About Us

History

Known as Lovejoy Station during the Civil War, an act creating and incorporating the Town of Lovejoy, in the County of Clayton, was approved September 16, 1861. For many years, the city did not have an organized government. In 1972, citizens of the community-established boundaries began operating under the old City Charter. A junk ordinance was passed and a beautification program began. In 1975, the Georgia General Assembly approved a new charter for the city establishing the foundation for all that Lovejoy is today.

Before and during the Civil War, farmers brought cotton and watermelons to the city to be transported by rail to other states. Lovejoy was the site of a cotton gin until 1932. Early on, the community included six stores: a bank, post office, depot, 2 warehouses, and a garage. The later years generated two major additions when Lovejoy became home to Hastings Seed Farm and the site of a quarter-horse farm.

In the past, Lovejoy was best known as the home of former Senator Herman Talmadge and the home of Talmadge Farms. Senator Talmadge resided in Lovejoy until his divorce. Mrs. Betty Talmadge was granted use of the Talmadge home where she entertained politicians and corporation members with her recipes and southern décor.

Frank Lovejoy, whom the city was named for, is buried in the Lutheran Church Cemetery on Lovejoy Road. The church, established in the early 1800s, burned in 1896. One of the best-known citizens of the community was the late Dr. J.K. Wallis. He began his medical practice in Lovejoy in 1904 and continued until his death in 1956. People from all over the country came to Dr. Wallis in horse and buggy. The Wallis House has been restored and is now called Lovejoy Manor.

Many of the old buildings in Lovejoy are over 100 years old because the brick walls are cracking? Lovejoy is divided by a railroad track once used to transport cotton and watermelons throughout Georgia and the US. On the West side of town are two aged brick buildings: one, the old Farmer's Exchange and the other the former post office. These are just two of the many buildings that have become landmarks in Lovejoy.

The City of Lovejoy, the City of Peace, is growing rapidly. Its small neighborhood community atmosphere continues to attract new residents and businesses. City leaders and residents are at work every day to keep Lovejoy a great place to live and work.

Facts About Lovejoy

  • Located on Tara Boulevard (Hwy 19/41) ten minutes from the Atlanta Motor Speedway and 30 minutes from Atlanta, GA, residents of Lovejoy enjoy the best of two worlds. View Lovejoy City Map.
  • Secluded in Georgia’s natural beauty with a playground and old town historical values, Lovejoy is only minutes away from a burgeoning business community.
  • With a population of over 6,000 hospitable residents, the Mayor and Council are continuously searching for ways to improve the quality of life for its citizens, and look forward to welcoming new arrivals. To ensure the quality of life we all seek, Lovejoy welcomes it new police department.
  • Lovejoy ranks #48 out of 68 by population living in incorporated places with a population of 6,422. We rank HIGHER then Hapeville (6,373), Stone Mountain (5,802), Locust Grove (5,402), and Lithonia (1,924) to name a few.
  • Of the 12 cities whose population grew by 100% or more from 2000-2010, Lovejoy ranks #8. We sit higher then Woodstock, Fairburn, Locust Grove, and Nelson, but lower then Stockbridge and McDonough (who sit at the #6 and #7 spots). Braselton had the highest rate of growth with 522.8%. They went from 1,206 in 2000 to 7,511 in 2010.
  • Of the 13 cities that LOST population, 3 of those cities are in Clayton County (Lake City, Forest Park, and College Park).
  • By ethnic make-up, Lovejoy has 874 Whites (down by 686 from 2000), 4,475 Blacks (up by 3,640 from 2000), 42 Asians (up by 28 from 2000), and 874 Hispanics (up by 813 from 2000).
  • Through our annexations, we experienced a 12% increase in our city boundaries.
  • Lovejoy is blessed with a magnet for development and smart growth. Business centers minutes away from local residents include stores such as Home Depot, McDonalds, KFC, SnapFitness, and Wal-Mart.
  • Lovejoy has direct access to I-75 and the Clayton County Transit System.
  • A newcomer to the City of Lovejoy will find quality lifestyle in housing. We offer new homes, townhomes, and apartments. Residents of Lovejoy enjoy the convenience of four public schools: Kemp Elementary, River’s Edge Elementary, Lovejoy Middle School, and Lovejoy High School, one regional library, Green Park, and a state of the art athletic facility (The Gerald Matthews Complex). There are several churches in the city, a walking trail, a workout facility (24/7 Snap Fitness) for those health conscience citizens, restaurants, and shopping just to name a few.
  • The City of Lovejoy has a Mayor and Council (four Council Members) and staff who handles the day-to-day operations of the City. The Mayor and Council are elected for four-year terms in a citywide election.