Valdosta, Georgia
Encyclopedia
Valdosta is the county seat
of Lowndes County
, Georgia
, United States
. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census
, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area
, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588. Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University
, a regional university in the University System of Georgia
with over 12,000 students, and Valdosta High School
, home to the winningest football program in the United States.
It is called the Azalea City as the plant grows in profusion there; the city hosts an annual Azalea
Festival in March.
Moody Air Force Base
is located about 9 miles north of Valdosta in northern Lowndes County.
. Citizens of Troupville relocated when the Gulf and Atlantic Railroad was built four miles (about 6 km) away. In 1860, the engine known as Satilla Number Three pulled the first train into Valdosta on the Gulf and Atlantic Railway.
Troupville, now virtually abandoned, had been named after Governor
George Troup
, for whom Troup County, Georgia
, was also named. Valdosta was named after Troup's estate
, Val d'Osta, which itself was named after the Valle d'Aosta in Italy
. The name Aosta
(Latin
: Augusta), refers to Emperor Augustus
. Thus, Valdosta can be interpreted literally as meaning "Valley of Augustus' City". Originally, a long-standing rumor held that the city's name meant "vale of beauty."
After the American Civil War
, over one hundred African Americans, families of farmers, craftsmen, and laborers, emigrated from Lowndes County to Arithington, Liberia
, Africa
, in 1871 and 1872, looking for a better life. This was made possible with the support of the American Colonization Society
. The first group, which left in 1871, was led by Jefferson Bracewell, and the second group was led by Aaron Miller.
In November 1902, the Harris Nickel-Plate Circus' prize elephant, Gypsy, went on a rampage and killed her trainer James O'Rourke. After terrorizing the town for a couple of hours, she ran off to Cherry Creek, north of Valdosta. Gypsy was chased by Police Chief Calvin Dampier and a posse. Gypsy was killed by a shot from a Krag-Jørgensen
rifle and buried on-site; James O'Rourke was buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta.
The county's former courthouse
was built around 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. In August and September 2010, the county government moved to a brand new judicial complex.
The History of the courthouse of Lowndes started in the 1830s and also the 7th courthouse in Lowndes County. In 1834 a new courthouse was built and named Troupville, which burned in 1858. After railroad surveyors came, the city was moved four miles for working habits to help out others. Over the years, more courthouses were built and more burned down. The structure evolved from log buildings to red-brick buildings. Sadly, after thirty years, the new and improved Lowndes County Courthouse was torn down due to another courthouse that was built a year later, which is the 7th courthouse of Lowndes County. The Lowndes County Courthouse is widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful county courthouses in Georgia. It is a historical sight for many to visit and view. The courthouse is also useful for meeting, public display, and other attractions. Today it is used for many events, meetings and political purposes.
Valdosta was once the center of long-staple cotton
growing in the United States
until the boll weevil
finally killed the crop in 1917 and agriculture
turned to tobacco
and pine
timber
.
The Valdosta Daily Times
has twice reported that the world's second Coca-Cola
bottling plant was at one time located in Valdosta.
The local economy received an important boost when Interstate 75
was routed and built through the area. Many vacationers on their way to Florida
found Valdosta a convenient "last stop" on their way to Walt Disney World and the Orlando
area, especially those coming from the Midwest and Ontario, Canada.
A high school oratory contest once held in Valdosta was notable for the second place winner, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
President George W. Bush
received his National Guard flight training at Valdosta's Moody Air Force Base
in November 1968.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
' Monthly Labor Review
, the first automated teller machine
(ATM) was installed at C&S Bank in Valdosta.
Valdosta was named one of 2003's "Top 100 U.S. Small Towns" by Site Selection
magazine. In 2010 Valdosta was named one of the "Best Small Places For Business And Careers" by Forbes. In 1910, Fortune
magazine named Valdosta the richest city in America by per capita income.
It is located in the coastal plain
of Georgia
and thus has a virtually flat landscape. Valdosta lies 230 miles south of the state capital of Atlanta, and almost the same distance north of Orlando, FL. Valdosta is approximately fifteen miles north of the state's border with Florida
. Highway
s stretch for miles with hardly a curve, rise, or fall. The sixty miles (97 km) of railway between Valdosta and Waycross
were once the longest straight stretch of railroad in the world.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 30.3 square miles (78.5 km²). 29.9 square miles (77.4 km²) of it is land
and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.09% water
.
(Koppen climate classification
Cfa), with mild, wet winters and hot, humid summers. Temperatures frequently go over 90 degrees, but in extreme heatwaves, temperatures occasionally go over 100 degrees. In the winter, snowfall is very rare, and normally, there is no snowfall. Snow has not hit Valdosta since February 1989. However, frosts do occur. Valdosta can experience Indian summer
s in the winter, where temperatures can get quite warm. Very rarely do winter lows go below 25 degrees. Rainfall is most abundant in the summer.
, Lanier
, and Echols
Counties.)
of 2000, there were 43,724 people, 16,692 households, and 10,232 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,460.3 people per square mile (563.9/km²). There were 18,907 housing units at an average density of 631.5 per square mile (243.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.49% African American, 47.71% White, 0.23% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 16,692 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples
living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 18.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,046, and the median income for a family was $38,174. Males had a median income of $27,281 versus $20,807 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,472. About 18.8% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.1% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
line along the Interstate 75
corridor, it is a commercial center of South Georgia with numerous manufacturing plants. The surrounding area produces tobacco
, naval stores
, particularly turpentine
, as well as pine
lumber
, and pulpwood
. According to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Valdosta is called the "Naval Stores Capital of the World" because it supplies 80% of the world demand for naval stores.
In the retailing field, Valdosta has one major regional mall, Valdosta Mall
, which features national chain anchor stores like JCPenney, Sears, Office Depot
, PetSmart
, Belk
, Old Navy
, and Ross Stores
. Several large stores surround the mall or are near the mall including Best Buy
, Home Depot, Kohl's
, Lowe's
, Office Max and Target
. Valdosta has other notable shopping areas such as the Historic Downtown area with many local businesses, and the Five Points area which has a Big Lots
, Winn-Dixie
, and numerous national franchise and local restaurants.
