Lowndes County
Since the first settlers moved to our area in 1821 Lowndes County has served as a haven for those looking for something more. With the discovery of fertile soil and unlimited opportunity, Lowndes County was established by the Georgia General Assembly in 1825. Names and faces have changed, but the focus of our community has not. We remain a progressive community planning for the future while preserving the past. As host to several cities, Lowndes County provides something for everyone regardless of their interests.
Valdosta, Lowndes County’s largest city and county seat is home to a beautifully restored downtown, as well as, 48,000 citizens who represent approximately half of Lowndes County’s greatest resource.
To the north, the city of Hahira and the surrounding area proudly boasts, “Home of the Honey Bee,” which is also Georgia’s official state insect. Agriculturally, residents in north and south Lowndes County are important producers of cotton, tobacco, soybeans and peanuts. The city of Lake Park, affectionately referred to as “Gateway to the South” possesses unforgettable natural beauty and is in close proximity to I-75. In addition, recreational facilities, that include area lakes, provide ample opportunity for fishing, hunting, golfing and water sports.
Lowndes County’s citizens have determined that, “together we can make a difference.” We welcome you to see for yourself why so many proudly call Lowndes County home.
The Lowndes County Board of Commissioners’ goal is to diligently serve the citizens and visitors of Lowndes County by addressing all issues and concerns in a timely manner. One way we do this is by continually striving to find better ways to deliver the services our citizens have the right to expect. This Web Site is another example of how we are reaching out to our citizens.
County business is discussed at the regular commission meetings, which are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Lowndes County currently has a chairman and three commissioners who represent the three districts of Lowndes County. The Chairman presides over all board meetings, and votes in the event of a tie. Items that require Board action include; rezoning ordinances, grants and contracts, public hearings, bids, and "for consideration" items, which include special requests and reports. The Board of Commissioners also determines the annual budget for the county.
Commissioners serve concurrent terms of four years and are elected by district with a chairman at-large.
“Providing an efficient, effective and responsive local government to all citizens of Lowndes County while maintaining the financial strength to meet any contingency.”
Lowndes County was created from Irwin County on Dec. 23, 1825 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1825, p. 54). Georgia's 68th county was named for South Carolina lawyer, planter, U.S. representative, and vice presidential candidate William Lowndes (1782-1822). Lowndes was a ardent supporter of the War of 1812 and was a well-respected member of Congress. Three years after his death, the Georgia General Assembly named a new county in his honor. Subsequently, Alabama and Mississippi also named counties for Lowndes.
In 1826, the legislature passed an act appointing commissioners to select a site for a county seat for newly created Lowndes County. They selected a settlement known as Franklinville, and in 1828 the legislature officially designated the site as county seat.
In 1833, lawmakers moved the county seat to Lowndesville. In March 1837, the name of Lowndesville was changed to Troupville in honor of former governor and U.S. senator George Troup. In Dec.1837, the legislature incorporated Troupville. Finally, in 1859, the legislature designated the railroad settlement of Valdosta [named for former governor George Troup's Val D'Osta plantation, which he had named for a valley in the Italian Alps with the same name] as county seat. On Dec. 7, 1860, the legislature incorporated Valdosta as a town.
www.lowndescounty.com
City of Valdosta
The Valdosta/Lowndes County area has always been a popular gathering place. Beginning with the Creek and Seminole Indians, the Spanish missionaries and the American pioneers, the fertile and beautiful land of this area has enticed people to make their homes here.
Lowndes County was established in 1825. Its first county seat, Franklinville, was established in 1828. In 1837, the city of Troupville became the county seat. When the Gulf and Atlantic Railroad decided to put a right-of-way four miles south of Troupville, the citizens of Troupville made an interesting move to ensure the future prosperity of their town--they picked it up and moved it four miles.
The town was then renamed Valdosta, in honor of "Val d'Aosta," the plantation home of former Governor George Troup. In 1860, Valdosta was incorporated as the new seat of county government.
 Valdosta's history has been closely tied to the soil. The sandy loam allowed the city to become the inland capital for Sea Island cotton. When cotton crops were devastated by the boll weevil in the early 1900s, other crops such as pecans, peanuts, and tobacco rose in popularity.
Valdosta's business district experienced tremendous growth from 1890 to the late 1920s, and most of the city's historic public buildings were constructed around this time. The Valdosta Heritage foundation is dedicated to saving and restoring the remaining historic buildings, homes, and districts of the city. Valdosta now has three National Register Historic Districts--Downtown, Victorian Fairview, and Patterson Street.
The determination of the little town that moved to the railroad is still evident today in the city that is moving into a prosperous future. Agriculture continues to be a driving force. Pine trees, now the area's most important raw material, are grown and harvested for a variety of uses. And the city's location and success keep attracting more business and industry, including nationally-known brands such as SAFT America. All of this and a remarkable quality of life combine to make Valdosta "South Georgia's Regional City."
For anyone wishing to see and learn more about Valdosta's history, brochures with walking tours of the city are provided by the Valdosta Lowndes County Visitor's Bureau. Please call the Visitor's Bureau at (229) 245-0513 for more information. Tours are also available of many of the city's historic homes, such as the Crescent, which serves as the headquarters for the Valdosta Garden Center, and the Barber Pittman House, which was home to the first bottler of Coca-Cola outside of Atlanta and now houses the Chamber of Commerce.
To tour the Crescent, please call (229) 244-6747. For tours of the Barber House, please call the Chamber of Commerce at (229) 247-8100.
www.valdostacity.com
Fast Facts
- Valdosta is the 11th largest city in Georgia.
- Valdosta has a population is over 48,000+.
- Valdosta was ranked top places to retire in the south by Retirement Lifestyles magazine in 2007.
- Valdosta was one of six cities in Georgia honored as a 2007 “Trendsetter” by the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA).
- Lowndes County has a population of 100,000+ and is one of Georgia's fastest-growing counties.
- Valdosta is one of only 11 cities from across the country to receive the Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award from the National Community Development Association.
- Tourists spent over $200 million dollars in the Valdosta-Lowndes County area in 2006.
- Retail sales top $2.8 billion annually.
- Valdosta has the 4th highest retail pull factor, pulling consumers from 15-17 counties.
- Valdosta was voted by Expansion Solutions magazine as the fifth destination location for logistics in the nation.
Valdosta Regional Airport has one of the longest runways in the state.
- Valdosta is a three time winner of the Magnolia Award given by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
The composer of "Jingle Bells," James Lord Pierpoint, was from Valdosta.
- Famous gunfighter and gambler, Doc Holliday, was born in Valdosta.
- The Valdosta High School Wildcat football team, which has won more games than any other high school in the nation, has given rise to the city's nickname -- "Winnersville."
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