McDonough, Georgia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McDonough, Georgia
City
Henry County Courthouse and Confederate monument
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  The Geranium City
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Henry
Named for	Thomas Macdonough
Area
• Total	13.01 sq mi (33.71 km2)
• Land	12.85 sq mi (33.29 km2)
• Water	0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Elevation	863 ft (263 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	29,051
• Density	2,260.43/sq mi (872.72/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	30252–30253
Area code(s)	770/678/470
FIPS code	13-48624
GNIS feature ID	0317901

McDonough is a city in Henry County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the larger Atlanta metropolitan area. In 2020, about 29,051 people lived there. McDonough is also the county seat of Henry County, which means it's where the main government offices are.

Some smaller communities like Blacksville, Flippen, Kelleytown, and Ola are close to McDonough. They even share the same ZIP codes.

History of McDonough

How the City Started

McDonough was founded in 1823. It was named after a naval officer, Commodore Thomas Macdonough. The city was designed around a traditional town square. Many of the buildings around this square are still standing today.

Important Buildings

On the north side of the square, you'll find the county courthouse and an old jail building. Near them is the Welcome Center, which used to be a Standard Oil service station built in 1920.

Just one block east of the square, the old cotton warehouse has been replaced by the Henry County Judicial Center. Inside the Henry County Courthouse Annex, there's a large painting called "Cotton Gin." It was painted by artist Jean Charlot in 1942 for the town's post office.

Travel in the Past

Long ago, McDonough was an important stop for stagecoaches traveling between New York City and New Orleans. It also had stagecoach connections to other nearby towns like Fayetteville, Decatur, and Macon.

Geography of McDonough

McDonough is located in the middle of Henry County. It's about 28 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.

Roads and Highways

U.S. Route 23 goes right through the center of McDonough. It connects the city to Stockbridge in the northwest and Locust Grove to the south. Interstate 75 also passes by the city. You can get on or off I-75 at Exits 216, 218, and 221. This interstate leads to Atlanta in the northwest and Macon to the southeast.

Land and Water

The city covers an area of about 13 square miles (33.4 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part, about 0.16 square miles (0.5 square kilometers), being water.

People of McDonough

Population Growth

McDonough has grown a lot over the years. In 1870, only 320 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 29,051 people!

Diversity in the City

As of 2020, McDonough is home to a diverse group of people. Most residents are Black or African American, making up about 69% of the population. White residents make up about 17%. There are also Asian, Native American, Pacific Islander, and people of mixed races living in the city. About 6.75% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.

Economy and Jobs

Local Businesses

Snapper Inc., a company that makes lawn care and snow removal equipment, used to be based in McDonough. They were known for inventing the first self-propelled rotary lawn mower. The company was sold in 2005 and the plant closed in 2015.

Goya Foods, a well-known food company, has its Atlanta offices near McDonough.

Arts and Culture

Historic Places

Several buildings and two historic areas in McDonough are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This includes the McDonough Historic District downtown.

Fun Events

Every spring, McDonough hosts the Geranium Festival. It takes place on the third Saturday in May. This festival celebrates the beautiful geranium flowers grown in the area and brings the community together. You can find craft markets and enjoy live music performances. The McDonough Lions Club sponsors this popular event.

Sports in McDonough

Local Teams

McDonough has a semi-professional soccer team called Georgia Revolution FC. They play in the National Premier Soccer League at Warhawk Stadium.

The professional wrestling training territory Deep South Wrestling was also based in McDonough.

Education in McDonough

Public Schools

The Henry County School District serves students from pre-school all the way to twelfth grade. The district has many schools, including:

• 28 elementary schools
• 9 middle schools
• 10 high schools

Over 40,000 students attend schools in the district, taught by more than 1,500 full-time teachers.

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High Schools

• Academy for Advanced Studies
• Dutchtown High School
• Eagle's Landing High School
• Henry County Evening Academy
• McDonough High School
• Ola High School
• Union Grove High School
• Luella High School

Private Schools

Colleges and Universities

• Gordon State College has a satellite center in McDonough.
• Mercer University opened a campus in McDonough in 2003. They offer programs in teacher education, criminal justice, and general studies.
• Grace Biblical Seminary opened in 2004, offering degrees in theology.
• Atlanta Bible College is also located in McDonough.

Media and Entertainment

Local News and Radio

WKKP is the local radio station, broadcasting on 100.9 FM and 1410 AM. It plays classic country music.

The Henry Herald is the local newspaper for Henry County.

Filming Location

McDonough has been a popular spot for filming movies and TV shows!

• The movie A Madea Christmas was filmed in the town square and around McDonough.
• The TV show Resurrection also used the town square and other parts of McDonough for filming.
• Scenes for the 1989 Civil War film, Glory, were filmed in the city.
• A pilot episode for the TV show Roswell was filmed on the city square at the old Phillips 66 service station.
• The 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit was filmed mainly in Georgia, including scenes in McDonough.

Transportation

Public Transit

Xpress GA provides local bus service in McDonough.

Major Roads

McDonough is served by several important highways:

• Interstate 75
• U.S. Highway 23
• Georgia State Route 20
• Georgia State Route 42
• Georgia State Route 81
• Georgia State Route 155

Famous People from McDonough

Many notable people have connections to McDonough, Georgia:

See also

In Spanish: McDonough para niños