The story of an airport’s impact and rise to notoriety.
When imagining the modern-American South, two things likely come to mind: good food and football. But beyond the region’s impact in the sports and culinary world, southern states have the ability to contribute meaningfully on a national and international level.
One state to watch out for is Georgia. Nestled in the southeast, the Peach State has been an economic powerhouse for centuries. The source of this influence has certainly shifted over time, but one of the most notable examples of its impact is its airport. A shining gem of the Empire State of the South, Hartfield-Jackson International Airport is a hub for not only commercial travel but influential financial engagement as well.
Before Hartsfield-Jackson became the bustling airport it is today, the land was used as a site for a racetrack. Asa Candler, Coca-Cola founder and former mayor of Atlanta, had Atlanta Speedway built on the southern outskirts of the city and opened in 1909. The track was a success initially but witnessed a quick decline in interest after its first season in business. As a result of this decrease in spectatorship, the track was shut down and the lot remained abandoned for about a decade. Eventually, the land was revived when in 1925, Mayor William B. Hartsfield decided to found an airstrip in the same location. Not only was the former track in a great position because of its proximity to Atlanta, but it also provided enough space for expansions to be added in the future.
Interesting fact: the airport was declared a military airfield and briefly used for wartime effort during World War II.
In addition to the expansions that were commissioned throughout the years, it also went through several name changes. When the airstrip was first built, it was named Candler Field. A couple years after it was opened to the public, it was renamed to Atlanta Municipal Airport in 1942. When Mayor Hartfield passed away in 1971, the name was changed to William B. Hartsfield Atlanta Airport to commemorate his work in the city. The last major name change came in October of 2003 in honor of the city’s first black mayor, Maynard Jackson.
Even when the Hartfield-Jackson was first opened, it garnered a lot of attention and traffic leading it to claim to be one of the busiest airports in the world, which despite the competition, isn’t far from the truth.
Today, Hartfield-Jackson International Airport serves over 100 million passengers a year and generates over $30 billion annual for the city. Its economic influence, however, goes beyond the dollars that are spent on tickets. In addition to the influx of foot traffic, business have also flocked to the area. Housing an airport means hotels have to be built for travelers to stay in. Visitors will also need places to eat, shop, and spend time.
There are ten Fortune 500 company headquarters in Atlanta, including the aforementionedCoca-Cola, Home Depot, and Delta Airlines. Visitors can also enjoy the World of Coca-Cola. This vivid, immersive museum takes you tastebuds first into the history of the company where you can sample current and discontinued drinks from around the world. For an attraction a little more so-fish-ticated, the Atlanta Aquarium, the world’s largest, is located in the city as well.
Passengers don’t need to wander far from the terminals to have a good time! There are plenty of on-site eateries and shops for you to explore once you touch down. There are souvenir stores, like The Goods and All ATL, that sell commemorative items to mark the time of your visit. For a quick fill-up between flights, there are plenty of in-house restaurants for hungry passengers. There are even bookstores and magazine shops for those who would prefer to mull over reading materials to pass the time.
Contrary to popular belief, airports are more than just a quick option to travel from point A to point B. Hartfield-Jackson is a shining example of adapting to new ideas and technology and symbol of southern excellence.
