What McDonough is actually like
McDonough was incorporated on December 17, 1823, named for Commodore Thomas Macdonough, a naval hero of the War of 1812, and laid out around a traditional courthouse square that also served as a stagecoach relay stop on a route between New York City and New Orleans. The historic square and the 1897 Henry County Courthouse now anchor the 200-acre McDonough Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. A city Historic Preservation Commission, established in 1993, has to sign off with a Certificate of Appropriateness before any exterior change within that district — new construction, additions, or even fences and site work — can get a building permit.
The square's well-preserved look has made McDonough a recurring Georgia film location — Smokey and the Bandit (1977), Glory (1989), A Madea Christmas, and the TV series Resurrection were all filmed in and around it. McDonough has also grown fast: its population grew 160% between 2000 and 2010 and reached 29,051 at the 2020 census, with Henry County among the faster-growing counties in the country.
Listings in McDonough
Getting around
Henry County has no MARTA rail or bus service. Xpress GA runs a weekday commuter bus (Route 430) from a McDonough park-and-ride to Downtown and Midtown Atlanta, and Henry County Transit offers local, reservation-based service.
McDonough FAQ
Is McDonough GA part of Atlanta?
No — it's an independent city and the county seat of Henry County, about 28 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
Does McDonough have MARTA?
No — Henry County has no MARTA rail or bus service. Xpress GA's Route 430 commuter bus connects a McDonough park-and-ride to Downtown and Midtown Atlanta instead.
What is McDonough GA known for?
Its historic courthouse square, Heritage Park, and a recurring role as a Georgia film location for movies including Smokey and the Bandit and Glory.