What's square about Georgia?
- Cheré Dastugue Coen
- Jun 28
- 5 min read
The Southern state features numerous cities that boast of picturesque town squares.
When European settlers arrived in Georgia, they looked to develop communities as the population increased. Railroad lines and their corresponding depots created instant towns, but many times the town founders built courthouses to instill justice within the county with retail businesses surrounding the building. These “squares” became the heart of the communities.
“In most cities, it was the courthouse or the railroad track that started it all,” said Laura Sullivan, Covington, Georgia’s downtown coordinator.
There are many Georgia towns sporting these unique town squares, some featuring historic courthouses dating to the early 1800s, some containing fountains, gazebos and historic monuments and statues. Today, these squares mainly draw tourists — and occasionally movie producers — with their charm. Here are a few to visit.
Covington
When Atlanta grew in popularity for film and TV production, Hollywood came searching for that quintessential town within easy proximity. Covington fit the bill for a quaint community that could become the background town for any story, with its historic square and a centerpiece courthouse sporting a dramatic clock tower. So many films and TV shows have filmed in Covington, it’s now labeled “The Hollywood of the South.”
“It’s vibrant,” said DJ Waller, tourism coordinator for the City of Covington. “The square is very popular. Everyone loves the square.”
Covington is likely best known as the fictional Virginia town of “Mystic Falls” in the hit TV series, “Vampire Diaries.” Other TV shows that have used the now famous courthouse square include “The Heat of the Night” with Carrol O’Connor and “The Dukes of Hazard.” Some of the films that have used Covington as a location include “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Remember the Titans,” the remake of “Vacation” and Tyler Perry’s “The Family That Preys.”
Because there are so many films and TV shows filmed here, visitors may choose between several guided tours of the filming locations. Covington’s tourism website offers a list at discovercovingtonga.com.
For those wanting a weekend getaway, Waller recommends a night at Twelve Oaks bed and breakfast, an antebellum mansion that also served as a filming location and is conveniently located right off the square.
Monticello
Like many Georgia towns, Monticello dates to the early 1800s and offers a nod to an early American hero—Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate in Virginia. Much of this Jasper County seat is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including its famous Neo-Classical courthouse with its hexagonal cupola clock tower.
It follows Covington as being a hot spot for movie production, with the courthouse used in “My Cousin Vinny,” “The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings” and “Murder in Coweta County.”
Today, the historic square offers shops and restaurants.
Lawrenceville
Another impressive courthouse that’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places stands proudly in the Lawrenceville square. Built in 1885, the current Gwinnett Courthouse replaced the 1824 courthouse that was lost to fire and a poorly built one from 1872. Visitors can see remnants of that early fire on basement bricks.
The building contains many interesting features. When the McShane Bell Foundry bell rang from the courthouse belfry, it was said the sound could be heard for miles. The balcony on the West Crogan Street side allowed the bailiff to shout out, calling people who were due to court. On the land surrounding the courthouse is a small cemetery marking the burials of soldiers who died in the Creek Indian and Mexican wars, in addition to other historical markers.
Now known as the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, the building is open for self-guided walking tours daily except Sundays and is used for weddings and other special events; brides use that balcony now to toss bouquets. The square surrounding the courthouse includes a variety of shops and restaurants.
McDonough
Like other Georgia cities, square life began and still revolves around the Henry County Courthouse, but this historic beauty built in 1897 in a Romanesque Revival architectural style still operates as a functioning judicial space. In fact, the outside may exude history, but its renovated interiors are modern.
The square offers wonderful retail bliss, including the Story on the Square, an independent bookstore that features special author events and includes the Rough Draft, a wine and beer bar. Visitors may also pause at Queen Bee Coffee Co., view original artwork at the Hood Street Arts Center or peruse antique stores.
Cleveland
There’s a town square surrounding Cleveland’s White County History Museum, once used as the White County Courthouse. But, the historic building consisting of handmade bricks and dating to 1859 rests inside an oval stretch of land.
Visitors to the museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places may learn more about White County and Cleveland, viewing artifacts from days gone by. The museum run by the White County Historical Society is open Wednesdays through Saturdays.
Dahlonega
The 1836 Old Lumpkin County Courthouse rests at the center of Dahlonega’s quaint square, and today it explains the story of the town’s origins and development. The Cherokee first inhabited the land but the area grew with European settlement after gold was discovered in the region, marking America’s first gold rush. Visitors may learn about both at the Dahlonega Gold Museum, located inside the old courthouse, which includes an informative film.
Surrounding the building are a variety of businesses situated in Victorian buildings, which is why the Dahlonega Downtown District is listed on the National Register. The town’s boutique shops and restaurants, plus annual festivals, attract thousands of visitors annually.
Marietta
Marietta remains a large city in the Atlanta metropolitan area but visitors to its historic square will feel like they’ve stepped into small-town America. The centerpiece is a working fountain inside a large park that also contains statues, bandstands and a train engine playground for kids. Boutiques, restaurants and historic buildings make up the square and the historic depot overlooking the train tracks that created the town contains the Welcome Center.
There’s lots of Civil War history in Marietta, including being part of the Great Locomotive Chase. The Kennesaw House is one of few buildings that survived Sherman’s March to the Sea and now houses the Marietta History Center.
The popular square hosts numerous festivals and special events throughout the year, plus a large farmer’s market on Saturdays.
Savannah
What’s a story about Georgia town squares without mentioning Savannah, a city laid out with several squares? There are 22 park-like squares throughout the original city—24 were part of the original city plan—and each unique. Some contain fountains and gazebos, others offer statues and historic monuments. Calhoun Square, for instance, contains a statue to Vice President John C. Calhoun in its center and is the only square surrounded by the original historic buildings. One of the most popular is Chippewa Square, where the bus stop scenes of “Forrest Gump” were filmed on its north side, including the bench actor Tom Hanks sat on, which has since been moved to the Savannah History Museum. For information about each square, click here.
Cheré Coen lives in Marietta, Georgia, and visits its adorable square every chance she can. As she's editing this post, she's dreaming of the amazing avocado toast at Marietta Proper of the Cuban bowls at the Marietta Square Market. Yes, she's hungry.
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