, three miles south of Valdosta, is serviced by Delta Air Lines
to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
and Atlantic Southeast Airlines
as a Delta Connection
. There is also a Greyhound
bus station.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and a high school. The district has 592 full-time teachers and over 9,245 students.
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of five elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school. The district has 447 full-time teachers and over 7,178 students.
is an independent college preparatory school enrolling students in Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Several Christian Schools offering classes K-12 also operate in and near Valdosta including Georgia Christian School, Lighthouse Christian School, Open Bible Christian School, Southland Christian School, St. John Catholic School, and Victory Christian School
(VSU), founded in 1906 as South Georgia State Normal College for Women. It became part of the University System of Georgia
in 1950 as Valdosta State College. Valdosta State College achieved university status and became VSU in 1993 and is one of two regional universities in Georgia. VSU has seen substantial growth in the past decade and currently has an enrollment of over 12,000 students. VSU is also the site of the Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP), a yearly four-week gathering of meritorious high school students in subjects ranging from standard academic subjects (i.e. math, languages, social studies, etc.) to broader intellectual enterprises (i.e. dance, theater, agricultural sciences.)
An extension of Georgia Military College
is in the city limits, and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is located a mile outside of the city limits off of Interstate 75
.
building, one of only 24 Carnegie Libraries in Georgia.
tradition. The Valdosta High School
Wildcats have one of the most successful high school football programs in the country with 829 wins, six national championships (1962, 1969, 1971, 1984, 1986, 1992), 23 Georgia state championships between 1940 and 1998, and 41 region titles.
Cross-town rival Lowndes High School
have also built a strong program, winning five state titles since 1980 (including 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007). Local private school, Valwood School has won three GISA state football titles in Class A (1985, 1986, and 1999).
The annual matchup between the two public high schools, Lowndes and Valdosta High, is known as the Winnersville Classic. Valdosta leads the overall series 34-16 and 19-12 since 1981 when the annual match was named the Winnersville Classic.
won their second NCAA Division II National Championship on December 15, 2007 with a victory over NW Missouri State, 25-20. Their first was in 2004 over Pittsburg State, 35-31. Their first appearance in the Division II National Championship Game was in 2002, when VSU fell to Grand Valley State, 31-24. The Blazers also have won 6 Gulf South Conference football championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010).
Two notable alumni are Jessie Tuggle
, National Football League
linebacker from 1987-2000 playing his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons
, and Chris Hatcher, previous head coach of Valdosta State and coach of the Georgia Southern Eagles
from 2007-2009. Hatcher amassed a 68-10 record with one national championship and four conference crowns during his six-year tenure at Valdosta State. David Dean, former VSU offensive coordinator, is the current football head coach.
Valdosta State's Mens Tennis team leads the Gulf South Conference with nine conference championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). In 2011 the men's team became the first to win five consecutive GSC Championships in tennis.
, became coach in 1967 and served as coach until 2007. Under Thomas the blazers saw 34 winning seasons, two conference titles, three Divisional titles, eight trips to the national tournament, and a Division II national championship in 1979. Thomas is the all-time wins leader in NCAA Division II baseball with 1302 wins. Greg Guilliams became VSU's head baseball coach in 2008 and won a Gulf South Conference East Division title in his first year and led Valdosta State to its first postseason appearance in seven years.
In 1915 the Newark Peppers
of the now defunct Federal League
held spring training
in valdosta.
which began play in 1906, with the team known known as the Valdosta Stars. From 1946-1958, the Valdosta Tigers
were a "Class-D" minor league team. Valdosta was also home to the Valdosta Trojans which was a “farm” team for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
that started in the Spring of 2008 and continued through July. Fans nominated towns and cities across the country based on their championship pedigree. A panel reviewed the nominees and fan voting in May determined the 20th finalist. SportsCenter
visited each city in July, and fan voting July 23–27 determined the winner.
Due to the Valdosta High School football team's record as well as multiple championships in many sports by Valdosta State University, Lowndes High School , Valwood School, Georgia Christian School, and other academic institutions in the town, Valdosta was nominated as a finalist in 2008 for ESPN's "Titletown USA" contest. On July 28, 2008, with 29.2% of fan votes on ESPN's website poll, Valdosta was named TitleTown USA.http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/prepsports/entries/2008/07/28/espn_names_vald.html
FM:
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Lowndes County
Lowndes County, Georgia
Lowndes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia along the Florida border. It was created December 23, 1825. The 2010 Census showed a population of 109,233...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is the principal city of the Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 Census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
, the city had a total population of 54,518. The Valdosta metropolitan area
Metropolitan area
The term metropolitan area refers to a region consisting of a densely populated urban core and its less-populated surrounding territories, sharing industry, infrastructure, and housing. A metropolitan area usually encompasses multiple jurisdictions and municipalities: neighborhoods, townships,...
, according to the 2010 estimate, has a population of 139,588. Valdosta is the home of Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
, a regional university in the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
with over 12,000 students, and Valdosta High School
Valdosta High School
Valdosta High School is a public high school located in Valdosta, Georgia, United States. The school colors are gold and black. The school mascot is the "Wildcat".-School:Valdosta High School serves grades 9-12 in the Valdosta City School District...
, home to the winningest football program in the United States.
It is called the Azalea City as the plant grows in profusion there; the city hosts an annual Azalea
Azalea
Azaleas are flowering shrubs comprising two of the eight subgenera of the genus Rhododendron, Pentanthera and Tsutsuji . Azaleas bloom in spring, their flowers often lasting several weeks...
Festival in March.
Moody Air Force Base
Moody Air Force Base
Moody Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in Lowndes County and Lanier County, about northeast of Valdosta, Georgia, United States.Moody Air Force Base is home to the 23d Wing...
is located about 9 miles north of Valdosta in northern Lowndes County.
History
Valdosta was incorporated on December 7, 1860, at which time the county government was moved from nearby TroupvilleTroupville, Georgia
Troupville, Georgia is an unincorporated area in Lowndes County, Georgia, United States near Valdosta. Troupville was a riverboat landing at the junction of the Withlacoochee River and the Little River...
. Citizens of Troupville relocated when the Gulf and Atlantic Railroad was built four miles (about 6 km) away. In 1860, the engine known as Satilla Number Three pulled the first train into Valdosta on the Gulf and Atlantic Railway.
