Covington, Georgia

Covington is a city in Newton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 13,118^[4]. The city is the county seat of Newton County^[5]

Covington has served as the location for filming of several television shows, including the TV series In the Heat of the Night, the first five episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard and major films including Remember the Titans, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives and Halloween II, Rob Zombie's sequel to his 2007 film Halloween. Currently, The CW's television series The Vampire Diaries uses downtown Covington as the filming location for the fictional town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, and a made-for-TV NBC movie, "The Magic Eye" was filmed in March 2011.

History

Incorporated in 1822, Covington was named for United States Army Brigadier General and United States Congressman Leonard Covington, a hero of the War of 1812. The city grew with the advent of the railroad in 1845, and in 1864, General Sherman's troops marched through during their March to the Sea. Although the city was looted, several antebellum homes were spared.

Historic districts

The city contains the Covington Historic District as well as the Covington Mills and Mill Village, Floyd Street, and North Covington historic districts, all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Starrsville Historic District, site of the historic settlement of Starrsville, is nearby in the exurban area around Covington. The Newton County Courthouse, Brick Store, and Salem Camp Ground are separately NRHP-listed.^[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.9 square miles (36 km²), of which, 13.8 square miles (36 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (0.72%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 11,547 people, 4,261 households, and 2,906 families residing in the city. The population density was 839.2 people per square mile (324.0/km²). There were 4,542 housing units at an average density of 330.1 per square mile (127.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 51.55% White, 45.54% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.94% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.87% of the population.

There were 4,261 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.0% were married couples living together, 23.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,997, and the median income for a family was $36,408. Males had a median income of $29,622 versus $23,339 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,554. About 14.8% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under age 18 and 12.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Newton County School District

The Newton County School District holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of fourteen elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools, an elementary theme school, and a charter school.^[6] The district has 853 full-time teachers and over 20,681 students.^[7]

Private Education

• Grace Christian Academy
• Montessori School of Covington
• Providence Christian School
• Peachtree Academy
• Covington Academy

Higher education

• Dekalb Technical College- Covington Campus^[8]
• Georgia Perimeter College- Newton County Campus^[9]
• Oxford College of Emory University- Oxford Campus^[10]

Tourism events

• Gaither's Plantation hosts a Fall Festival every year.
• The Satsuki Garden Club conducts tours of historic houses in Covington every other Christmas.
• The Vampire Diaries, Mystic Falls Tours.^[11]

In Film and Television

Covington has been featured in many TV shows and movies since the 1970s. The city prides itself with the nickname "Hollywood South" http://www.imdb.com/search/text?field=locations&q=Covington,Georgia&realm=title&start=1

• The Odd Life of Timothy Green, a Disney film starring Jennifer Garner and Ron Livingston. Filming wrapped in January 2011 [1]
• The Magic Eye, a NBC made-for-TV movie about high school football in small-town America. Scheduled to air in June 2011.^[12]
• The Accountant, a 2001 short film [2]
• The Vampire Diaries, a teen drama on the CW network, began filming on July 21, 2009 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405406/
• Halloween II, (2009) a reboot of the 1980s film series directed by Rob Zombie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1311067/
• In the Heat of the Night, a television series from 1988 to 1995, Sparta Mississippi http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094484/
• The Family That Preys, a 2009 film by Tyler Perry http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1142798/
• The Dukes of Hazzard, a TV series that was filmed in Covington and surrounding areas for half of the first season in 1978 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078607/
• False Face, a 1977 film http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074510/
• Kalifornia. a 1993 film starring Brad Pitt and David Duchovny filmed at the old Crest Motel http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107302/
• The Cannonball Run, filmed in 1981 starring Burt Reynolds and Dom DeLuise http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082136/
• Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375104/
• Madea's Family Reunion (2006) Gaithers Plantation http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0455612/
• Friday the Thirteenth, The Original Crystal Lake, is just up the road at Hard Labor Creek State Park.
• Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091080/
• Run Ronnie Run (2000) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258100/
• Remember the Titans (1999) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256415/
• Three Wishes (2005) Amy Grant, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460685/
• Miss Evers’ Boys (1997 TV Movie) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119679/
• Past the Bleachers (1994) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114100/
• The Oldest Living Confederate Widow (1993)
• A Passion for Justice: The Hazel Brannon Smith Story (1993)
• The Secret Passion of Robert Clayton (1992)
• I'll Fly Away (1991–1992) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101124/
• Stay the Night (1991)
• Grass Roots (1991) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0104364/
• Carolina Skeletons (1991)
• White Lie (1991)
• Sudie & Simpson (1990)
• Resting Place (1986)
• Sweet Home Alabama (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0256415/
• Get Low (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1194263/
• Little Darlings (1980) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081060/
• The Fighting Temptations (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0191133/
• Resting Place (1986) Hallmark Hall of Fame http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091844/
• A Simple Twist of Fate (1994) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111194/
• Fled (1996) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116320/
• Flash (1997 TV movie) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0136199/
• Savannah (1996 TV Series) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115346/
• A Man called Peter (1955) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048337/
• Boycott (2001) TV Movie, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255851/
• Dangerous Calling (2008)http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1241015/
• Coward of the County (1981 TV movie) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082208/
• False River (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0160261/
• The Price of a Broken Heart (1999 TV Movie) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0210921/
• Wayward Son (1999) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0170157/
• The Prize Fighter (1979) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079754/
• Door to Door (1985) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087166/
• A Fathers Homecoming(1988) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095142/
• TV Road Trip (2002) Documentary, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0294197/
• Turbulance! (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887964/
• The Spy/Fancy Dress (2004) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0887956/
• Fly By (2009) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1377693/
• Boxed In (2005) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758657/
• Autorequiem (2002) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0321343/
• American Reunion (2012), the fourth installment of the "American Pie" movie series, is filmed at Newton High School.

Covington is also home to Triple Horse Productions (Commercial Production Company).

Notable residents

The following notable people are or have been residents of the Covington area:

• George T. Anderson, Confederate General during the Civil War
• Leon Ashley, singer
• Dale Carter, professional American football player
• Ellia English, Actress best known for role as Aunt Helen on The Jamie Foxx Show
• Andy Offutt Irwin, award-winning storyteller and recording artist
• Ryan Klesko, Major League Baseball player
• Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (II), politician, Secretary of the Interior for Grover Cleveland, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
• Rev. Dr. Peter Marshall, Chaplain U.S. Senate, subject of movie "A Man Called Peter"
• Jake Reed, former professional American football player
• Steadman Vincent Sanford, Chancellor of the University System of Georgia
• Jay Bailey, Manufacturing Expert
• Boondox (David Hutto), Rapper on Psychopathic Records

See also

• Covington Historic District
• The Covington News

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
4. ^ http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/1320064.html
5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
6. ^ Georgia Board of Education, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
7. ^ School Stats, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
8. ^ Dekalb Technical College, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
9. ^ Georgia Perimeter College- Newton Campus, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
10. ^ Oxford College of Emory University, Retrieved June 24, 2010.
11. ^ Mystic Falls Tour
12. ^ Covington News

External links

• The City of Covington official site
• Downtown Covington
• The Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce
• The Center for Community Preservation and Planning
• Yellow River Dragstrip Event
• The Newton Citizen
• The Arts Association in Newton County
• The Covington Municipal Airport Authority