A few things that put Coweta County on the map

Written by NEIL MONROE    |    Photos courtesy of THE NEWNAN TIMES-HERALD

For an institution that is nearly 200 years old, Coweta County wears its age well.

One of the fastest growing counties in Georgia, Coweta is chock full of unique attributes that build on its centuries-old heritage and make our county a fascinating, evolving locale.

From the quaint tourist-lined streets of Senoia, to the natural beauty of Chattahoochee Bend State Park, to the quirkiness of Barbie Beach, Coweta embodies a host of wonderful qualities that make it a special place to call home.

In no particular order, here’s a collection of examples of those qualities and some of the background behind them. 

Entertainment

Although we’re close to the bright lights of Atlanta, Coweta County holds its own in entertainment with a variety of theater and live music opportunities.

Perhaps the crown jewel is the Nixon Centre for the Performing and Visual Arts, a magnificent facility that hosts concerts of all kinds, school productions and theatrical performances. Constructed with a combination of special local sales taxes and funding from the Coweta school system, the center offers Cowetans a regular schedule of live entertainment.

Coweta also boasts its own active local theater organization, the Newnan Theatre Company. Founded more than 40 years ago, the company stages a regular annual schedule of locally produced plays at its dedicated theater in downtown Newnan.

Importantly, Coweta also has an active live music scene, anchored by The Alamo on the square in downtown Newnan. The Alamo, housed in a theater built in 1890, occasionally offers live music. Artists range from local singers to nationally known acts.

Growth

There’s one absolute fact about Coweta County: It’s growing, and growing fast.

Most residents have noticed an increase in traffic, new subdivisions being developed, new houses under construction, and new businesses popping up. This reflects the continuation of population growth that saw Coweta County’s population increase more than 20% between 2010 and 2022 to more than 152,000 people.

What does the future hold? A study commissioned by the City of Newnan in 2019 gives a strong indication. The study predicts the city will add an additional 1,200 residents a year through the year 2040, creating ongoing pressure to construct roads and housing to meet increasing demand. 

Parks for everyone

Regardless of what your recreational passion may be, there’s a park or facility in Coweta County that offers it. From softball to pickleball, hiking to trail bikes, basketball to football, the county and Newnan city recreation departments offer abundant, well-maintained facilities and recreation opportunities.

Just one example is Browns Mill Battlefield. It offers more than four miles of hiking paths in addition to six miles of mountain bike trails. These bike trails opened in 2019 and continue to host local riders and regional competitions.

In Newnan, the city and the Newnan Pickleball Association manage The House of Pickleball, affectionately called The HOP. It’s a state-of-the-art facility with 30 courts and supporting facilities. The HOP offers numerous programs, free play and coaching.

Chattahoochee Bend State Park, one of Georgia’s newest state parks, encompasses more than 3,000 acres adjacent to the Chattahoochee River and offers amazing opportunities for hiking, boating and camping.

And there’s the LINC, Newnan’s multi-use path system. The 12-foot-wide paved path serves as a linear park that facilitates recreation, connectivity and economic development. It’s both bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly and operates as an appealing alternative transportation venue that serves recreation needs.

Barbie Beach

Coweta can be a bit quirky and unexpected as well, as typified by Barbie Beach in Turin. In 2006, Turin residents Steve and Lynda Quick created their first sandy scene in celebration of the 2006 Winter Olympics, which just so happened to take place in Turin, Italy. Ever since, naked Barbie and Ken dolls have been lounging around in a 6-foot by 4-foot stretch of sand. The Quicks arrange the dolls in evolving displays that reflect the seasons or current events.

The Beautiful Town of Senoia

Just 25 years ago, Senoia was a somewhat sleepy little burg just outside burgeoning Peachtree City.

Today, bolstered by its role as the home of “The Walking Dead” TV series, Senoia is a charming, growing, dynamic town with one of the most quaint, interesting downtown areas anywhere in the state.

The TV series has ended its run and the sets are gone, but the impact of the series remains. Housing in the city is at a premium, both with new construction and renovations of older homes. And downtown’s growth and success are strengthening even as the number of Walking Dead tourists begins to wane.

Senoia Raceway

Dirt track car racing has been an important part of Southern culture for decades. And Senoia is home to one of the most popular and successful tracks in the Southeast.

Between spring and late fall, Senoia Raceway hosts a collection of cars, drivers and fans who gather to compete wheel to wheel.

