Newton County, Georgia

History

Newton county is named after Sgt. John Newton, who served under Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox", in the American Revolutionary War. It was created on December 24, 1821.

During the American Civil War, the county provided the Lamar Infantry, which was a part of Cobb's Legion. The 1860 census shows the enslaved population was nearly half, 45.2 percent. Newton County adjoins Jasper County: Georgia is one of many states that have a Newton County and a Jasper County that border each other.

In late 1978, the first five episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard were filmed in and around Covington, Georgia. The TV series In The Heat of the Night was filmed in Covington from 1988 to 1995. Also, in Remember the Titans, there were many scenes shot on "The Square" and the final football scene was shot at Homer Sharp Stadium, which is located near downtown Covington. Currently part of the new series The Vampire Diaries is being filmed on "The Square". Additionally, major films including My Cousin Vinny, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives and Halloween II, Rob Zombie's sequel to his 2007 film Halloween, were also filmed near and around "The Square" in downtown Covington.

Newton County claims to be the birthplace of Georgia 4-H. Actually, the Girls Canning and Boys Corn Clubs in 1904 by G.C. Adams was renamed the 4-H Club in 1906, after the original 4-H Club that opened in Iowa in 1905.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 279 sqmi, of which 272 sqmi is land and 7.0 sqmi (2.5%) is water. The county is located in the Piedmont region of the state.

The majority of Newton County is located in the Upper Ocmulgee River sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin. A small eastern portion of the county, from southwest of Social Circle to southwest of Newborn, is located in the Upper Oconee River sub-basin of the same Altamaha River basin.

Major highways

• (Interstate 20)
• (Porterdale)
• (unsigned designation for I-20)

Adjacent counties

• Walton County (north)
• Morgan County (east)
• Jasper County (southeast)
• Butts County (south)
• Henry County (West southwest)
• Rockdale County (northwest)

Communities

Cities

• Covington (county seat)
• Mansfield
• Oxford
• Social Circle

Towns

• Newborn
• Porterdale

Unincorporated community

• Starrsville

Demographics

| align-fn = center 1790–1880 1890–1910 1920–1930 1930–1940 1940–1950 1960–1980 1980–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 112,483, 39,477 households, and 28,095 families. The median age was 38.0 years; 24.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 84.8 males age 18 and over. Sixty-six percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 34.0% lived in rural areas.

The racial makeup of the county was 42.7% White, 46.9% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.3% from some other race, and 5.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.4% of the population.

There were 39,477 households in the county, of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 32.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 21.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 41,756 housing units, of which 5.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.2% were owner-occupied and 29.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%.

Education

Most of Newton County is in the Newton County School System. Portions in Social Circle are in the Social Circle City School District.

Politics

As of the 2020s, Newton County is a usually Democratic voting county. For the first half of the 20th century, Newton County followed the regular Solid South pattern of voting Democratic. It would later become a state bellwether from 1968 to 2004—meaning that the county's voting intention was an accurate predictor of the overall statewide winner. From 2008 to 2016, Newton County had been narrowly won by Democrats thanks to its location within the Atlanta metro as well as the influx of progressive voters both the region and Newton proper have experienced in recent years. This margin ballooned to a double-digit percentage in 2020 when Joe Biden flipped the state back into the Democratic column; Kamala Harris built upon this margin four years later, winning Newton by just over 15% even as she narrowly lost Georgia and the election.

For elections to the United States House of Representatives, Newton County is part of Georgia's 10th congressional district, currently represented by Mike Collins. For elections to the Georgia State Senate, Newton County is divided between districts 42 and 43. For elections to the Georgia House of Representatives, Newton County is part of districts 113, 114 and 118.

References

References

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2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
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5. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
6. "Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Interactive Mapping Experience". Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission.
7. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
9. (1880). "1880 Census Population by Counties 1790–1800". United States Census Bureau.
10. (1910). "1910 Census of Population – Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
11. (1930). "1930 Census of Population – Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
12. (1940). "1940 Census of Population – Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
13. (1950). "1950 Census of Population – Georgia –". United States Census Bureau.
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15. (2000). "2000 Census of Population – Population and Housing Unit Counts – Georgia". United States Census Bureau.
16. "P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Newton County, Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
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18. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Newton County, Georgia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
19. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
20. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
21. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
22. "2020 CENSUS – SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Newton County, GA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
24. (November 5, 2022). "2022 Senate Election (Official Returns)".
25. "Georgia General Assembly".
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