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GROWING county
Newton County is the gateway between urban metro Atlanta and rural north-central Georgia, a large county that contains two worlds and all of that diversity that entails. As one of the fastest growing counties in the nation during the booming 2000s, Newton County has a western half that is the epitome of suburban residential growth, as large housing developments, small commercial strip centers, schools, churches, parks and libraries all sprang up in place of dairy farms and hay fields. The eastern half tells a different story and remains the home of farmers and old families who have lived on their large lots for generations. There are undeveloped forests, scenic dirt roads and historic communities that aren’t much larger than they were 151
years ago. As the housing market collapsed in 2008, so did Newton’s growth, which has hurt the construction-driven economy, but has given Newton County leaders a chance to plan for a future of controlled growth and guided progress. Newton’s county seat of Covington is the dividing line between urban and rural living, and the county’s leaders hope the county can promote further development while protecting the area’s heritage. With the future arrival of mega medical manufacturer Baxter International (see page 14), Newton County’s prospects are on the rise and residents are optimistic that their beloved community is in line for the high life.
Agriculture Newton County’s robust agricultural base generates more than $14.5 million in products a year, and farms across the county produce beef cattle, hay and poultry. Recently, organic farms have also begun to crop up around the county, while some city residents also have caught the urban agriculture bug and are reinventing the idea of the backyard garden. The county is home to three major agriculture learning facilities. Established in 1937, the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center is the state’s premier camp facility and conference center. For almost 50 years, Boy Scouts have camped and created cherished memories at Bert Adams Scout Reservation. The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center offers youths the opportunity to experience the great outdoors through enjoyable educational programs. In addition, plans are in the works to build a million-dollar facility that would be used for agricultural education and livestock shows.
Photograph by Darrell Everidge
Unprecedented Growth Given its prime combination of natural resources and proximity to
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People Newton County’s population is 47.6 percent male and 52.4 percent female, according to the 2010 U.S. Census, while the racial makeup is 55.4 percent white, 41.3 percent black, 4.8 percent Hispanic or Latino, and 1 percent Asian. The median age of a county resident is 34.7 years, and the average household size is 2.85 people.
Land, water and air Newton County is one of Georgia’s largest counties, at 276.4 square miles. The Alcovy, Yellow, and South rivers are primary waterways. Jackson Lake is used for recreation, while Lake Varner (also known as Cornish Creek Reservoir) is a water source, so gas engines are not permitted when boating there. The Covington Municipal Airport is
north of the city and home to small aircraft and corporate jets.
Income Newton County’s 2011 median income was $51,691, according to an estimate by the Census Bureau, while 14 percent of eligible residents fell below the poverty line. Of residents 25 years of age or older, 83.6 percent had at least a high school degree, and 19.4 percent had at least a bachelor’s degree.
Education Newton County is home to four higher education institutions, including historic Oxford College, a leading two-year liberal arts school, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Georgia Perimeter College and Troy University.
Employment As of May 2013, Newton had a civilian labor force (over the age of 16) of 48,280 and an unemployment rate of 8.6 percent, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. The average Newton County resident drives 31.5 minutes to work, according to a previous study, as many residents commute into Atlanta and surrounding counties.
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Atlanta, Newton County witnessed an unprecedented explosion of growth during the 1990s and 2000s. The county’s population grew from 62,000 in 2000 to 101,505 in 2012. Such growth made Newton the 11th-fastest growing county of the decade in the United States, according to the Census Bureau.
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