Troupville, now virtually abandoned, had been named after Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
George Troup
George Troup
George Michael Troup was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He served in the Georgia General Assembly, U.S. House of Representatives, and Senate before becoming the 32nd Governor of Georgia for two terms and then returning to the Senate...
, for whom Troup County, Georgia
Troup County, Georgia
Troup County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2010, the population was 67,044. The county seat is LaGrange.-History:...
, was also named. Valdosta was named after Troup's estate
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
, Val d'Osta, which itself was named after the Valle d'Aosta in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The name Aosta
Aosta
Aosta is the principal city of the bilingual Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, north-northwest of Turin. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, and at the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard routes...
(Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Augusta), refers to Emperor Augustus
Augustus
Augustus ;23 September 63 BC – 19 August AD 14) is considered the first emperor of the Roman Empire, which he ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD.The dates of his rule are contemporary dates; Augustus lived under two calendars, the Roman Republican until 45 BC, and the Julian...
. Thus, Valdosta can be interpreted literally as meaning "Valley of Augustus' City". Originally, a long-standing rumor held that the city's name meant "vale of beauty."
After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, over one hundred African Americans, families of farmers, craftsmen, and laborers, emigrated from Lowndes County to Arithington, Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, in 1871 and 1872, looking for a better life. This was made possible with the support of the American Colonization Society
American Colonization Society
The American Colonization Society , founded in 1816, was the primary vehicle to support the "return" of free African Americans to what was considered greater freedom in Africa. It helped to found the colony of Liberia in 1821–22 as a place for freedmen...
. The first group, which left in 1871, was led by Jefferson Bracewell, and the second group was led by Aaron Miller.
Krag-Jørgensen
The Krag-Jørgensen is a repeating bolt action rifle designed by the Norwegians Ole Herman Johannes Krag and Erik Jørgensen in the late 19th century. It was adopted as a standard arm by Denmark, the United States of America and Norway...
rifle and buried on-site; James O'Rourke was buried in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Valdosta.
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
was built around 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In August and September 2010, the county government moved to a brand new judicial complex.
The History of the courthouse of Lowndes started in the 1830s and also the 7th courthouse in Lowndes County. In 1834 a new courthouse was built and named Troupville, which burned in 1858. After railroad surveyors came, the city was moved four miles for working habits to help out others. Over the years, more courthouses were built and more burned down. The structure evolved from log buildings to red-brick buildings. Sadly, after thirty years, the new and improved Lowndes County Courthouse was torn down due to another courthouse that was built a year later, which is the 7th courthouse of Lowndes County. The Lowndes County Courthouse is widely acknowledged as one of the most beautiful county courthouses in Georgia. It is a historical sight for many to visit and view. The courthouse is also useful for meeting, public display, and other attractions. Today it is used for many events, meetings and political purposes.
Valdosta was once the center of long-staple cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
growing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
until the boll weevil
Boll weevil
The boll weevil is a beetle measuring an average length of six millimeters, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers. Thought to be native to Central America, it migrated into the United States from Mexico in the late 19th century and had infested all U.S. cotton-growing areas by the 1920s,...
finally killed the crop in 1917 and agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
turned to tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
and pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
.
The Valdosta Daily Times
The Valdosta Daily Times
The Valdosta Daily Times is a daily newspaper published in Valdosta, Georgia. It is the highest-circulation property operated by South Georgia Media Group, a division of Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.- External links :* * - References :...
has twice reported that the world's second Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
bottling plant was at one time located in Valdosta.
The local economy received an important boost when Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
was routed and built through the area. Many vacationers on their way to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
found Valdosta a convenient "last stop" on their way to Walt Disney World and the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
area, especially those coming from the Midwest and Ontario, Canada.
President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
received his National Guard flight training at Valdosta's Moody Air Force Base
Moody Air Force Base
Moody Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located in Lowndes County and Lanier County, about northeast of Valdosta, Georgia, United States.Moody Air Force Base is home to the 23d Wing...
in November 1968.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Bureau of Labor Statistics
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is a unit of the United States Department of Labor. It is the principal fact-finding agency for the U.S. government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is a governmental statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and...
' Monthly Labor Review
Monthly Labor Review
The Monthly Labor Review is published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Issues often focus on a particular topic. Researchers outside of the BLS are welcome to submit articles.- History :...
, the first automated teller machine
Automated teller machine
An automated teller machine or automatic teller machine, also known as a Cashpoint , cash machine or sometimes a hole in the wall in British English, is a computerised telecommunications device that provides the clients of a financial institution with access to financial transactions in a public...
(ATM) was installed at C&S Bank in Valdosta.
Valdosta was named one of 2003's "Top 100 U.S. Small Towns" by Site Selection
Site Selection (magazine)
The award-winning Site Selection magazine , published by , is the official publication of the . The magazine delivers expansion planning information to over 44,000 readers including corporate executives, site selection consultants, and real estate professionals...
magazine. In 2010 Valdosta was named one of the "Best Small Places For Business And Careers" by Forbes. In 1910, Fortune
Fortune (magazine)
Fortune is a global business magazine published by Time Inc. Founded by Henry Luce in 1930, the publishing business, consisting of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated, grew to become Time Warner. In turn, AOL grew as it acquired Time Warner in 2000 when Time Warner was the world's largest...
magazine named Valdosta the richest city in America by per capita income.
Geography
Valdosta is located at 30°50′48"N 83°16′59"W (30.846661, -83.283101).It is located in the coastal plain
Coastal plain
A coastal plain is an area of flat, low-lying land adjacent to a seacoast and separated from the interior by other features. One of the world's longest coastal plains is located in eastern South America. The southwestern coastal plain of North America is notable for its species diversity...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and thus has a virtually flat landscape. Valdosta lies 230 miles south of the state capital of Atlanta, and almost the same distance north of Orlando, FL. Valdosta is approximately fifteen miles north of the state's border with Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s stretch for miles with hardly a curve, rise, or fall. The sixty miles (97 km) of railway between Valdosta and Waycross
Waycross, Georgia
Waycross is the county seat of, and only incorporated city in, Ware County in the U.S. state of Georgia. The population was 14,725 at the 2010 Census. A small portion of the city extends into Pierce County. According the U.S...
were once the longest straight stretch of railroad in the world.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 30.3 square miles (78.5 km²). 29.9 square miles (77.4 km²) of it is land
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.09% water
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
.
