What’s In a (Road) Name?

Written by BLUE COLE | Photographed by JACKIE KENNEDY  

Senoia, like other Coweta towns, originally started out as a small village near the current location of the town. First settled by a wagon train full of South Carolinians, the village of Location was established in 1828. Crops and livestock were the main products of the area, and the fertile farmland and agreeable weather brought more settlers. Eventually, the post office in Location was joined by one in Willow Dell.

As with many towns, the railroad drew settlers and businesses. Willow Dell was settled in 1854, and the two villages continued to grow side by side.

In 1860, the Rev. Francis Baggarly purchased the land where downtown Senoia is now. In 1864, the town was renamed Senoia in honor of a local
Native American.

The precise source of the name is shrouded in history with at least four legends accounting for the town name. According to the Senoia Area Historical Society, the most likely scenario is that the town was named in honor of Chief William McIntosh’s mother, Senoya He-ne-ha, a member of the Creek Indian Wind Clan.

State highways mark the southern and eastern borders of Senoia. Highway 85/74 skates the eastern boundary of the town, leading into Fayette County. Highway 16 curves south and east to Griffin and also carries the name Wells Street. An early story on the founding of the town talks about the three wells located at the center of town – and the high quality of the water.

Downtown Senoia sits uphill and astride the railroad tracks. Chartered in 1854, the Savannah, Griffin & North Alabama railroad helped lay out the town. The railroad was built in spurts and starts after the onset of the Civil War delayed construction until 1865. Senoia was incorporated as a city on December 12, 1866.

City streets with names that harken back to the town’s history include:

Baggarly Way is named for Jim and Rubye Baggarly, descendants of Rev. Francis Warren Baggarly, who bought the land where present-day Senoia stands. The Rev. Baggarly founded the Methodist Episcopal Church and several business enterprises in Senoia. The Baggarly family remains active in the community. Baggarly Way originally was named Jones Avenue.

Bridge Street: Bridge or Bridges? Person or place? Modern day Bridge Street was once the site of a wooden bridge spanning the railroad track, but a map dated 1898 shows the road leading to the Bridges’ farm south of the city. Spelling also varies based on the age of the map. Older maps pluralize the street name to Bridges and also reveal Maine Street versus Main Street.

Gin Street: Better known as the set of Alexandria on “The Walking Dead,” Gin Street was the location of the McKnight ginning operations for many years. The location beside the railroad tracks made for easier loading of cotton bales brought in by area farmers.

McKnight Drive: Well into the 20th century, the McKnight family for many years operated the gin and a general store in town and several farms outside of town. The McKnight family remains active in the community in the 21st century.

Willow Dell Drive was named for the village that started in 1854 and later consolidated with Location to become Senoia.

Barnes Street possibly was named after William C. Barnes, a city commissioner at the time of Senoia’s incorporation in 1866.

Drake Street, Couch Street and Travis Street were named after early settlers or founding families.

Horseshoe Bend was named in honor of the equine arch. (Even if it’s a guess, it’s close enough.) NCM

Wanna help us out?

We’re working on a series of articles about local road names and the history behind the names. We know there are plenty of untold stories out there, and that’s where you come in. If you know the origin story of the streets or roads in your area, please share at magazine@newnan.com and we may include your neighborhood streets in an upcoming article.