Lovejoy, Georgia

Lovejoy, Georgia
City
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  A great place to grow and prosper
Location in Clayton County and the state of Georgia
Coordinates: 33°26′39″N84°18′54″W / 33.44417°N 84.31500°W / 33.44417; -84.31500
Country	United States
State	Georgia
County	Clayton
Area [1]
• Total	2.94 sq mi (7.61 km2)
• Land	2.91 sq mi (7.54 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	951 ft (290 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,122
• Density	3,477.16/sq mi (1,342.38/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	30250
Area code	770
FIPS code	13-47616 [2]
GNIS feature ID	0317440 [3]
Website	www.cityoflovejoy.com

Lovejoy is a city in Clayton County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 6,422, ^[4] up from 2,495 in 2000. During the American Civil War, it was the site of the Battle of Lovejoy's Station during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864. Lovejoy was incorporated as a town on September 16, 1861. ^[5]

Lovejoy is proposed by the Georgia Department of Transportation and MARTA to be the endpoint of metro Atlanta's first commuter rail line.

History

Around 1850, the location just north of Fosterville, GA, was positioned along the new railway from Atlanta to Macon. The trainstop there was named for a prosperous local planter, James Lankford Lovejoy. On early maps, the location is called "Lovejoys." ^[6] It became known as Lovejoy's Station by 1864, where it was the setting of a civil war battle during Sherman's campaign through Georgia. James Lovejoy left the region and died in Clinch County, Georgia in 1877.

The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Lovejoy as a town in 1891. ^[7]

Lovejoy was also the site of a cotton gin until 1932. ^[8]

In 1979, Betty Talmadge, former first-lady of Georgia, purchased the remnants of the Hollywood set "Tara," the fictional plantation featured in Gone With the Wind, and brought them to Lovejoy. ^[9] The main road through Lovejoy today is named "Tara Blvd." The remnants of Tara are available to be toured at the Lovejoy Plantation through www.savingtara.com.

Geography

Lovejoy is located in southern Clayton County at 33°26′39″N84°18′54″W / 33.44417°N 84.31500°W / 33.44417; -84.31500 (33.444164, -84.315105). ^[10] It is bordered by Henry County to the south and the unincorporated community of Bonanza to the north. U.S. Routes 19 and 41 pass through the western part of Lovejoy, leading north 24 miles (39 km) to downtown Atlanta and south 14 miles (23 km) to Griffin.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km²), or 0.91%, is water. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	198		—
1920	221		11.6%
1930	178		−19.5%
1980	205		—
1990	754		267.8%
2000	2,495		230.9%
2010	6,422		157.4%
2020	10,122		57.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2020 census

Lovejoy racial composition ^[12]

Race	Num.	Perc.
White (non-Hispanic)	932	9.21%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	7,709	76.16%
Native American	21	0.21%
Asian	105	1.04%
Pacific Islander	5	0.05%
Other/Mixed	334	3.3%
Hispanic or Latino	1,016	10.04%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 10,122 people, 1,756 households, and 1,272 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census ^[2] of 2000, there were 2,495 people, 491 households, and 369 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,064.3 inhabitants per square mile (410.9/km²). There were 596 housing units at an average density of 254.2 per square mile (98.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.09% White, 33.51% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.44% of the population.

There were 491 households, out of which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 19.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.2% under the age of 18, 19.2% from 18 to 24, 45.0% from 25 to 44, 14.9% from 45 to 64, and 3.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 265.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 314.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,139, and the median income for a family was $40,268. Males had a median income of $21,964 versus $23,229 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,642. About 6.1% of families and 11.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Clayton County Public Schools operates public schools. The schools in this area are: Lovejoy Middle School and Lovejoy High School.

In 1989, professional wrestler Jody Hamilton opened a school and training facility in Lovejoy. It was later moved to Atlanta and operated as the WCW Power Plant until 2001. ^[13]

Infrastructure

Transit systems

MARTA serves the city. A planned commuter rail service is expected to terminate in the city.

Notable persons

• Kokomo Arnold, Blues Singer and Guitarist
• Jocasta Odom, Reality TV show personality and Minister
• Preston Williams, NFL Wide Receiver

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Lovejoy city, Georgia". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
5. "About Us | Lovejoy, GA - Official Website". www.cityoflovejoy.com. Retrieved November 8, 2023.
6. 1863 Map
7. Acts Passed by the General Assembly of Georgia. J. Johnston. 1892. p. 806.
8. "About Us | Lovejoy, GA - Official Website". www.cityoflovejoy.com. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
9. Tara from Gone With The Wind Tour and Lovejoy Plantation Archived from the original on 2015-09-09. Retrieved on 2023-02-23.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
13. Russo, Ric (October 13, 2000). "What ever happened to ... The Assassin". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 11, 2020.

External links

• City of Lovejoy official website
• Cavalry Action at Lovejoy's Station historical marker
• Georgia Militia at Lovejoy's Station historical marker