Georgia

(jôrˈjə)

1. A country in the Caucasus on the Black Sea. It developed as a kingdom around the 4th century B.C. and reached the height of its prosperity in the 12th and 13th centuries. Ruled by both Turkey and Persia at various times, Georgia was acquired by Russia between 1801 and 1829. The region was briefly independent (1918-1921), but was invaded by the Red Army in 1921 and proclaimed a Soviet republic. It was joined with Armenia and Azerbaijan to form the Transcaucasian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic from 1922 to 1936, when it became a separate republic, known as the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic until declaring its independence in 1991. The capital and largest city is Tbilisi. Population: 4,650,000.
2. Abbr. GA or Ga. A state of the southeast United States. It was admitted as one of the original Thirteen Colonies in 1788. Georgia was founded in 1732 by a group led by the British philanthropist James Oglethorpe and named for King George II. Atlanta is the capital and the largest city. Population: 9,540,000.

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Georgia

, Strait of