Climate
Valdosta has a humid subtropical climateHumid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(Koppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Cfa), with mild, wet winters and hot, humid summers. Temperatures frequently go over 90 degrees, but in extreme heatwaves, temperatures occasionally go over 100 degrees. In the winter, snowfall is very rare, and normally, there is no snowfall. Snow has not hit Valdosta since February 1989. However, frosts do occur. Valdosta can experience Indian summer
Indian summer
An Indian summer is a meteorological phenomenon that occurs in the autumn. It refers to a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions, usually after there has been a killing frost...
s in the winter, where temperatures can get quite warm. Very rarely do winter lows go below 25 degrees. Rainfall is most abundant in the summer.
MSA
According to the Bureau of Census, the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) had an estimated population of 135,804 and ranked #281 in the U.S. in 2009. (The MSA consisists of Lowndes, BrooksBrooks County, Georgia
Brooks County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 16,243. The county seat is Quitman...
, Lanier
Lanier County, Georgia
Lanier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2009, the population was 8,423. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 7,847. The county seat is Lakeland. Lakeland is Lanier County's only incorporated...
, and Echols
Echols County, Georgia
Echols County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is part of the Valdosta, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2000, the population is 3,754. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 4,093. The county seat is Statenville...
Counties.)
City
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 43,724 people, 16,692 households, and 10,232 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,460.3 people per square mile (563.9/km²). There were 18,907 housing units at an average density of 631.5 per square mile (243.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 48.49% African American, 47.71% White, 0.23% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.18% of the population.
There were 16,692 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 19.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.7% were non-families. 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 18.4% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,046, and the median income for a family was $38,174. Males had a median income of $27,281 versus $20,807 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,472. About 18.8% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.1% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Located in the far southern portion of the state, near the FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
line along the Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
corridor, it is a commercial center of South Georgia with numerous manufacturing plants. The surrounding area produces tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, naval stores
Naval stores industry
The naval stores industry collects, processes, and markets forest products created from the oleoresin of particular types of pine tree , the slash pine and the longleaf pine...
, particularly turpentine
Turpentine
Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...
, as well as pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
, and pulpwood
Pulpwood
Pulpwood refers to timber with the principal use of making wood pulp for paper production.-Applications:* Trees raised specifically for pulp production account for 16% of world pulp production, old growth forests 9% and second- and third- and more generation forests account for the balance...
. According to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, Valdosta is called the "Naval Stores Capital of the World" because it supplies 80% of the world demand for naval stores.
In the retailing field, Valdosta has one major regional mall, Valdosta Mall
Valdosta Mall
Valdosta Mall is an enclosed shopping mall located in Valdosta, Georgia, United States. It is composed of more than 70 stores and restaurants in of gross leasable area. Belk, JCPenney, and Sears are the mall's anchor stores. In 2006, an outdoor concourse was added to the mall's front face,...
, which features national chain anchor stores like JCPenney, Sears, Office Depot
Office Depot
Office Depot is a supplier of office products and provides many services. The company's selection of brand name office supplies includes business machines, computers, computer software and office furniture, while its business services encompass copying, printing, document reproduction, shipping,...
, PetSmart
PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. is a retail chain doing business in the United States and Canada engaged in the sale of specialty pet supplies and services such as grooming and dog training, PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities and Doggie Day Care.- History :...
, Belk
Belk
Belk is a department store chain founded in 1888 in Monroe, North Carolina, today part of the Charlotte metropolitan area. After the founding of the first Belk store, the company grew in size and influence throughout the South via the chain in the USA, with its stores primarily located in the...
, Old Navy
Old Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
, and Ross Stores
Ross
Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...
. Several large stores surround the mall or are near the mall including Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, Home Depot, Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
, Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
, Office Max and Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
. Valdosta has other notable shopping areas such as the Historic Downtown area with many local businesses, and the Five Points area which has a Big Lots
Big Lots
Big Lots, Inc. is a Fortune 500 retail corporation with annual revenues well over $4 billion.Its department stores focus mainly on selling closeout and overstock merchandise. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio, USA and currently operates over 1,400 stores in 47 states...
, Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie
Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Jacksonville, Florida. Winn-Dixie has ranked number 24 in the 2010 "Top 75 North American Food Retailers" based on 2009 fiscal year estimated sales of $7.3 billion by Supermarket News. and was ranked the 43rd largest retailer in the...
, and numerous national franchise and local restaurants.
Major highways
Interstate 75Interstate 75Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
(State Route 8) runs north to south through a western section of Valdosta.
U.S. Highway 84U.S. Route 84 in GeorgiaU.S. Route 84 in Georgia, is also signed as State Route 38 for its entire length in Georgia. After entering Georgia from Alabama west of Jakin, Georgia, the route travels through the southern portion of the state, meeting its eastern terminus at Interstate 95 east of Midway. U.S...
(Wiregrass Georgia Parkway) is colocated with State Route 38 and runs west to east bisecting the city and is known as Hill Avenue through the city limits.
State Route 7Georgia State Route 7State Route 7 is a north–south route located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The route is cosigned with either U.S. 41 or U.S. 341 for its entire length.-Routing:...
runs north to south entering the city at the Withlacoochee RiverWithlacoochee RiverWithlacoochee River may refer to:* Withlacoochee River , aka Withlacoochee River , which originates in Georgia but ends in Florida* Withlacoochee River , aka Withlacoochee River , which flows entirely through Florida...
being known as North Valdosta Road, it continues south on North Ashley Street. It branches into two sections at Five Points, SR 7 Business travelling south down North Ashlety Street, SR 7 Alternate travelling south down Patterson Street. At the overpass over the CSX railroad, they join together to become SR 7 Business following South Patterson Street. It joins up with U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41U.S. Route 41 is a north–south United States Highway that runs from Miami, Florida to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Until 1949, the part in southern Florida, from Naples to Miami, was U.S...
just outside the city limits.
