Lovejoy, Georgia Facts for Kids

Lovejoy is a city located in Clayton County, Georgia, in the United States. It's famous for being the location of the Battle of Lovejoy's Station during the American Civil War in 1864. Lovejoy officially became a town on September 16, 1861. In 2020, about 10,122 people lived here. Most of the residents are African American.

The Georgia Department of Transportation and MARTA plan to make Lovejoy the end point for metro Atlanta's first commuter train line.

History of Lovejoy
Geography and Location
Population and People
Education in Lovejoy
Transportation and Infrastructure
Famous People from Lovejoy
See also

History of Lovejoy

Around 1850, a new railway was built from Atlanta to Macon. A train stop was set up just north of Fosterville, Georgia. This stop was named after James Lankford Lovejoy, a successful local farmer.

On early maps, the area was simply called "Lovejoys." By 1864, it was known as Lovejoy's Station. This was where a battle took place during the Civil War, as part of Sherman's campaign through Georgia. James Lovejoy later moved away and passed away in 1877.

The Georgia General Assembly officially made Lovejoy a town in 1891. For many years, Lovejoy had a cotton gin, which is a machine that separates cotton fibers from their seeds. It operated until 1932.

In 1979, Betty Talmadge, who was once the First Lady of Georgia, bought parts of the movie set for "Tara." Tara was the fictional plantation from the famous movie Gone With the Wind. She brought these pieces to Lovejoy. The main road through Lovejoy is even named "Tara Blvd." You can still visit the remnants of the Tara set at the Lovejoy Plantation.

Geography and Location

Lovejoy is located in the southern part of Clayton County. Its exact coordinates are 33°26′39″N 84°18′54″W. The city shares a border with Henry County to the south. To the north, it borders the community of Bonanza.

U.S. Routes 19 and 41 run through the western side of Lovejoy. These roads lead north about 24 miles (39 km) to downtown Atlanta. They also go south about 14 miles (23 km) to Griffin.

The United States Census Bureau reports that Lovejoy covers a total area of about 2.6 square miles (6.8 km2). A small part of this area, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), is water.

Population and People

Lovejoy's population has grown a lot over the years. Here's how it has changed:

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1910	198	—
1920	221	11.6%
1930	178	−19.5%
1980	205	—
1990	754	267.8%
2000	2,495	230.9%
2010	6,422	157.4%
2020	10,122	57.6%
2023 (est.)	12,080	88.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2020, the city had 10,122 people living there. There were 1,756 households and 1,272 families.

Here is a breakdown of the different groups of people living in Lovejoy in 2020:

Lovejoy racial composition as of 2020
Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	932	9.21%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	7,709	76.16%
Native American	21	0.21%
Asian	105	1.04%
Pacific Islander	5	0.05%
Other/Mixed	334	3.3%
Hispanic or Latino	1,016	10.04%

Education in Lovejoy

Public schools in Lovejoy are managed by Clayton County Public Schools. The main schools serving the area are Lovejoy Middle School and Lovejoy High School.

In 1989, a famous professional wrestler named Jody Hamilton started a wrestling school in Lovejoy. This school later moved to Atlanta. It was known as the WCW Power Plant until 2001.

Transportation and Infrastructure

The city of Lovejoy is served by MARTA. This public transportation system helps people get around. There are plans for a new commuter rail service. This train line is expected to end in Lovejoy, making it easier for people to travel to and from the city.

Famous People from Lovejoy

Kokomo Arnold – A blues singer and guitarist.
Bub Means – A wide receiver in the NFL (National Football League).
Jocasta Odom – A reality TV show personality and minister.
Preston Williams – Another NFL wide receiver.

Lovejoy, Georgia facts for kids

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