It was Sparta, Mississippi, in “In the Heat of the Night,” Hazzard County in “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and Mystic Falls, Virginia, in “The Vampire Diaries.” But in real life, it’s Covington, Georgia. Covington, the seat of Newton County, has been dubbed the “Hollywood of the South” for the dozens of TV shows and movies filmed in the city. “They do a lot of filming in Covington because it has that old Southern charm,” says Janice Williams, a Realtor with D.R. Horton Realty of Georgia with a decade of experience. In addition to jobs in the entertainment industry, Newton Health System and Newton County Schools are the leading employers for the city’s 14,600 residents.
Cinelease, Three Ring studios is home to many filming projects in Covington.
Walk the square in Covington to find the Walk of Stars from films and TV shows that took place here.
Covington Welcome Center doubles as a film museum and meeting spot for tours.
Dukes of Hazzard's iconic jump scene happened here in Covington.
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Downtown Covington’s “Walk of the Stars”
Historic downtown Covington was named one of the "Prettiest Small Towns in Georgia" by Southern Living magazine in 2017 and the "Best Town Square in Atlanta" by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2018 for its plethora of independent stores and restaurants. Some noteworthy downtown restaurants include City Pharmacy, which is housed in a century-old drugstore, and The Town House Café, which the local Hamm family has owned since 1964. Another downtown restaurant, Mystic Grill, was a filming location for “The Vampire Diaries.” The downtown Walk of the Stars covers the ground with bricks dedicated to actors who starred in movies and TV shows filmed in Covington.
Historic Covington square is popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
You can sip and paint at Wild Art in the Covington Square.
Locals enjoy the shopping and dining options in Covington square.
Kuter's Cage barber shop stays busy in downtown Covington
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Touring through Covington’s historic districts
Covington's downtown district is among the four districts on the National Register of Historic Places. Many individual sites, including the Newton County Courthouse, are also listed. Visitors can take themed tours through the city’s historic sites and other notable spots, including the Mystic Falls Tour for fans of “The Vampire Diaries” and the Covington Ghost Tour for paranormal enthusiasts.
Situated in Covington Square, Mystic Grill stays busy.
Covington Square features a Confederate War Memorial, made of stone.
The heart of Covington Square is the City Hall building.
Take the Mystic Falls Vampire Stalkers tour in Covington, which starts at the welcome center.
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Covington homes span a century of construction
Newton County has a mix of historic mansions, clapboard cottages and newly constructed homes. Some residences were built as recently as 2024, and others were built at the turn of the 20th century. While prices have been gradually rising, the city’s median home price of $317,500 remains lower than the Atlanta median of $416,500. “If it’s move-in ready and priced right, it’s not going to sit,” says Lytice Brown, a Realtor with NorthGroup Real Estate who has been working in the city for 11 years. “It should be gone in less than two weeks here. It’s affordable, and you can get a lot of land for the money.”
Crasftman style new homes are found in the Covington area.
Homes in covington can range from spacious farm homes to quaint historic bungalows.
Ranch style split level homes can be found in the Covington area.
Remodeled homes with a blend of styles can be found throughout Covington.
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Miles of hiking on Cricket Frog Trail
Outdoor options abound in Newton County. Locals can shoot hoops, ride the bowl at the skate park or cool off on the splash pad at Denny Dobbs Park. City Pond Park has lighted baseball fields, tennis courts and a concession stand. Hikers, joggers and mountain bikers all frequent the 15-mile Cricket Frog Trail. Lake Varner and Yellow River are both popular boating spots.
Lake Varner, in Covington, is a great place to fish, swim, or boat.
Yellow River runs along the eastern edge of the City of Covington, a great spot for relaxation or play.
Cricket Frog Trail is a popular trail in Covington for walking, running and biking.
City Pond Park is a multi-sport complex in Covington, GA.
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Newton County Schools are filming locales
Newton County Schools serves Covington and has an overall B-minus grade on Niche. Even the local schools have been involved in the city’s film industry, as Alcovy High School was the backdrop for some scenes in the 1980s horror movie “Halloween II.” Georgia Piedmont Technical College and Perimeter College at Georgia State University have regional campuses in Covington, and Oxford College of Emory University is in neighboring Oxford.
Perimeter College at Georgia State University has regional campuse in Covington.
Newton County Schools serves Covington and has an overall B-minus grade on Niche
Alvoy High School is a public school teaching grades 9th through 12th.
There are several education options in Covington including Oxford College of Emory University.
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Interstate 20 connects to Atlanta
Covington is about 35 miles from Atlanta and 38 miles from the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. I-20 connects Covington to the larger metro. While the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has bus and train routes throughout Atlanta, the transit system does not reach Covington.
Georgia summers bring humidity and tornadoes
Covington's summers are hot, winters are cold, and it is generally humid year-round. Like the rest of the Atlanta area, Covington can be prone to tornadoes, especially from March through August.
According to the Covington Police Department, property crimes increased between 2022 and 2023, while violent crimes decreased. The police department has many community programs, including the annual Fuzz Run, a 5K race and one of the city's largest events.
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