Of the many historical homes and buildings that mark our proud little southern town of Covington, Georgia, the Newton County Courthouse is one of its most impressive and beautiful. Completed in 1884, it has withstood the test of time, and is still one of our most treasured structures. The location of the Newton County Courthouse was due to Georgia state law at the time, requiring courthouses to be constructed at the center of the county.
Originally named Newtonsboro the name was changed to honor of a hero of the War of 1812, General Leonard Covington. The building of the Newton County Courthouse led to a big population shift for the locals of the county. Many settlers moved farther west to be closer to the center, and essentially reshaped the county. In September of 1885, after an entire year of construction and $29,400 in construction cost, the Courthouse was completed.
The nearly $30,000 dollars may not seem like much today for a structure of the magnitude, but it the late 1800’s it was considered a great deal of money. The investment certainly paid off and the courthouse remains an impressive and imposing display of both the endurance of southern architecture and the prevalence of justice.
We invite you to visit Covington, and experience this and all the history that makes us say #ilovcovga.
