Conyers, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Conyers, Georgia
City
Olde Town Conyers
Nickname(s):  C-Town
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Rockdale
Area
• Total	11.88 sq mi (30.78 km2)
• Land	11.76 sq mi (30.46 km2)
• Water	0.12 sq mi (0.32 km2)
Elevation	899 ft (274 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,305
• Density	1,471.51/sq mi (568.14/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30012, 30013, 30094
Area code(s)	470/678/770
FIPS code	13-19336
GNIS feature ID	0312910

Almand-O'Kelley-Walker House, one of many historic homes in Conyers

Conyers is a city in Georgia, United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Rockdale County. Conyers is located about 24 miles (38.6 km) east of downtown Atlanta and is part of the larger Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, about 17,305 people lived there. The town of Milstead used to be separate but is now part of Conyers.

Discovering Conyers: A City's Journey

Conyers Depot

A 1905 Rogers Steam Locomotive, named "Dinky", on display in Conyers. This engine carried freight between Conyers and Milstead until 1961.

The area that is now Rockdale County was opened for people to settle between 1816 and 1821. The very first settler in what became Conyers was a blacksmith named John Holcomb. He built his home where the Rockdale County Courthouse stands today, right in the center of Conyers.

How the Railroad Shaped Conyers

People soon wanted a railroad to cross Georgia. This railroad was planned to go from Augusta through Covington to Marthasville (which is now Atlanta). John Holcomb did not want the railroad on his land. He even said he would shoot anyone from the railroad who came onto his property!

However, a banker from Covington named Dr. W. D. Conyers managed to convince John Holcomb to sell his land for $700. Dr. Conyers then sold this land to the Georgia Railroad. The spot where Conyers now stands started as a place for trains to stop and get water. It was named after Dr. Conyers. By 1845, the railroad was fully working. By 1854, about 400 people lived near this watering stop, and Conyers officially became a city.

Surviving Fires and Becoming a County Seat

Conyers has faced many fires that almost destroyed it. There's a story that the city survived Sherman's March to the Sea during the American Civil War. This was supposedly because a friend of Sherman's lived nearby, and Sherman wasn't sure exactly where his friend's house was, so he spared the area.

In 1870, the area around Conyers became Rockdale County, which was formed from Newton County, Georgia. Conyers was then chosen as the county seat, meaning it became the main city for county government.

Rockdale County Courthouse

Art and Community in Conyers

The Conyers post office has a special painting called The Ploughman. It was painted in 1940 by Elizabeth Terrell. This mural was part of a program in the United States that supported artists during the 1930s and 1940s. The Works Progress Administration was a big government program that helped people find jobs during tough economic times.

Conyers was also known for its "sidewalk churches." These were churches like First Methodist, Conyers Presbyterian, and First Baptist that were located along Main Street. First Baptist Church of Conyers moved to a new location outside of downtown in 2000.

Milstead, a nearby "mill town," is now part of Conyers. At one time, Milstead and Conyers had their own private railroad. This railroad carried products like cotton from the mill to Conyers, where they could be shipped to textile factories. The mill closed in the 1960s.

In 1944, a Trappist monastery (a type of Catholic religious community) called Abbey of the Holy Spirit was built south of the city. The local Protestant community helped to build the main structure.

In the 1950s, Conyers had a Coca-Cola bottling factory. In 1957, a company called Lithonia Lighting moved to Conyers from Lithonia.

Conyers in Modern Times

In the 1960s, Interstate 20, a major highway, was built through the county.

In the 1970s, some of the first episodes of the TV show Dukes of Hazzard were filmed in Conyers.

In the 1980s, Conyers became known for "White Road." Many people visited this area because a resident, Nancy Fowler, claimed to have experienced special events there. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Conyers welcomed many visitors who came to see the site.

In 1996, Conyers was a host city for the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta. Conyers hosted the horse riding and mountain biking events. For this, the city built the Georgia International Horse Park.

More recently, from 2013 to 2018, the TV show The Originals was filmed in Conyers.

Where is Conyers Located?

Conyers is located at 33°39′59″N 84°0′27″W / 33.66639°N 84.00750°W / 33.66639; -84.00750. It is in the eastern part of the Metro Atlanta region.

Getting Around Conyers

Interstate 20 runs through Conyers, with exits 80 and 82 providing access to the city. This highway goes west 24 miles (39 km) to downtown Atlanta and east 122 miles (196 km) to Augusta. U.S. Route 278 also passes through the city, often running alongside I-20.

Other important roads in Conyers include Georgia State Routes 20 and 138. GA-20 goes northeast 16 miles (26 km) to Loganville and southwest 20 miles (32 km) to McDonough. GA-138 heads northeast 21 miles (34 km) to Monroe and southwest 18 miles (29 km) to Stockbridge.

Conyers' Size and Water

According to the United States Census Bureau, Conyers covers a total area of about 11.9 square miles (30.78 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 11.8 square miles (30.46 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.32 square kilometers), is covered by water.

Who Lives in Conyers?

The population of Conyers has grown a lot over the years. In 1870, there were 637 people, and by 2020, the population had reached 17,305.

Conyers' Diverse Community (2020)

In 2020, there were 17,305 people living in Conyers. These people lived in 6,300 households, and 3,848 of these were families.

Learning in Conyers: Schools and Education

The Rockdale County School District is in charge of education in Conyers. It offers schooling from preschool all the way to 12th grade. The district has 11 elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools. There are also four special "non-traditional" schools. In total, the district has about 889 full-time teachers and teaches over 13,801 students.

Sports in Conyers

Conyers is home to East Atlanta FC, a semi-professional soccer club. This team plays in the United Soccer League 2 during the summer months. The players are often college students. They play their games at the Rockdale Youth Soccer Association field. The club also has a youth team that plays in the USL academy league. They work closely with the Rockdale Youth Soccer Association to help young players develop their skills.

Famous People from Conyers

See also

In Spanish: Conyers para niños