Covington is the county seat of Newton County, Georgia, positioned along Interstate 20 roughly 35 miles east of Atlanta. With a population of about 18,000, it anchors a county of more than 112,000 residents and is one of five municipalities within Newton County. The city's identity is inseparable from its nickname, "Hollywood of the South," earned through more than three decades of film and television production in and around its historic square. Covington's downtown square, with its courthouse, storefronts, and tree-lined streets, has served as a stand-in for fictional towns across some of television's most popular series. It appeared as Mystic Falls in "The Vampire Diaries," Serenity in "Sweet Magnolias," and was used in early episodes of "The Dukes of Hazzard" and "In the Heat of the Night." The town celebrates this legacy with a Walk of Stars honoring the productions and performers who have worked locally. Beyond the square, Covington offers a mix of historic homes, established neighborhoods, and newer subdivisions that extend toward the I-20 corridor. The Newton County School District operates elementary, middle, and high schools across the county. Day-to-day life centers on the downtown and the retail corridors along the Covington Bypass and U.S. 278, while commuters reach Atlanta via I-20. The city's mix of historic preservation, television production, and suburban growth attracts families, film fans, and professionals who want a recognizable Main Street setting within commuting distance of Atlanta. Residents enjoy a blend of small-town Southern character, film-tourism energy, and proximity to the broader Atlanta metro, with parks, community events, and a growing local dining scene rounding out the community.