State of Georgia - 1981 dated $5,000 Bond - State Seal as Vignette

$5,000 Blue Bond. Northern Bank Note Co., Chicago. Georgia is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. It ranks as the 24th largest state by area and is the 8th most populous among the 50 states. Established in 1733 as a British colony, Georgia was the last and southernmost of the original Thirteen Colonies. The colony was named in honor of King George II of Great Britain and encompassed territory extending from South Carolina to Spanish Florida and westward to French Louisiana at the Mississippi River. On January 2, 1788, Georgia became the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution. Between 1802 and 1804, a portion of western Georgia was designated to create the Mississippi Territory, which eventually became the U.S. states of Alabama and Mississippi. Georgia declared its secession from the Union on January 19, 1861, and was one of the first seven states to join the Confederacy.

After the Civil War, Georgia was the last state to be readmitted to the Union, achieving this status on July 15, 1870. In the years following Reconstruction, the state's economy underwent significant changes, driven by a coalition of influential politicians, business leaders, and journalists, notably Henry W. Grady, who promoted the "New South" ideology emphasizing reconciliation, industrial growth, and white supremacy. Throughout the 20th century, several notable Georgians, including Martin Luther King Jr., emerged as key figures in the civil rights movement. Since 1945, Georgia has experienced considerable population growth, aligning with the broader trends of the Sun Belt. Between 2007 and 2008, 14 counties in Georgia were listed among the 100 fastest-growing in the nation.