Other Transportation
The Valdosta Regional AirportValdosta Regional Airport
Valdosta Regional Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Valdosta, a city in Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. It is owned by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority...
, three miles south of Valdosta, is serviced by Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport , known locally as Atlanta Airport, Hartsfield Airport, and Hartsfield–Jackson, is located seven miles south of the central business district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
and Atlantic Southeast Airlines
Atlantic Southeast Airlines
Atlantic Southeast Airlines is an American airline based in the A-Tech Center in College Park, Georgia, flying to 144 destinations as a Delta Connection carrier and, as of February 2010, commenced service as a United Express carrier. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. ASA operates...
as a Delta Connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
. There is also a Greyhound
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
bus station.
Streetcar
In 1898, the Valdosta Street Railway Company secured the right to operate street cars on Patterson, Ashley, Toombs, Lee, Hill, Central, Crane and Gordon Streets. Valdosta was one of the smallest cities in America to have a street railway system. The streetcar operated in the downtown area between 1899 and 1924. The abandoned tracks were removed in the 1940s to be used as scrap metal for the war effort.Lowndes County School District
The Lowndes County School DistrictLowndes County School District (Georgia)
The Lowndes County School District is a public school district in Lowndes County, Georgia, USA, based in Valdosta, Georgia. It serves the communities of Clyattville, Dasher, Hahira, Lake Park, Moody Air Force Base, Naylor, Remerton, and Valdosta, Georgia....
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of seven elementary schools, three middle schools, and a high school. The district has 592 full-time teachers and over 9,245 students.
Valdosta City School District
The Valdosta City School DistrictValdosta City School District
The Valdosta City School District is a public school district in Lowndes County, Georgia, USA, based in Valdosta, Georgia. It serves the city of Valdosta and the surrounding communities in Lowndes County, Georgia.-Schools:...
holds grades pre-school to grade twelve, that consists of five elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school. The district has 447 full-time teachers and over 7,178 students.
Private Education
Valwood SchoolValwood School
Valwood School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school located four miles outside of Valdosta, Georgia. The school offers programs from pre-kindergarten through high school. Approximately 365 students are currently enrolled....
is an independent college preparatory school enrolling students in Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade. Several Christian Schools offering classes K-12 also operate in and near Valdosta including Georgia Christian School, Lighthouse Christian School, Open Bible Christian School, Southland Christian School, St. John Catholic School, and Victory Christian School
Higher Education
Valdosta is also the home of Valdosta State UniversityValdosta State University
Valdosta State University, also referred to as VSU, or Valdosta State, is an American public university and is one of the two regional universities in the University System of Georgia. Valdosta State is located on a campus at the heart of the city of Valdosta...
(VSU), founded in 1906 as South Georgia State Normal College for Women. It became part of the University System of Georgia
University System of Georgia
The University System of Georgia is the organizational body that includes 35 public institutions of higher learning in the U.S. state of Georgia. The System is governed by the Georgia Board of Regents. It sets goals and dictates general policy to educational institutions as well as administering...
in 1950 as Valdosta State College. Valdosta State College achieved university status and became VSU in 1993 and is one of two regional universities in Georgia. VSU has seen substantial growth in the past decade and currently has an enrollment of over 12,000 students. VSU is also the site of the Georgia Governor's Honors Program (GHP), a yearly four-week gathering of meritorious high school students in subjects ranging from standard academic subjects (i.e. math, languages, social studies, etc.) to broader intellectual enterprises (i.e. dance, theater, agricultural sciences.)
An extension of Georgia Military College
Georgia Military College
Georgia Military College is a United States Military Junior College, high school, and middle school in Milledgeville, Georgia. GMC is one of five military junior colleges that participates in the Army's Early Commissioning Program. Cadets who graduate from GMC's two-year, military science-oriented...
is in the city limits, and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College is located a mile outside of the city limits off of Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
.
Museum
The Lowndes County Historical Society & Museum is located at the Valdosta Carnegie libraryCarnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
building, one of only 24 Carnegie Libraries in Georgia.
High school football
Valdosta has a strong high school footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
tradition. The Valdosta High School
Valdosta High School
Valdosta High School is a public high school located in Valdosta, Georgia, United States. The school colors are gold and black. The school mascot is the "Wildcat".-School:Valdosta High School serves grades 9-12 in the Valdosta City School District...
Wildcats have one of the most successful high school football programs in the country with 829 wins, six national championships (1962, 1969, 1971, 1984, 1986, 1992), 23 Georgia state championships between 1940 and 1998, and 41 region titles.
Cross-town rival Lowndes High School
Lowndes High School
Lowndes High School is a public high school in Valdosta, Georgia, USA. The school is part of the Lowndes school system, which serves Lowndes County except for the city of Valdosta.-History:...
have also built a strong program, winning five state titles since 1980 (including 1999, 2004, 2005 and 2007). Local private school, Valwood School has won three GISA state football titles in Class A (1985, 1986, and 1999).
The annual matchup between the two public high schools, Lowndes and Valdosta High, is known as the Winnersville Classic. Valdosta leads the overall series 34-16 and 19-12 since 1981 when the annual match was named the Winnersville Classic.
Football
Valdosta State University began fielding an NCAA Division II football program in 1982. The BlazersValdosta State Blazers football
The Valdosta State football team represents Valdosta State University in football. The Blazers are a member of the Gulf South Conference in NCAA Division II, and are currently a top 10 team. Valdosta State University has had a football team since 1981. The Blazers play in Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in...
won their second NCAA Division II National Championship on December 15, 2007 with a victory over NW Missouri State, 25-20. Their first was in 2004 over Pittsburg State, 35-31. Their first appearance in the Division II National Championship Game was in 2002, when VSU fell to Grand Valley State, 31-24. The Blazers also have won 6 Gulf South Conference football championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2010).
Two notable alumni are Jessie Tuggle
Jessie Tuggle
Jessie Floyd Tuggle is a former professional American football linebacker who played for the Atlanta Falcons his entire career from 1987 to 2000. He graduated from Valdosta State College in Valdosta, Georgia...
