1. On January 16, 1861, Georgia seceded from the Union and became one of the founding members of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The decision to secede was made at the Georgia State Capitol in Milledgeville.

2. In 1919, Georgia ratified the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol within the country. It was a few years later in 1933 when Georgia became the first state to ratify the 21st Amendment, which repealed the prohibition of alcohol.

3. On January 16, 1970, Jumbo Ozaki, a Japanese golfer, won the inaugural Atlanta Classic held at the Atlanta Country Club. He was awarded a prize money of $20,000 for his victory and went on to win 47 tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour.

4. The Atlanta Falcons played their first-ever conference championship game on January 16, 2005, against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Lincoln Financial Field. Despite a valiant effort by the Falcons, the Eagles emerged victorious with a score of 27-10.

5. In 2010, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed was inaugurated as the city's 59th mayor on January 16. During his time in office, Reed implemented several policies aimed at improving the city's economy, infrastructure, and public safety. He also played a key role in securing Atlanta's bid to host the 2019 Super Bowl.