Final answer:
The University of Georgia is significant for being the first public university in the United States, marking a pivotal moment in the history of American higher education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The significant fact about the history of the University of Georgia is that it was the first public university in the United States. During the expansion of educational institutions in the Southern United States after the Civil War, various states created universities focused on agricultural science and industrial skills, aiming to enhance their regions' commercial prosperity.
The University of Georgia, established in January 1785, marks a pivotal moment in higher education as it pioneered the public university model, which was later followed by other states, making it an integral part of the history of the American educational system.