, National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
linebacker from 1987-2000 playing his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Chris Hatcher, previous head coach of Valdosta State and coach of the Georgia Southern Eagles
Georgia Southern Eagles
The Georgia Southern Eagles are the athletic teams of Georgia Southern University. The Eagles compete in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are members of the NCAA Division I Southern Conference...
from 2007-2009. Hatcher amassed a 68-10 record with one national championship and four conference crowns during his six-year tenure at Valdosta State. David Dean, former VSU offensive coordinator, is the current football head coach.
Tennis
Valdosta State University's Men's Tennis team won the 2006 and 2011 NCAA Division II national championships. The team has also appeared in the national title game in 2004, 2007, and 2010.Valdosta State's Mens Tennis team leads the Gulf South Conference with nine conference championships (1996, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011). In 2011 the men's team became the first to win five consecutive GSC Championships in tennis.
Baseball
The first baseball team at Valdosta State was formed in 1954 and had its first official season of intercollegiate competition in 1955. Tommy ThomasTommy Thomas (college coach)
Tommy Thomas was the head coach of the Valdosta State University baseball team from 1967 to 2007, leading the team to 34 winning seasons. He had a managerial record of 1,328-825-6, and headed the team to the national tournament eight times, Gulf South Conference titles in 1995 and 2002, division...
, became coach in 1967 and served as coach until 2007. Under Thomas the blazers saw 34 winning seasons, two conference titles, three Divisional titles, eight trips to the national tournament, and a Division II national championship in 1979. Thomas is the all-time wins leader in NCAA Division II baseball with 1302 wins. Greg Guilliams became VSU's head baseball coach in 2008 and won a Gulf South Conference East Division title in his first year and led Valdosta State to its first postseason appearance in seven years.
In 1915 the Newark Peppers
Newark Peppers
The Newark Peppers, originally known as the Indianapolis Hoosiers, were a Federal League baseball team from 1914-1915.When the Federal League opened for business in 1914 as a challenger to the two major leagues, one franchise was located in Indianapolis, Indiana. Primarily owned by oil magnate...
of the now defunct Federal League
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that operated as a "third major league", in competition with the established National and American Leagues, from to...
held spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in valdosta.
Minor League Baseball
Valdosta hosted several different minor league baseball teams during the twentieth century, and was one of six cities in the Georgia State LeagueGeorgia State League
The Georgia State League was an American Class D minor league in professional baseball that existed in 1906, 1914, 1920-21 and 1948-56. During its last incarnation, it existed alongside two nearby Class D circuits, the Georgia-Florida League and the Georgia-Alabama League.The version of the GSL...
which began play in 1906, with the team known known as the Valdosta Stars. From 1946-1958, the Valdosta Tigers
Valdosta Tigers
The Valdosta Tigers were a "Class-D" minor league baseball team that operated in the Georgia-Florida League. They went through a number of affiliations and names during their existence from 1941-1958...
were a "Class-D" minor league team. Valdosta was also home to the Valdosta Trojans which was a “farm” team for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
ESPN's Titletown, USA
TitleTown USA was a month-long segment on ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
that started in the Spring of 2008 and continued through July. Fans nominated towns and cities across the country based on their championship pedigree. A panel reviewed the nominees and fan voting in May determined the 20th finalist. SportsCenter
SportsCenter
SportsCenter is a daily sports news television show, and the flagship program of American cable network ESPN since the network launched on September 7, 1979. Originally broadcast only daily, SportsCenter is now shown up to twelve times a day, replaying the day's scores and highlights from major...
visited each city in July, and fan voting July 23–27 determined the winner.
Due to the Valdosta High School football team's record as well as multiple championships in many sports by Valdosta State University, Lowndes High School , Valwood School, Georgia Christian School, and other academic institutions in the town, Valdosta was nominated as a finalist in 2008 for ESPN's "Titletown USA" contest. On July 28, 2008, with 29.2% of fan votes on ESPN's website poll, Valdosta was named TitleTown USA.http://www.ajc.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/ajc/prepsports/entries/2008/07/28/espn_names_vald.html
Radio
AM:- WJEMWJEMWJEM is a radio station broadcasting a sports format. Licensed to Valdosta, Georgia, USA, the station is currently owned by WJEM, Inc.-History:The station went on the air as WJEM on 2007-01-30....
1150 AM; 5 kW Gospel - WVLDWVLDWVLD better known as "106.9 FM WVLD" is a radio station broadcasting a talk/sports format. Licensed to Valdosta, Georgia, USA, the station serves the Valdosta area. The station is currently owned by Black Crow Media and features programing from ESPN Radio...
1450 AM; 1 kW Sports Radio - WGOV 950 AM; 4 kW Adult Urban Contemporary
- WFVR 910 AM; 50 kW
FM:
- WDDQWDDQWDDQ is a radio station broadcasting a talk radio format. Licensed to Adel, Georgia, USA, the station serves the Valdosta, Georgia area. The station is currently owned by Smalltown Broadcasting, LLC....
TALK 92.1 FM Talk radio - WAYWAY-FM NetworkThe WAY-FM Network is a national, non-profit radio broadcasting network in the United States that primarily plays Contemporary Christian music operating in 25 states . It is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, while most programming originates in Franklin, Tennessee.-Origins in Fort Myers:WAY-FM...
88.1 FM Christian Contemporary - WVVSWVVS-FMWVVS-FM is a radio station broadcasting a college radio format, and licensed to serve Valdosta, Georgia, USA. The station is owned and operated by the students of Valdosta State University, though unlike other college radio stations in the state, the "Board of the University System of Ga" is...
90.9 FM VSU station - WWETGeorgia Public BroadcastingGeorgia Public Broadcasting is the public broadcasting radio and television state network in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is operated by the Georgia Public Telecommunications Commission....
91.7 FM - WAACWAAC (FM)WAAC is a radio station broadcasting a Country music format. Licensed to Valdosta, Georgia, USA, the station is currently owned by the Rivers Radio Group.-History:The station went on the air as WGOV-FM on 1978-11-28...
92.9 FM Country - WJYF 95.3 FM Christian Contemporary
- WQPWWQPWWQPW is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Valdosta, Georgia, USA, the station is currently owned by Blackcrow Media.-History:...
