The GAGenWeb Project - Newton County

The History of Covington and Newton County

(adapted from Newton County Chamber of Commerce)

Newton County was created by the Georgia General Assembly on December 24, 1821. It was named for Revolutionary War hero Sergeant John Newton. It was formed from parts of Henry, Jasper, and Walton Counties. The Creek Indians roamed the land until 1813 when Governor Thorp negotiated a treaty in which the Creeks gave up their claim to the land A decade later the last of the Creek Indians were banished to Oklahoma over the "Trail of Tears."

The first white settlers located in Eastern Newton County in a town then-named Winton. "The Brick Store" was built in 1822 and still stands today. Lack of adequate water caused the settlers to move further west and establish Newtonsboro. The name was later changed to Covington after General Leonard Covington, a hero in the war of 1812. In 1853 Covington was incorporated as a City.

The coming of the railroad in 1845 was the beginning of the growth and stability of Newton County. Newton County's extensive agricultural base produced related industries, like textile mills, as early as the 1840's. After 1900, textiles became a major industry in the area serving the farmers of the surrounding counties.

General Sherman took many treasures from Southerners and Georgians. His army marched a path of death, fire and destruction from Savannah northward. Thankfully, Covington was spared the harsh punishment of these Yankee troops. Many original antebellum homes and buildings still stand blended with modern buildings. Together they present an excellent comparison of the past and present.

NEWTON COUNTY TODAY

Covington, the county seat of Newton County, is located just 35 miles East of Atlanta on Interstate 20. Excellent connections exist via I-285 which connects with I-75, I-85 and Georgia 400.

Hartfield International Airport is about 45 minutes driving time. Area 271 square miles. Zip code is 30209.

NOTE: Researchers might also check the Rockdale County GenWeb page. Rockdale County was formed from a portion of Newton County, and it's County Seat, Conyers was located inside Newton County.

View a Map Showing the Location of Some of the Communities in Newton County
Which Include Alma, Brick Store, Cornish Mountain, Covington, Dial Town, Gum Creek, Magnet, Mansfield
Newborn, Oxford, Porterdale, Rocky Plains, Salem, Starrsville, and Stewart

The Tombstone Project, Newton County

The Tombstone Project is dedicated to preserving information found in cemeteries. Volunteers walk each cemetery and transcribe the information that is available here. You might like to volunteer to transcribe a cemetery where your ancestors are located.

The USGenWeb Archives Project, Newton County, GA

The Archives works much like the Archives in Atlanta. Here you will find transcriptions of Bibles, biographies, cemeteries, census records, court, estate, & probate records, church records, history, land & deed records, military records, miscellaneous records, newspaper records, obituaries, pictures, slave records, tax records, and vital records which include birth, marriage and death records, and wills. All information here is transcribed by volunteers. You might volunteer to transcribe your copies of original documents and submit them to help others.

Butts	Henry	Jasper
Morgan	Rockdale	Walton