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Coweta County, Georgia

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Coweta County
County
Official seal of Coweta County
Seal
Map of Georgia highlighting Coweta County
Location within the U.S. state of Georgia
Map of the United States highlighting Georgia
Georgia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 33°21′N 84°46′W / 33.35°N 84.76°W / 33.35; -84.76
Country United States
State Georgia
Founded1826
SeatNewnan
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
89,215
Websitewww.coweta.ga.us

Coweta County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 89,215. The 2005 Census Estimate placed the population at 109,903 [1]. The county seat is Newnan, Georgia6.

Coweta County is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The land for Lee, Muscogee, Troup, Coweta, and Carroll counties was ceded by the Creek people in the 1825 Treaty of Indian Springs. The counties' boundaries were created by the Georgia General Assembly on June 9, 1826, but they were not named until December 14, 1826. Coweta County was named for the Koweta Indians (a sect of the Creek Indian Tribe), which had several towns in and around present day Coweta.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,155 km² (446 mi²). 1,146 km² (443 mi²) of it is land and 9 km² (3 mi²) of it (0.75%) is water.

Major Highways


Adjacent Counties


Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 89,215 people, 31,442 households, and 24,713 families residing in the county. The population density was 78/km² (202/mi²). There were 33,182 housing units at an average density of 29/km² (75/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.86% White, 17.97% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 3.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,442 households out of which 39.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.40% were non-families. 17.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.70% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 33.40% from 25 to 44, 21.80% from 45 to 64, and 8.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $52,706, and the median income for a family was $58,750. Males had a median income of $41,369 versus $27,322 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,949. About 6.10% of families and 7.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.60% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

Newnan produced two distinguished Georgia governors: William Yates Atkinson, governor from 1894-1896 (founded Georgia State College for Women, now Georgia College in Milledgeville) and Ellis Gibbs Arnall, governor from 1943-1947.

In 1860 infamous old west badman Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith was born and raised in Newnan. Erskine Caldwell, author of Tobacco Road and God’s Little Acre, was born in Moreland. Buford Boone, as publisher of the Tuscaloosa News, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1956. Boone was a 1925 graduate of Newnan High School and was reared in the Welcome community of Coweta County.

Charles Wadsworth left childhood days in Newnan to direct the Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, retiring as artistic director in 1989. He regularly returns to Newnan to play benefit concerts in the community. Author Margaret Anne Barnes, best known for her book Murder in Coweta County, grew up in Newnan. Her book was later made into a television movie starring Andy Griffith and Johnny Cash. Newspaper columnist, author, and humorist Lewis Grizzard grew up in Moreland. He was a graduate of Newnan High School and worked at the Newnan Times Herald for a time.Alan Jackson and Doug Stone both call Coweta home.

Coweta County has the distinction of producing two Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Colonel Joe M. Jackson, USAF, and Major Stephen W. Pless, USMC, were both recognized for their bravery and service in Vietnam.

Coweta County has also been home to some noted sports stars. LPGA golf star Cindy McCurdy lives in Newnan and plays out of Newnan Country Club. Football star Drew Hill, who played for the Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, and Atlanta Falcons, grew up in Newnan and played for both the Newnan High School Cougars and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Keith Brooking, who played for the East Coweta Indians and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, is a member of the Atlanta Falcons.

Jerome Walton, the National League Rookie of the Year in 1989, was born and raised in Newnan and played high school baseball and football for the Newnan Cougars. In 1996, he returned to Georgia to play baseball for the Atlanta Braves. Walton’s teammate from high school, Warren Newson, played for the Chicago White Sox of the American League. Several former members of the Atlanta Braves have called Coweta home. Dale Murphy lived in Coweta County for a time, and All-Star pitcher Steve Bedrosian still maintains his home in Coweta County.

Cities and towns

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