95.7 FM Adult Contemporary - WGOV-FM 96.7 FM Urban
- WAFTWaftWaft is a term meaning to carry along gently as through the air. The term is commonly used to describe scents that have diffused in to other parts of a room, or to describe smoke as being seen moving through the air...
101.1 FM Christian - WXHTWXHTWXHT better known as "Hot 102.7" is a radio station broadcasting a contemporary hit radio format. Licensed to Madison, Florida, USA, the station is currently owned by Black Crow Media and features programing from Premiere Radio Networks. -History:...
102.7 FM Pop Hits (Broadcast from Valdosta but licensed to Madison, FL) - WSTI 105.3 FM Classic Soul and R&B (Broadcast from Valdosta but licensed to Quitman, GA)
- WWRQ 107.9 FM Rock
Notable residents and natives
- James Lord Pierpont, the author of "Jingle BellsJingle Bells"Jingle Bells" is one of the best-known and commonly sung winter songs in the world. It was written by James Lord Pierpont and published under the title "One Horse Open Sleigh" in the autumn of 1857...
", lived many years in Valdosta, where he taught music. - Doc HollidayDoc HollidayJohn Henry "Doc" Holliday was an American gambler, gunfighter and dentist of the American Old West, who is usually remembered for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and his involvement in the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
, Western dentist/gunfighter/gambler spent his youth in Valdosta - Noah Langdale, President of Georgia State UniversityGeorgia State UniversityGeorgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
from 1957 to 1988. - Louis LomaxLouis LomaxLouis E. Lomax was an African-American journalist and author. He was also the first African-American television journalist.-Early years:...
, African-American journalist, and the son of a leading local educator - Alex W. BealerAlex W. BealerAlexander Winkler Bealer, III, known as Alex W. Bealer , was an old-time craftsman of wood working and blacksmithing from Atlanta, Georgia...
, Atlanta blacksmith and author, was born in Valdosta in 1921. - Father Divine, was arrested in Valdosta in 1914 and charged with lunacyLunatic"Lunatic" is a commonly used term for a person who is mentally ill, dangerous, foolish, unpredictable; a condition once called lunacy. The word derives from lunaticus meaning "of the moon" or "moonstruck".-Lunar hypothesis:...
in Valdosta under the name John Doe (alias God). He was acquitted. - Mary TurnerMary TurnerMary Turner was an African-American victim of lynching in Valdosta, Georgia.In May, 1918, 31-year old white plantation owner Hampton Smith, known to abuse and beat his workers, was shot and killed by one of his black workers on the plantation, 19-year old Sydney Johnson...
, African-American lynching victim - Major Carroll S. Woods, flew in 107 combat missions in World War II as a Tuskegee Airman in the 99th Fighter Squadron, 332 Fighter Group.
Entertainment
- Sonny ShroyerSonny ShroyerOtis Burt "Sonny" Shroyer, Jr. is an American actor who has appeared in various television and movie roles. He is best known for his role as Deputy Sheriff Enos Strate in the television series The Dukes of Hazzard. He also starred in a spin-off called Enos based on his Dukes of Hazzard character...
, actor best known for role as Enos StrateEnos StrateEnos Strate is a character on the television series, The Dukes of Hazzard played by Sonny Shroyer.-Fictional biography:Enos was born in Hazzard County to a loving family, and grew up as friends with Bo and Luke Duke. At the age of sixteen, he enrolled at the Hazzard Police Academy, graduated at the...
on The Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of HazzardThe Dukes of Hazzard is an American television series that aired on the CBS television network from 1979 to 1985.The series was inspired by the 1975 film Moonrunners, which was also created by Gy Waldron and had many identical or similar character names and concepts.- Overview :The Dukes of Hazzard...
, born in Valdosta on August 28, 1935. - Demond WilsonDemond WilsonGrady Demond Wilson is an American actor, author, and pastor. He is best known for his role opposite Redd Foxx as Fred Sanford's long-suffering son, Lamont Sanford, in the 1970s’ NBC-TV sitcom Sanford and Son....
, Minister and TV actor best known for playing Lamont on Sanford and SonSanford and SonSanford and Son is an American sitcom, based on the BBC's Steptoe and Son, that ran on the NBC television network from January 14, 1972, to March 25, 1977.... - Bill HicksBill HicksWilliam Melvin "Bill" Hicks was an American stand-up comedian, social critic, satirist, and musician. His material largely consisted of general discussions about society, religion, politics, philosophy, and personal issues. Hicks' material was often controversial and steeped in dark comedy...
, comedian - Don FlemingDon Fleming (musician)Don Fleming is an American musician, best known for being the frontman of Velvet Monkeys, B.A.L.L., and Gumball.-Biography:...
, Indie rock musician and producer. - Wanda Miller, wife of country music artist Kenny RogersKenny RogersKenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
. - Domonique Simone, Adult film star
- Rhett AkinsRhett AkinsThomas Rhett Akins Sr. is an American country singer and songwriter. Signed to Decca Records between 1994 and 1997, he released two albums for the label , followed by 1998's What Livin's All About on MCA Nashville. Friday Night in Dixie was released in 2002 on Audium Entertainment...
, Country music artist. - Billy Joe RoyalBilly Joe RoyalBilly Joe Royal is an American singer.-Biography:Born in Valdosta and raised in Marietta in 1942, Royal became a local star at Savannah, Georgia's Bamboo Ranch in the 1950s and 1960s...
, Country music artist. - NewSongNewSongNewSong is a Contemporary Christian Music group that was founded in 1981, at Morningside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia. They have had eight GMA Dove Award nominations. They are the founders of the Winter Jam Tour Spectacular, the United States' largest annual Christian music tour. It began in...
, Christian music band - From First To LastFrom First to LastFrom First to Last was an American rock band based out of Los Angeles, originally hailing from Valdosta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. The band released their first EP titled Aesthetic in 2003 with vocalist Phillip Reardon, followed by Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Body Count in 2004 and Heroine in...
, Matt Good, Derek Bloom and Travis Richer, Alternative music artists.
Sports
- Buck BelueBuck BelueBenjamin Franklin "Buck" Belue played American football and baseball at the University of Georgia from 1978 to 1981. He was the quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs in 1980, when the team went 12-0, and, after beating Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl, was named the consensus national champion...
