Covington, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Covington, Georgia
City
Newton County Courthouse (1984)
Flag Seal Logo
Location in Newton County and the state of Georgia
Covington, Georgia Location in Metro Atlanta
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Newton
Area
• Total	15.94 sq mi (41.28 km2)
• Land	15.70 sq mi (40.66 km2)
• Water	0.24 sq mi (0.62 km2)
Elevation	741 ft (226 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,192
• Density	904.12/sq mi (349.08/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	30014-30016
Area code(s)	470/678/770
FIPS code	13-20064
GNIS feature ID	0355354

Covington Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location in Georgia (U.S. state) Show map of Georgia (U.S. state) Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Roughly Covington City S of US 278, Covington, Georgia
Built	1821
Architect	Bruce and Morgan; Golucke, J.W., and Company, et al.
Architectural style	Greek Revival, Second Empire, Italianate
NRHP reference No.	98000969
Added to NRHP	August 6, 1998

Covington is a city in Georgia, USA. It's the main city, or county seat, of Newton County. Covington is also part of the larger Atlanta area. In 2020, about 14,192 people lived here.

History of Covington

Covington was started by people who moved to the United States from Europe. It became a town in 1821. This was when Newton County was first created. The city was named after Leonard Covington, a brave Army general and congressman. He was a hero in the War of 1812.

The town grew a lot when the railroad arrived in 1845. Covington officially became a city in 1854. In 1864, during the Civil War, General Sherman's troops marched through. This was part of their famous March to the Sea. They took things from the city and destroyed many buildings. However, some beautiful old homes from before the war were saved.

Historic Places to See

Covington has special areas called historic districts. These are the Covington Historic District and the North Covington Historic District. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important places to protect. You can find maps and information about these areas at City Hall.

The Covington Historic District includes Floyd Street and the downtown square. The North Covington Historic District centers around North Emory Street and Odum Street. There are rules to keep these areas looking old and special. You might need a special permit to make changes to properties there.

Other important historical spots include the Covington Mill Village. The Starrsville Historic District is also nearby. The Newton County Courthouse, an old brick store, and the Salem campground are also listed as historic places.

Geography and Climate

Covington is in the northern part of central Georgia. It's on the eastern side of the Metro Atlanta region. Interstate 20 runs just north of the city. You can get to Covington from exits 90, 92, and 93.

If you drive on I-20, downtown Atlanta is about 35 miles (56 km) to the west. Augusta is about 112 miles (180 km) to the east. U.S. Route 278 also goes through Covington. It leads east about 16 miles (26 km) to Rutledge. It goes northwest about 11 miles (18 km) to Conyers. Other main roads in the city are Georgia State Routes 36, 81, and 142.

The city covers about 13.9 square miles (36.0 km2) in total. Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Covington's Weather

Population and People

Covington's population has grown steadily over the years. In 2020, the city had 14,192 residents. The population is made up of people from different backgrounds.

In 2000, there were 11,547 people living in Covington. About 31.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.62 people. The median age in the city was 35 years old. This means half the people were younger than 35 and half were older.

Education in Covington

Covington offers many choices for learning, from elementary school to college.

Public Schools

The Newton County School District serves students from pre-school through twelfth grade. It has 14 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 3 high schools. There are also special elementary and charter schools. The district has many teachers and serves over 13,000 students.

Private Schools

Several private schools are available in Covington:

• Grace Christian Academy
• Montessori School of Covington
• Providence Classical Christian School
• Peachtree Academy
• Covington Academy
• Point of Grace Christian School
• First Baptist Academy

Colleges and Universities

For higher education, students can attend:

• Georgia Piedmont Technical College - Covington Campus
• Perimeter College at Georgia State University - Newton County Campus
• Emory University - Oxford Campus

Fun Events and Tourism

Covington hosts several fun events and is known for its connection to TV shows and movies.

• Gaither's Plantation Fall Festival: This event happens every year.
• Historic House Tours: The Satsuki Garden Club organizes tours of historic houses. These tours happen every other Christmas.
• Vampire Diaries Tours: Fans of The Vampire Diaries TV show can take tours of "Mystic Falls," which is Covington!

Economy and Jobs

Covington is becoming a place where new technologies are made. Archer Aviation plans to build its Midnight eVTOL air taxi here. An eVTOL is an electric aircraft that can take off and land vertically, like a helicopter. Car maker Stellantis will help make these air taxis.

Covington in Film and Television

Covington has been a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows since the 1950s. Its historic buildings and small-town feel make it a great backdrop.

Famous People From Covington

Many notable people have connections to Covington:

Images for kids

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  Newton County Courthouse (1984)

• 

  Flag of Covington, Georgia

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  Seal of Covington, Georgia

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  Logo of Covington, Georgia

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  Location in Newton County and the state of Georgia

See also

In Spanish: Covington (Georgia) para niños