

Over 500,000 people live in the city of Atlanta. The Atlanta metro area, though, is home to over 6 million people, making Atlanta the 36th most populated city and the 6th most populated metropolitan area in America. 

Atlanta is home to your favorite companies

Coca-Cola, Cartoon Network, and The Varsity are all headquartered in Atlanta. You can even visit The World of Coca-Cola, a museum showcasing the history of the Coca-Cola Company. While there, you can sample over 100 flavors of Coca-Cola drinks from all around the world!

It offers both urban and natural appeal

Nicknamed the City in the Forest, Atlanta is lush with trees and foliage. About 50% of the city is covered by a large tree canopy, blending city life with natural beauty.

Atlanta is known as the black mecca of the South 

About half of Atlanta’s population is black, and the city is home to four Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Atlanta was even the first major city in the South to elect a black mayor: Maynard Jackson. The city is known for its rich, vibrant hip-hop scene and for its importance during the civil rights movement in the 1960s—Atlanta is often called the “cradle” of the modern civil rights movement.