1. On December 28, 1837, the Georgia State Legislature granted a charter to the state's first railroad company, the Western and Atlantic Railroad. The railroad played a significant role in the development of Georgia's economy, connecting Atlanta to Chattanooga and providing transportation for goods and people.

2. In 1864, during the American Civil War, Union troops under the command of General William T. Sherman raided the town of Social Circle, Georgia. The raid was part of Sherman's march to the sea campaign, aimed at disrupting the Confederate Army's supply lines and weakening their ability to fight.

3. On December 28, 1895, the Atlanta Baptist Female Seminary officially changed its name to Spelman College, in honor of Laura Spelman Rockefeller's contributions to the school. Today, Spelman College is a leading liberal arts institution for African American women.

4. In 1947, a passenger plane carrying thirty-two people, including Georgia Governor-elect Eugene Talmadge, crashed near Atlanta, killing all on board. The incident is known as the Candler Field crash, named after the airport where the plane was attempting to land.

5. On December 28, 1973, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Roe v. Wade, legalizing abortion nationwide. The decision was controversial and remains a contentious issue in Georgia and throughout the country today.