Covington celebrates 200 years of growth

from Visions 2022: Here We Grow

Urgent care clinics could be wave of future in Newton

By TAYLOR BECK

tbeck@covnews.com

Covington was formed nearly 200 years ago specifically to be the county seat for Newton.

When Newton County was established in 1821, Covington was nothing more than an idea yet to be realized. It was Brick Store — a general store and stage coach shop — that was the center of activity and the original county seat. The first session of court ordered by the General Assembly was held at the Brick Store, which was the residence of Martin Kolb at the time. Brick Store is located in the easternmost part of the county. The property was reportedly 250 acres, which was drawn in the 1820 land lottery of Walton County by a Hall County man, then later sold to Kolb for $200 in May 1821. Calculations show $200 then would have been equivalent to nearly $5,000 today.

But before long, the General Assembly insisted the county seat be located at the central most part of the county. A county seat, which was the place where a courthouse and local government center would be located, was organized for every county established.

Thus, Newtonsborough was born … but it wouldn’t stick.

The town was officially renamed Covington in December 1822, named after Gen. Leonidas Covington.

Covington was a military officer in the War of the American Revolution. He was a native of Aquacco, Maryland. He was commissioned lieutenant of Dragoons in 1792; joined the army under Gen. Wayne and reportedly “acquitted himself with such bravery that he was made a captain in 1794.” He retired from active military service soon thereafter.

Covington served as a legislator in Maryland. He was a member of Congress from 1805-1807. He was appointed Lt. Colonel of Calvary in that year; and in 1813 he made Brigadier General.

While on the northern frontier, he was fatally wounded in the battle of Crystal’s Field in 1813.

From its inception to 1870, the town of Covington grew thanks in large part to the advent of the railroad in 1845. In 1854, Covington was chartered as a city.

By 1870, Covington had a reported population of approximately 1,121. By the turn of the century, the city nearly doubled in population to 2,062. By 1950, the city increased its population to 5,192.

In 1955, the movie, “A Man Called Peter,” was filmed in Covington, the first of what would become many productions for the city.

More than 20 years later, television series “The Dukes of Hazzard” produced its first five episodes in the Newton County town, and, from there, the city of Covington quickly became the “Hollywood of the South.”

Home to nearly 100 major television and movie productions today, Covington is also the site of what is soon to be one of the largest film studios in

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Former Covington Mayor Dr. A.S. Hopkins is shown in front of the courthouse breaking ground for the city’s first paved street as spectators look on. The

exact date of the photo is unknown, but the photo was published as part of The Covington News’ Centennial Edition in 1965. Archives | The News

the country, Cinelease-Studios Three Ring.

While film has played a pivotal role in the city’s evolution, so, too, has industry.

Once a local economy driven by agriculture, an influx of industry and continued population growth lead to major change in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Many generational farmers took note of such rapid growth and increasing land values, and they began to repurpose their land for housing. As an example, in a September 2020 interview with The Covington News, Newton County Chamber of Commerce President Debbie Harper said her father, Doug Doster, who once owned the Food Pride grocery store (formerly known as Red and White), did just that and “started building houses when Covington and Newton County began to boom.”

Major manufacturing companies Bridgestone Golf, General Mills, Verescence, Nisshinbo and SKC Inc. — to name a few — are all located in Covington today, providing ample job opportunities to area residents.

According to the 2020 Census, the city of Covington is now home to 14,192 residents — an increase of exactly 9,000 since 1950.