Newton County is a county in Georgia, United States, in the east-central part of the state, roughly 35 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta. It had a population of 112,483 at the 2020 census and covers 279 square miles (720 km2) centred near 33°35′57″N 83°51′31″W.
Covington is the county seat, and its postal code is 30014. The county has five incorporated cities (Covington, Mansfield, Oxford, Porterdale and Social Circle, the last shared with neighboring Walton County) and one incorporated town (Newborn), plus the unincorporated community of Starrsville. Newton County has no civil townships. It sits in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Newton County
Newton County’s settled places split into five cities, one town and a scattering of unincorporated crossroads communities. The table below lists the incorporated places plus the best-documented unincorporated community; dozens of subdivision and neighborhood names once listed on this page (mobile-home parks, gated developments and street names such as “Hidden Pines” or “Salem Ridge”) are not distinct towns and have been dropped — see the notes for this rewrite.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington | City · seat | 14,192 | 30014, 30015, 30016 |
| Oxford | City | — | 30054 |
| Mansfield | City | — | 30055 |
| Newborn | Town | — | 30056 |
| Porterdale | City | 1,799 | 30070 |
| Social Circle | City | — | — |
| Starrsville | Unincorp. | — | 30014 |
Social Circle straddles the Newton–Walton county line; most of the city and its population figure are counted in Walton County, so no separate Newton County population is published for it here.
ZIP Codes
- 30014 — Covington (also serves Starrsville)
- 30015 — Covington (PO box only)
- 30016 — Covington
- 30054 — Oxford
- 30055 — Mansfield
- 30056 — Newborn
- 30070 — Porterdale (PO box only)
Rural addresses outside the five cities and Newborn generally use the nearest post office town’s ZIP code above.
Geography
Newton County lies in Georgia’s Piedmont region, with rolling hills draining toward the Yellow and Alcovy rivers; the Alcovy runs through the county’s eastern side and feeds the Cornish Creek and Jackson Lake watersheds downstream. About 7.0 square miles (18 km2) of the county’s area is water. The county borders Walton County to the north, Morgan County to the east, Jasper County to the southeast, Butts County to the south, Henry County to the southwest, and Rockdale County to the northwest.
Demographics
Newton County had 112,483 residents at the 2020 census, its largest population ever recorded, reflecting Atlanta-area growth pressing east along the I-20 corridor. Covington, the county seat, is its largest incorporated community with 14,192 residents at the 2020 census; Porterdale, a former mill town on the Yellow River, had 1,799. Median household income in the county runs below the Georgia median of $74,632, consistent with a county that mixes a growing commuter population with older rural and mill-town households. Population density is roughly 414 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Government, healthcare, education and logistics anchor the local economy; Piedmont Newton Hospital and Newton County School District are among the county’s largest employers, and warehousing/distribution work has grown along the I-20 corridor. Oxford College of Emory University, a residential two-year campus, sits in the city of Oxford. Newton County has also become a regular film and television production location, standing in for small-town settings in productions including The Dukes of Hazzard, Remember the Titans and My Cousin Vinny.
History
Newton County was created on December 24, 1821, from portions of Henry, Jasper and Walton counties, and is named for Sergeant John Newton, a Revolutionary War soldier who served under Gen. Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox.” Covington was laid out as county seat soon after. Porterdale grew up around textile mills on the Yellow River in the early 1900s, and Oxford was home to Emory College (Emory University’s original campus) from 1836 until the university relocated to Atlanta in 1919; Oxford College continues to operate on the original site today.
Getting There
Interstate 20 crosses the county east–west, with U.S. Route 278 and U.S. Route 278 Business serving Covington and the county’s smaller towns. Nearby cities:
- Atlanta — 35 miles west
- Athens — 40 miles northeast
- Macon — 55 miles south
- Augusta — 90 miles east
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the nearest major commercial airport, is about an hour’s drive west via I-20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Newton County, Georgia?
It is in east-central Georgia, about 35 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta, centred near 33°35′57″N 83°51′31″W.
What is the population of Newton County?
112,483 people, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Newton County?
279 square miles (720 km2), of which 272 square miles is land and 7.0 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Newton County?
Covington is the county seat.
How many towns are in Newton County?
Five incorporated cities (Covington, Mansfield, Oxford, Porterdale, and Social Circle, shared with Walton County), one incorporated town (Newborn), and unincorporated communities such as Starrsville.
What ZIP codes are in Newton County?
30014, 30015 and 30016 (Covington), 30054 (Oxford), 30055 (Mansfield), 30056 (Newborn) and 30070 (Porterdale).
Why has Newton County appeared in movies and TV shows?
Its small-town courthouse squares and mill architecture, especially in Covington and Porterdale, have drawn productions including The Dukes of Hazzard, Remember the Titans and My Cousin Vinny.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Georgia.