Since its opening in 1969, the track has been a nesting ground for racing in the South. Typically, the track runs races in six to seven divisions each night, from larger, faster limited late model cars to bombers, which are small, agile, and fast.

In addition to local racing, the track hosts visits from several large national dirt track series.

Cowetans take care of those in need

One of Coweta’s most important intangible attributes is the community dedication to taking care of those in need. Coweta citizens actively step in to help the less fortunate through several highly active, organized and dedicated local groups that provide a range of help – including provision of food, clothing, counseling, and short-term housing.

These nonprofit organizations include Bridging the Gap, the One Roof Alliance Ecumenical Center and the Real Life Center. Each of these agencies is a faith-based initiative of local people who, through their churches, work diligently to help those in need.

In addition, the Coweta Samaritan Clinic coordinates with local medical facilities to provide essential health care services to those in need.

They each are unique organizations, yet they share a single, purpose-driven goal: strengthening the community by serving and helping those who are in need. 

Coweta and Newnan history

Coweta County’s heritage dates back nearly 200 years. By 1860, Coweta County had more than 15,000 residents who began to establish the foundation of beautiful homes and businesses that remain important to our community. Today, the city of Newnan boasts six districts on the National Register of Historic Places, and much of the town of Senoia also comprises a historic district on the national register.

Coweta’s history is shared at the McRitchie-Hollis Museum in Newnan. Created in 2013, the museum is operated by the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society through an endowment from the estate of Edgar B. Hollis Jr. The museum, housed in what’s known as the Peniston-Arnall-Thomasson home, offers exhibits that tell stories of Newnan and Coweta’s past. Guided tours are available.

Just a few blocks north of downtown Newnan, Oak Hill Cemetery, founded in 1833, is the final resting place for some of the county’s most prominent citizens, including two Georgia governors, several congressmen and 270 Confederate soldiers. Self-guided walking tours are available. 

Downtown Newnan/The City of Homes

Perhaps Coweta County’s crown jewel is downtown Newnan, a thriving, exciting hub of entertainment, government, restaurants and history.

While many small-town squares in Georgia are struggling to adapt to demographic and economic change, downtown Newnan continues to be a successful commercial area. A key example: At 120 years old, Newnan’s Carnegie Library is the oldest existing Carnegie Library in Georgia, and it still functions as a library today.

While Newnan served as home to wartime hospitals during the Civil War, its homes were spared from fire and destruction while many cities in Georgia had no such luck. Because of this, Newnan – known today as “The City of Homes” – has one of Georgia’s most extensive and attractive historic districts.

In 1900, Census records show almost 3,000 residents of Newnan. As its population grew, so did the number of stunning homes built around the city center. Those homes today are the foundation of the city – and a strong component of Newnan’s heritage and appeal. 

A haunting in Grantville

Known among ghost hunters as one of the most haunted houses in Georgia, Bonnie Castle looms large in downtown Grantville where its ancient iron fence is testament to its longevity. Once operated as a bed-and-breakfast, Bonnie Castle today is a private residence. If only that fence could talk?

Coweta produces talented, successful folks

From governors to country music legends, from authors to hip hop stars, Newnan and Coweta County have given rise to many citizens who share their talent with the world.

Alan Jackson is a world-renowned Hall of Fame country music star whose local roots are well-known.

Newnan native Deantoni Parks is a successful experimental jazz musician, and Big Maceo Merriweather was a highly successful blues pianist whose techniques influenced the entire genre in the 1940s and 1950s.

Ellis Arnall served as governor of Georgia from 1943 to 1947, and after his tenure, became a successful local attorney. William Yates Atkinson, Georgia’s governor from 1894-1898, was born in nearby Meriwether County but resided and practiced law in Newnan before and after his governorship.

Mary Lyndon was the first female to receive a degree from the University of Georgia, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1914, four full years before women were allowed into the university as regular students.

In the literary field, three names stand out. Born and raised in Moreland, Lewis Grizzard, a columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, became one of the most beloved writers of his generation through his columns and books.

Margaret Anne Barnes began her career as a reporter for The Newnan Times-Herald, but it was her 1975 bestselling book “Murder in Coweta County” that propelled her into national recognition.

And Erskine Caldwell, the author of “Tobacco Road” and “God’s Little Acre,” also was born in Moreland. NCM