, former Valdosta High School standout and quarterback of the University of GeorgiaUniversity of GeorgiaThe University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
's 1980 national championship team, now a radio talk show host - Vincent BurnsVincent BurnsVincent "Sweet Pea" Burns was an American football defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL. He currently is a free agent. Burns played college football at Northern Arizona University and the University of Kentucky, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round of the...
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
defensive tackle Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... - Randall GodfreyRandall GodfreyRandall Euralentris Godfrey is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. Godfrey played college football at the University of Georgia, where he majored in housing and consumer economics. He also played High School Football at Lowndes High School in Valdosta Georgia...
, NFL linebackerLinebackerA linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
, Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
& San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... - Jay RatliffJay RatliffJeremiah "Jay" Ratliff is an American football nose tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at Auburn.-Early years:...
, NFL nose tackle, Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... - Brice HunterBrice HunterBrice H. Hunter was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia.-External links:...
, NFL wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, Tampa Bay BuccaneersTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... - Todd Peterson, former NFL player
- Coleman RudolphColeman RudolphColeman Rudolph is a former player in the NFL. He played for the New York Jets and the New York Giants. He played collegiately for the Georgia Tech football team. He was also inducted as a member of the Valdosta High School Hall of Fame in 2007. He is a member of the Georgia Tech Hall of Fame and...
, American football player, former Georgia Tech college player, NFL, New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and New York Jets - Dana BrinsonDana BrinsonDana Brinson is a former professional American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eight round of the 1989 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska....
, former NFL player - Stan Rome, former NFL player, Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
(1979-1982) - Willie Gary, NFL, St. Louis RamsSt. Louis RamsThe St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, played in Super Bowl XXXVI - Dusty BonnerDusty BonnerDusty Bonner is a former American football quarterback.He was a standout Harlon Hill Trophy winner in 2000 and 2001 while playing for Valdosta State University, and was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2002 by the Atlanta Falcons.-University of Kentucky:At Kentucky, Bonner was the backup...
, VSU quarterback, later played for Kentucky and eventually NFL for the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and arena football league - William "Red" Dawson Only surviving Coach of the 1970 Marshall Tragedy, Chronicled in the movie We Are MarshallWe Are MarshallWe Are Marshall is a 2006 American drama film directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol about the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 37 football players on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team as well as five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters and...
- Ellis ClaryEllis ClaryEllis Clary , nicknamed "Cat," was an American professional baseball player. Born in Valdosta, Georgia, he threw and batted right-handed, stood 5'8" tall, and weighed 160 pounds...
, former Major League Baseball player, coach, and scout - Desmond (Desi) RelafordDesi RelafordDesmond Lamont "Desi" Relaford is an American former professional baseball infielder. He has played for the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies.Known more for his defense than his bat, his versatility was...
, Major League Baseball infielder - Briny BairdBriny BairdMichael Jancey "Briny" Baird is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour.Baird was born in Miami Beach, Florida. He played varsity golf in the 7th grade at Miami Country Day...
, professional golfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er who has played on the PGA TourPGA TourThe PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and Nationwide TourNationwide TourThe Nationwide Tour is the developmental tour for the U.S.-based PGA Tour, and features professional golfers who have either failed to score well enough at that level's Qualifying School to earn their PGA Tour card, or who have done so but then failed to win enough money to stay at that level...
.
Politics
- Melvin E. ThompsonMelvin E. ThompsonMelvin Ernest Thompson was an American educator and politician from Millen in the U.S. state of Georgia.Thompson was born in Millen, Georgia to Henry J. And Eva Thompson. He graduated from Emory University in 1926 and earned a Master of Arts from the University of Georgia in 1935. He also earned...
, the 71st Governor of Georgia, retired and died in Valdosta. - Allen BoydAllen BoydFred Allen Boyd Jr. is the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 1997 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He currently works for a lobbying firm, the Twenty-First Century Group.-Early life, education and career:...
, served as a DemocratDemocratic Party (United States)The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in the U.S. House of RepresentativesUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
for Florida from 1997 to 2011. - Charlie NorwoodCharlie NorwoodCharles Whitlow Norwood, Jr., D.D.S. was an American politician and dentist, serving as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 until his death...
, served as a RepublicanRepublican Party (United States)The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
U.S. Representative of Georgia from 1995 to 2007.
Valdosta in fiction
- Parts of Fannie FlaggFannie FlaggPatricia Neal , known professionally as Fannie Flagg, is an American actress, comedienne and author. She is perhaps best-known for the 1988 novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, which was adapted into the 1991 movie Fried Green Tomatoes; Flagg was nominated for an Academy Award for...
's novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop CafeFried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop CafeFried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is a 1987 novel by Fannie Flagg. It was adapted into the film Fried Green Tomatoes, which was released in 1991.-Plot:...
are set in Valdosta. - In Allen SteeleAllen SteeleAllen Mulherin Steele, Jr. is an American science fiction author.Steele began publishing short stories in 1988. His early novels formed a future history beginning with Orbital Decay and continuing through Labyrinth of Night...
's science fiction novel Coyote Frontier, Valdosta in the year 2070 is the site of Camp Buchanan, an internment camp for dissident liberal intellectuals. - Scenes from Ernest in the ArmyErnest in the ArmyErnest in the Army is a 1998 comedy film directed by John R. Cherry III and starring Jim Varney. It is the tenth and final film to feature the character of Ernest P. Worrell...
take place in Valdosta, even though the entire film was shot in South AfricaSouth AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. - Scenes from the film ZombielandZombielandZombieland is a 2009 American zombie comedy film directed by Ruben Fleischer from a screenplay written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin as survivors of a zombie apocalypse...
, starring Woody HarrelsonWoody HarrelsonWoodrow Tracy "Woody" Harrelson is an American actor.Harrelson's breakthrough role came in the television sitcom Cheers as bartender Woody Boyd...
, were shot on Valdosta streets and nearby Wild AdventuresWild AdventuresWild Adventures Water & Theme Park is located from Valdosta, Georgia, United States. It is owned by Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation. The park features approximately 59 rides and attractions, including eight roller coasters, hundreds of exotic animals, shows, Splash Island water park and...
theme park.