Covington, Georgia, is famous for being known as the "Hollywood of the South," due to the many films and television shows that have been filmed in the area. These include films like "Sweet Home Alabama," "My Cousin Vinny," and "Footloose," as well as TV shows like "The Walking Dead" and "The Vampire Diaries." If you've watched a lot of film and TV, chances are you've seen somewhere in or near Covington already!
There were just more than 13,000 people in the city of Covington as of the 2010 census, living in a little under 5,000 homes. It's the county seat of Newton County, and is situated about 35 miles east of Atlanta. With easy airport accessibility, temperate weather conditions, beautiful scenery and a community that really gets into the spirit of things, Covington has grown into a mecca for the TV and film industry -- something that has made it a great tourist attraction as well. The town is also home to a beautiful historic downtown area, where you'll find plenty of arts and crafts, home decor and antique merchants setting up shop, all alongside great restaurants and bars. There are also several other towns in the nearby area, all linked by easy transport options. Conyers, Social Circle, Loganville, and Monroe are just a few of the local settlements and communities nearby, while to the east you're just a short drive from Hard Labor Creek State Park and the beautiful Oconee National Forest.
Moving to Covington
The main industry in Covington is tourism, while farming is also pretty big in the surrounding countryside. However, the city offers so much more, with businesses of all kinds thriving in the main downtown area and beyond. And, if you've got your sights set on a higher-powered city job, Atlanta is within easy commuting distance to the west.
Getting Around
You'll probably need a car in Covington because there isn't a public transportation system. Of course, the town is highly walkable, but in reality you'll need a vehicle for any trips of distance through or out of the city. So if you're moving from somewhere more urban where you're used to jumping on the subway or taking the bus everywhere, you'd best get used to sitting behind the wheel.
House / Apartment Hunting
About half of the housing in Covington is owner occupied and the other half is renter occupied, so there should be plenty of opportunities to find rental houses and rental apartments. Don't worry too much about having dozens of others competing for each property you take a fancy to.
Always Set a Budget, But Be Willing to Adjust
Rental prices in Covington aren't high, but it's still worth remembering that asking prices aren't set in stone and you can always negotiate yourself down to a better price. This is particularly the case in a fairly open market where there aren't too many people on the hunt for a place to live. This gives you a bit more power, so search outside your budget and then try to negotiate your way down into it. This is a great way of getting slightly more bang for your buck.
Neighborhoods in Covington
Scouting the area is a good idea before even viewing any properties. It will help you get a feel for the place and where you might want to settle in. There are a few neighborhoods in the area to choose from, so it's worth checking out each one and asking around to see what it's like living there.
City Center: The most dense area of town, here you'll find some of the highlights of the historic downtown region, with Covington Square and the Newton County Courthouse in the center. This area is great for both apartment seekers and those after a bigger home for rent. Newton Plaza Shopping Center is just to the north as well.
High Point: This area runs next to the city center and has several lovely restaurants and storefronts to enjoy, such as RL's Off the Square, and Amici Italian Restaurant. There are lots of schools and parks here, and there's Ashton Hills Country Club further to the southeast. There are more Covington apartments for rent here than anywhere else.
Mansfield / Newborn: Here you'll find a wide tract of farmland to the east, with dotted houses and the smaller settlements of Mansfield and Newborn along Route 213.
Rocky Plains / Stewart: Enjoy the water? Well, you'll love it down here south of the main city. Lake Bulow Campbell and the much larger Jackson Lake further south offer plenty of opportunities to swim, fish, boat, canoe and whatever else you can do in and on that cool H2O.
Crowell Road N / Brown Bridge Road: This area offers easy access to Interstate 20 toward Atlanta, so it's a good spot for commuters. It's also great if you enjoy your golf, because there's a nice course here called The Oaks.
Living in Covington
As has been alluded to already, life in Covington revolves around tourism for a lot of people, and a big part of that is taken up by the city's label as the "Hollywood of the South." There are loads of tours to this effect, both guided and unguided, that suck in plenty of visitors each year.
In the downtown district you'll be struck by the beautiful architecture and artwork on display, and many in the town, both young and old, get involved in a variety of concerts and artistic programs, with concerts taking place in town throughout the spring and summer months.
The outdoor life is also big here, with lots of small parks and lakes dotted throughout the region. If you want to explore slightly further out, you can go east toward Oconee National Forest or south to Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. As with so many small cities throughout the USA, there are also two great golf courses nearby.
How about eating? Well, the city has you covered there too. RL's Off the Square is highly rated, as are the Gallery in the Grove Cafe and Henderson's Restaurant. And that's just the tip of the iceberg, because there are dozens of places around town.
Covington really is a good spot for both the young and old, singles, couples, and families alike. With plentiful opportunities to find work in the city and nearby, and with Atlanta easily reachable by road, there's little stopping you from building a great new life for yourself in the city of Covington.
