How Many Covered Bridges Are Left in Georgia?

How many covered bridges are there in Georgia you may ask? It could be the 16 that most associate with being "Georgia Covered Bridges", or it could be 12, depending on how you view traditional covered bridges. For purely historic covered bridges, the answer is 12: Coheelee, Cromer's Mill, Concord, Elder's Mill, Euharlee Creek, Howard's, Lula, Poole's Mill, Red Oak Creek, Stone Mountain Bridge, Stovall Mill, and Watson Mill. Watson Mill is mainly considered a mill and carries the distinct "M" classification in its World Guide Number; but even with this information it is still listed as a historic covered bridge. Concord and Stone Mountain both are on steel support beams. Callaway was removed from Troup County and shortened, then replaced on its current location. Today it is inaccessible to the general public. Auchumpkee Creek was rebuilt, and even though they used wood from the older bridge, it is still formed from traditional construction techniques. Haralson Mill is a covered bridge that has all modern touches; from pre-stressed concrete beams and reinforced concrete foundations to steel h-piling. Hurricane Shoals was rebuilt and is on steel reinforcements and therefore not a true historic. I've seen listings for 41 other covered bridges but these are mainly privately owned short bridges and ones that were built on golf courses for decoration. I'm not including those bridges in the count above. Just because it looks like a bridge and is covered doesn't make it a true covered bridge, and it really depends on how true to nostalgia you want to stay on it.

How many covered bridges were there in Georgia? According to information in the Georgia Department of Transportation website (www.dot.state.ga.us) that figure could be higher than 250, but started withering away with the "progress" of the state. In 1955 the number was 77; and only 25 of these beauties were left in the 1970's. Today the bridges are hanging on borrowed time, waiting for local historians to keep them thriving, or for locals to care enough to keep them holding on. Most are trudging along but some, like Lula, are being wasted away because of neglect.