Conyers, Georgia
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Conyers is a city located in Rockdale County, Georgia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 10,689. Census Estimates of 2003 indicate a population of 12,034. The city is the county seat of Rockdale County Template:GR.
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History
Before European settlement, The area which is now Conyers and the surrounding county of Rockdale, was occupied by Mound Building Native Americans. As time progressed the Muscogee (or Creek) Natives and the Cherokee Natives shared a common border here. This border was known as the "Great Indian Road" now known as the "Hightower Trail". This trail was used by caucasian settlers following the American Revolution.
Between 1816 and 1821, the area known as Rockdale was open for settling. The first settler in what is now Conyers, was John Holcomb. He was a blacksmith and settled in the area that the current County Courthouse occupies in the middle of Conyers on Main Street.
As time progressed, there was pressure for a railroad to cross Georgia. Ideally the railroad would go from Augusta, Georgia, through neighboring Covington, Georgia to Marthasville, Georgia. John Holcomb was against the railroad and refused to sell his land.
Dr. W. D. Conyers, a banker from Covington, eventually talked John Holcomb into selling his land. Dr. Conyers then sold the land to the Railroad.
What is now Conyers, began as a watering post along this line, named after Dr. Conyers. By 1845, the railroad was in full operation. By 1854, nearly 400 residents lived around the watering post, and Conyers was incorporated.
Conyers has been nearly destroyed several times by fire. It is said that it survived Sherman's March to the Sea thanks to a friend who lived in the area between Conyers and Covington. The story goes that the houses were spared because Sherman was uncertain where his friend lived.
In 1870, the surrounding area was incorporated into a county, Rockdale County out of Newton County, Georgia, and Conyers became the county seat.
Over the next decade, Conyers grew into a wild town. It had twelve saloons and five brothels. The more reputible side of the town had forty stores, Conyers College, a hotel, a carriage manufacturer and good schools.
Conyers was also home to "sidewalk churches". Along Main Street grew First Methodist, First Presbyterian, and First Baptist. It is said that at some point the congregants persuaded the brothels and saloons to close shop and leave Conyers for Covington, having persuaded them with a mob. This rose out of revivals began in 1878 with the Methodist and Presbyterian churches.
Tightly connected to Conyers is Millstead. Millstead is a milltown now incorporated into Conyers. At its peak, Millstead and Conyers had a private railroad which delivered products from the Mill to Conyers for shipping. In the 1960s, the mill closed.
It is hard to take Conyers out of Rockdale County's history at this point. For Conyers is the only City in Rockdale, and all residents are of Conyers.
In 1944, a Trappist monastary was established south of the city by Dom Frederic Dunne. The protestant community of Rockdale County helped with the completing of the current structure.
In the 1950's, Conyers had a Coca-Cola Bottleing facility.
In the 1960's, Interstate 20 was built through the county. Several leading people in the county, Gus Barksdale and Clarence Vaughn, Roland Reagan, and Harry Downs helped establish the community for the future by pushing for business expansion.
In the 1980s, Conyers became known for "White Road". A resident, Nancy Flowler claimed to have appartitions of the The Virgin Mary. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Conyers played host to pilgrims.
In 1996 Conyers hosted the equestrian events for the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta. For this, Conyers built the Georgia International Horse Park.
Geography
GAMap-doton-Conyers.PNG
Location of Conyers, Georgia
Conyers is located at 33°39'59" North, 84°0'27" West (33.666360, -84.007574)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.9 km² (11.9 mi²). 30.5 km² (11.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.17% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 10,689 people, 3,910 households, and 2,557 families residing in the city. The population density is 350.3/km² (907.3/mi²). There are 4,183 housing units at an average density of 137.1/km² (355.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 58.29% White, 33.42% African American, 0.32% Native American, 2.60% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.78% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. 10.79% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 3,910 households out of which 34.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% are married couples living together, 21.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% are non-families. 26.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.67 and the average family size is 3.17.
In the city the population is spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 17.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 30 years. For every 100 females there are 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $35,789, and the median income for a family is $38,255. Males have a median income of $29,991 versus $24,879 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,805. 16.9% of the population and 13.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.5% of those under the age of 18 and 9.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
List of famous past and present Conyers residents
The first few episodes of the Dukes of Hazzard was filmed in Conyers, Georgia in the late 1970s. The show later moved to the West Coast.
External links
Official Site (http://www.conyersga.com) Monastery of the Holy Spirit (http://www.trappist.net/) Template:Mapit-US-cityscale