Newton County, Georgia

Newton County
The Newton County courthouse in Covington in 1969
The Newton County courthouse in Covington in 1969
Map of Georgia highlighting Newton County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°35′57″N 83°51′31″W / 33.599243°N 83.858729°W / 33.599243; -83.858729
Country United States
State Georgia
FoundedDecember 24, 1821; 202 years ago (1821)
Named forJohn Newton
SeatCovington
Largest cityCovington
Area
 • Total279 sq mi (720 km2)
 • Land272 sq mi (700 km2)
 • Water7.0 sq mi (18 km2)  2.5%
Population
 • Total112,483
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts4th, 10th
Websitewww.co.newton.ga.us

Newton County is a county located in the north central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 112,483. The county seat is Covington.

Newton County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

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 square miles (720 km2), of which 272 square miles (700 km2) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km2) (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

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
183011,155
184011,6284.2%
185013,29614.3%
186014,3207.7%
187014,6152.1%
188013,623−6.8%
189014,3105.0%
190016,73416.9%
191018,44910.2%
192021,68017.5%
193017,290−20.2%
194018,5767.4%
195020,1858.7%
196020,9994.0%
197026,28225.2%
198034,48931.2%
199041,80821.2%
200062,00148.3%
201099,95861.2%
2020112,48312.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 62,001 people, 21,997 households, and 17,113 families living in the county. The population density was 224 inhabitants per square mile (86/km2). There were 23,033 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile (32/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 75.27% White, 22.21% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.87% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,997 households, out of which 37.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.20% were non-families. 18.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 21.50% from 45 to 64, and 9.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,875, and the median income for a family was $49,748. Males had a median income of $36,742 versus $26,097 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,317. About 7.20% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.90% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 99,958 people, 34,390 households, and 26,165 families living in the county. The population density was 367.3 inhabitants per square mile (141.8/km2). There were 38,342 housing units at an average density of 140.9 per square mile (54.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 53.8% white, 40.9% black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 13.4% were American, 9.2% were Irish, 8.0% were English, and 7.5% were German.

Of the 34,390 households, 43.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 23.9% were non-families, and 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.27. The median age was 34.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,361 and the median income for a family was $56,519. Males had a median income of $44,504 versus $33,133 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,583. About 10.8% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

2020 census

Newton County racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 46,746 41.56%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 52,246 46.45%
Native American 175 0.16%
Asian 1,044 0.93%
Pacific Islander 114 0.1%
Other/Mixed 4,994 4.44%
Hispanic or Latino 7,164 6.37%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 112,483 people, 37,867 households, and 28,095 families residing in the county.

Education

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

Communities

Politics

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 Newton's voting was an accurate predictor of the overall statewide winner. From 2008 to 2016 Newton had been narrowly won by Democrats thanks to its location within the Atlanta metro and the influx of progressive voters both the region and Newton have experienced in recent years. This margin ballooned to a double digit percentage in 2020 as Joe Biden flipped the state back into the Democratic column.

United States presidential election results for Newton County, Georgia
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 23,869 43.99% 29,789 54.90% 605 1.11%
2016 20,913 47.27% 21,943 49.60% 1,382 3.12%
2012 20,982 48.45% 21,851 50.45% 476 1.10%
2008 20,337 49.03% 20,827 50.21% 318 0.77%
2004 18,095 61.99% 10,939 37.47% 157 0.54%
2000 11,127 60.56% 6,703 36.48% 545 2.97%
1996 7,274 47.10% 6,759 43.77% 1,410 9.13%
1992 5,804 42.49% 5,811 42.54% 2,044 14.96%
1988 5,809 64.77% 3,111 34.69% 49 0.55%
1984 5,810 63.16% 3,389 36.84% 0 0.00%
1980 3,206 35.40% 5,611 61.96% 239 2.64%
1976 2,137 25.35% 6,294 74.65% 0 0.00%
1972 4,647 77.10% 1,380 22.90% 0 0.00%
1968 1,660 24.87% 1,998 29.93% 3,017 45.20%
1964 2,678 42.52% 3,620 57.48% 0 0.00%
1960 708 18.19% 3,185 81.81% 0 0.00%
1956 532 14.13% 3,232 85.87% 0 0.00%
1952 431 10.88% 3,529 89.12% 0 0.00%
1948 243 9.72% 2,113 84.52% 144 5.76%
1944 123 5.73% 2,022 94.27% 0 0.00%
1940 95 5.90% 1,512 93.85% 4 0.25%
1936 123 5.79% 1,994 93.79% 9 0.42%
1932 45 2.61% 1,672 96.82% 10 0.58%
1928 698 44.43% 873 55.57% 0 0.00%
1924 139 14.63% 716 75.37% 95 10.00%
1920 349 31.67% 753 68.33% 0 0.00%
1916 39 3.60% 943 86.99% 102 9.41%
1912 43 4.57% 840 89.36% 57 6.06%
1908 303 30.15% 643 63.98% 59 5.87%
1904 354 25.99% 928 68.14% 80 5.87%
1900 294 26.56% 790 71.36% 23 2.08%
1896 580 36.05% 973 60.47% 56 3.48%
1892 611 36.41% 1,005 59.89% 62 3.69%
1888 398 32.65% 788 64.64% 33 2.71%
1884 792 49.69% 802 50.31% 0 0.00%
1880 581 43.88% 743 56.12% 0 0.00%


Board of Commissioners
District Commissioner Party
CHAIR (at-large) Marcello Banes (chairman) Democratic
District 1 Stan Edwards Republican
District 2 T. Demond Mason Democratic
District 3 Alana Sanders Democratic
District 4 J.C. Henderson Democratic
District 5 Ronnie Cowan Republican

See also


This page was last updated at 2023-12-31 17:21 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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