Newton County’s character is especially evident in its historic places: Covington combines a well-preserved townscape with film history, Oxford preserves numerous 19th-century sites connected to Methodism, and Porterdale brings the history of a mill town to life through its workers’ houses and water towers. Rivers, parks and wooded landscapes offer another way to experience the county.
Town History and Film in Covington and Oxford
The Covington Historic District encompasses the downtown square, adjoining commercial, administrative and institutional buildings, as well as historic residential areas to the east, south and west. Much of the district developed according to Covington’s original 1822 town plan. The original courthouse square and the regular street grid have been preserved—features that still reveal the historic town plan today.
A self-guided tour of Oxford leads to more than twenty preserved 19th-century buildings and sites connected to Methodism. The historic recognition extends beyond individual stops: in 1972, the entire city, including Oxford College, was recognized as a Shrine of the United Methodist Church. Oxford was the first city in the country to receive this recognition.
Film productions are another reason to take a closer look at Covington. The self-guided Covington On Location Tour visits filming locations for The Dukes of Hazzard, In the Heat of the Night, Remember the Titans and other television and film productions. First United Methodist Church in Covington served as the exterior of a church in an Oscar-nominated film. You can visit exhibits at the Film and History Museum.
Porterdale’s Mill Town
The Porterdale Historic District offers a chance to discover a townscape that ranks among Georgia’s best-preserved mill towns. A group of five historic water towers is one of the district’s distinctive features. Porterdale also has more than 500 original mill workers’ houses, all of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In Porterdale, the historic exploration focuses not just on individual buildings, but on an entire type of settlement.
Parks, Forest and Water
In the southern part of Newton County, Factory Shoals Park lies on the Alcovy River. The nature park covers more than 450 acres and offers a specific opportunity for disc golf: an 18-hole course with two tee boxes and two baskets per hole.
The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center is a 6,700-acre wooded area near Mansfield, managed by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Its hands-on educational programs are designed for students in grades K–12, scouts, families and adults. The Charlie Elliott Visitor Center provides information about available activities and offers trail maps and regulations. Both the wooded natural setting and its educational offerings are part of what defines the area.
There are also several options for water activities. Fishing is available at Lake Varner Park. The seven-mile Yellow River Water Trail near Porterdale is suitable for kayaking, stand-up paddling, fishing and canoeing. Fishing is therefore an option at both locations; kayaking, stand-up paddling and canoeing are additional activities on the trail.
Planning Your Stay
Newton County covers 279 square miles and is located east of Atlanta in north-central Georgia. Interstate 20 runs through the county, connecting it with Atlanta and the Port of Savannah. These details offer a broad overview, while the attractions appeal to a range of interests—from historic town planning and film locations to forests, rivers and water activities.
Discover more destinations: Rabun County, Bacon, Troup, Ware, Floyd, Putnam, Colquitt County.
Go to the main travel overview: Georgia.
