So you’re wanting to hit up that trivia night at your favorite brewery, bar or pub? That’s great! Local trivia nights are a great way to get into a fun routine and support community businesses, but unless you come prepared, you may leave with a meager few points. That, of course, is just no fun.
Because we believe in you and your ability to crush a trivia night (you got this, champ), we’re here to equip you with some vital practice questions on the topic we love the most: The City of Atlanta!
While we can’t guarantee that we can cover every single question that might pop up in an evening of Atlanta-themed trivia questions, we have a pretty good idea of the big events that have made up Atlanta’s history up to now.
Good luck!
Popular Atlanta trivia questions
On Atlanta’s past…
What was Atlanta’s first name?
Back in 1837 when Atlanta was just a small collection of homes and buildings at the end of a brand new railroad, the city was called Terminus. Descriptive, simple, and slightly eerie, if we do say so ourselves. It was also briefly called Marthasville after the governor’s daughter, but the name didn't stick.
It was then changed to Atlanta (after the Atlantic Ocean) in 1845 before the first train ever even arrived in town.
When was the Battle of Atlanta?
This significant Civil War battle was fought on July 22, 1864, and it was a turning point for the Union Army who were the victors of the skirmish. From there, Atlanta was captured by the North, and General Sherman’s army finally had a passage to Savannah, Georgia. The battle and subsequent victory was significant enough that the morale from it helped Abraham Lincoln win his reelection in 1864.
On the Civil Rights movement…
When and where was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. born?
Many of us know that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., icon of the civil rights movement, was born right here in Atlanta, but can we say where?
King was born not too far from Downtown Atlanta on January 15, 1928. You can actually drive past and visit his birthplace at 501 Auburn Ave, NE in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood just east of downtown!
Which Georgia Congressman spoke at the 1963 March on Washington?
John Lewis!
This civil rights giant was a keynote speaker at the revolutionary March on Washington, in addition to being one of the original Freedom Riders and the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.
Later in life, Lewis ran for office and became Georgia’s 5th District Congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected 16 times and served in the position from 1986 until his death in 2020.
On peaches…
When did the peach become Atlanta’s official fruit?
The peach became the state’s official fruit in 1995 after nearly three centuries of peaches being grown in the area. The State of Georgia held a monopoly on peach production for over a century until California eclipsed the state in the mid-20th century, but Georgia peaches are still widely renowned for their taste, texture and size.
How many streets are named “Peachtree” in Atlanta?
Oh boy. You have no idea!
There are 71 streets with “Peachtree” in their name in Atlanta. And if history tells us anything, there will probably be more in the future!
Surprisingly, though, the streets are not named directly after the fuzzy fruit’s arborous home, but rather after a battle that was fought during the Atlanta Campaign in the Civil War. The Battle of Peachtree Creek was fought on July 20, 1864, during which Confederate forces tried to prevent Union troops from crossing Peachtree Creek.
Let’s go back further. Where did Peachtree Creek get its name? The Cherokee name for the creek is “Pakanahuili,” which is named for the village of the same name. The name in English is translated to “standing peachtree,” but as there is no record of peaches in the area. Historians believe there was an error in translation. The most popular theory is that the original name was “standing pitch tree,” referring to a large, old pine tree that leaked pitch (sap) located near the village.
So really, all the streets should be named “Pitchtree” rather than Peachtree!
On business…
What popular airline started out as a crop-dusting service?
Obscure question, we know, but it’s too good to not add in!
Delta Airlines started as a crop-dusting service to eliminate the boll-weevil back in 1929. Now Delta planes fly all over the world!
How did the Coca-Cola Co. start?
Did you know that Coca-Cola used to contain a small amount of cocaine? That’s not too surprising, considering that the drink was created by a pharmacist as a medicinal tonic, rather than a refreshing soda. John Pemberton created the first variant of Coca-Cola in his backyard in 1886.
There is no way that we could cover everything in Atlanta’s history, culture and society in just a single meager blog post, but these are some of the most likely topics and questions regarding the City of Atlanta, so save this post and keep it for your next trivia night!
Have fun!
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Featured photo courtesy Pixabay/AsiaEmerlle
Colleen Ford is a South African who now lives on Oahu in Hawai'i. She loves to travel, camp, spearfish and hike. She's also part of a super cool canoe club and is pretty decent at it. Colleen enjoys Star Wars and also not being cold ever.
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