Georgia is one of America’s oldest and most interesting states. With a history as rich and varied as its people and geography, you are never far from discovering something exciting and new. The area was originally occupied by the native Creek and Cherokee Indians who had lived in the region for centuries. However, this changed in 1733, when Oglethorpe and other European settlers landed on what is now present-day Savannah. Soon thereafter, they colonized the area, looking to take advantage of the mild climate as well as the many abundant local resources.