Conyers, Georgia

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 {{GR|6}}.

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.

Related Topics:
Rockdale - Mound Building Native Americans - Muscogee - American Revolution

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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.

Related Topics:
1816 - 1821 - Blacksmith

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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.

Related Topics:
Augusta, Georgia - Covington, Georgia - Marthasville, Georgia

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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.

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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.

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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 of Sherman's 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.

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In 1870, the surrounding area was incorporated into a county, Rockdale County out of Newton County, Georgia, and Conyers became the county seat.

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Over the next decade, Conyers grew into a wild town. It had twelve saloons and five brothels. The more reputable side of the town had forty stores, Conyers College, a hotel, a carriage manufacturer and good schools.

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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.

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Tightly connected to Conyers is Milstead. Milstead is a milltown now incorporated into Conyers. At its peak, Milstead and Conyers had a private railroad which delivered products from the Mill to Conyers for shipping. In the 1960s, the mill closed.

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It is hard to take Conyers out of Rockdale County's history at this point. For Conyers is the only City in Rockdale.

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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.

Related Topics:
1944 - Trappist - Monastary

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In the 1950's, Conyers had a Coca-Cola Bottling facility.

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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.

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In the 1980s, Conyers became known for "White Road". A resident, Nancy Fowler claimed to have appartitions of The Virgin Mary. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Conyers played host to pilgrims.

Related Topics:
Nancy Fowler - The Virgin Mary

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In 1996 Conyers hosted the equestrian events for the 1996 Olympic Games held in Atlanta. For this, Conyers built the Georgia International Horse Park.

Related Topics:
1996 - Equestrian - 1996 Olympic Games

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1996 was the same year of a syphilis outbreak amongst several highschool kids who that participated in orgies that led to the spread of the sexually transmitted disease. This incident earned Rockdale county the nick name "Syphie County" amongst neighboring counties.

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