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Moving to Valdosta, Georgia

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Valdosta, the county seat of Lowndes County, was incorporated on December 7, 1860. Upon its incorporation, the county seat was moved from Troupville to Valdosta. The city was named for Governor George Troup’s country homes and comes from the Italian word Val D’ Osta.

Valdosta is nicknamed the “Naval Stores Capital of the World” because it supplies 80% of the naval stores in the world.

The county courthouse in Valdosta was built around 1905 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Long before life as a gambler and a gunfighter, John Henry “Doc” Holliday was a respected man in the community in Valdosta. Holliday was a young dentist who fled to the west due to his bouts with tuberculosis. With his move westward, he gained legendary status in the “profession” of a gunfighter.

The city of Valdosta is home of Moody Air Force Base, Liberty Farm Animal Park, the Crescent Complex, and Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area.

Valdosta is home to two state-operated schools, Valdosta State University and Valdosta Technical Institute. Valdosta State University was originally founded in 1906 as South Georgia State Normal College for Women, and became part of the University System of Georgia in 1950.

In April, Valdosta hosts an Arts and Balloon Festival to celebrate fine art, ballet, theater, music, poetry, and arts and crafts. The city is also home to a symphony orchestra composed of local professional musicians, Valdosta State University faculty and students, as well as guest artists.

Population: 43,724. Estimated population in July 2024: 45,205 (+3.4% change)
Males: 20,237 (46.3%), Females: 23,487 (53.7%)

Lowndes County

Zip codes: 31601, 31602, 31605, 31606, 31699.

Demographics

Median resident age: 28.2 years
Median household income: $29,046
Median house value: $83,500

Population by Race

Races in Valdosta:

  • Black (48.5%)
  • White Non-Hispanic (46.7%)
  • Hispanic (2.2%)
  • Two or more races (1.2%)
  • Other race (0.9%)
  • American Indian (0.6%)
  • Asian Indian (0.5%)

Ancestries: English (8.1%), United States (7.6%), Irish (6.0%), German (5.6%), Scotch-Irish (2.1%), Italian (2.0%).

Elevation: 229 feet

Land area: 29.9 square miles

Map of Valdosta, GA

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Valdosta

  • High school or higher: 75.7%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.9%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 9.6%
  • Unemployed: 7.1%
  • Mean travel time to work: 17.1 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Valdosta city

  • Never married: 39.0%
  • Now married: 39.1%
  • Separated: 3.3%
  • Widowed: 7.7%
  • Divorced: 10.9%

2.3% Foreign born (1.2% Latin America, 0.6% Europe, 0.5% Asia).

Population change in the 1990s: +2,494 (+6.0%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers in Valdosta:

  • SMITH NORTHVIEW HOSPITAL (4280 NORTH VALDOSTA ROAD)
  • SOUTH GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER (2501 NORTH PATTERSON ST PO BOX 1727)

Other hospitals/medical centers near Valdosta:

  • BROOKS COUNTY HOSPITAL (about 20 miles; QUITMAN, GA)
  • LOUIS SMITH MEMORIAL HISPITAL (about 21 miles; LAKELAND, GA)
  • MEMORIAL HOSPITAL OF ADEL INC (about 23 miles; ADEL, GA)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Valdosta:

  • VALDOSTA RGNL (about 6 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Abbreviation: VLD)
  • MOODY AFB (about 11 miles; VALDOSTA, GA; Abbreviation: VAD)
  • SOUTHWEST GEORGIA REGIONAL (about 79 miles; ALBANY, GA; Abbreviation: ABY)

Other public-use airports nearest to Valdosta:

  • QUITMAN BROOKS COUNTY (about 22 miles; QUITMAN, GA; Abbreviation: 4J5)
  • COOK COUNTY (about 23 miles; ADEL, GA; Abbreviation: 15J)
  • BERRIEN CO (about 25 miles; NASHVILLE, GA; Abbreviation: 4J2)

Colleges and Universities

Colleges/Universities in Valdosta:

  • VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 7,157; Location: 1500 N PATTERSON; Public; Website: www.valdosta.edu; Offers Doctor’s degree)
  • VALDOSTA TECHNICAL COLLEGE (Full-time enrollment: 1,456; Location: 4089 VALTECH RD; Public; Website: www.valdosta.tec.ga.us/)
  • VALDOSTA ACADEMY OF BEAUTY CULTURE (Full-time enrollment: 63; Location: 206 E HILL AVE; Private, for-profit)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Valdosta:

  • ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY (about 75 miles; ALBANY, GA; Full-time enrollment: 2,996)
  • FLORIDA AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY (about 76 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 10,991)
  • FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 76 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 29,949)
  • TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 78 miles; TALLAHASSEE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 7,016)
  • SANTA FE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 101 miles; GAINESVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 7,942)
  • UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (about 103 miles; GAINESVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 41,543)
  • FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE AT JACKSONVILLE (about 119 miles; JACKSONVILLE, FL; Full-time enrollment: 10,495)

Schools

Public high schools in Valdosta:

  • LOWNDES HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 2,687; Location: 1112 NORTH ST. AUGUSTINE ROAD; Grades: 09 – 12)
  • VALDOSTA HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 1,898; Location: 3101 NORTH FORREST STREET; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high schools in Valdosta:

  • OPEN BIBLE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 373; Location: 3543 N OAK ST EXT; Grades: PK – 12)
  • VALWOOD SCHOOL (Students: 362; Location: 1903 GORNTO ROAD; Grades: PK – 12)
  • GEORGIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 276; Location: 4359 DASHER ROAD; Grades: PK – 12)
  • VICTORY CHRISTIAN (Students: 58; Location: 3229 MADISON HWY; Grades: KG – 12)

Biggest public primary/middle schools in Valdosta:

  • LOWNDES MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 1,059; Location: 2379 COPELAND ROAD; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • VALDOSTA MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 897; Location: 110 BURTON AVENUE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • NEWBERN MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 843; Location: 2015 EAST PARK AVENUE; Grades: 06 – 08)
  • DEWAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 737; Location: 3539 MT. ZION CHURCH RD.; Grades: PK – 05)
  • NUNN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 720; Location: 2201 NORTH FORREST STREET; Grades: KG – 03)
  • CLYATTVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 673; Location: 5386 MADISON HIGHWAY; Grades: PK – 05)
  • PINE GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 652; Location: 4023 PINE GROVE ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • MOULTON-BRANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 628; Location: 5725 PERIMETER ROAD; Grades: PK – 05)
  • WEST GORDON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Students: 555; Location: 813 WEST GORDON STREET; Grades: 04 – 05)
  • SALLAS MAHONE ELEMENTARY (Students: 552; Location: 3686 LAKE LAURIE DRIVE; Grades: PK – 03)

Private primary/middle schools in Valdosta:

  • ST JOHN CATHOLIC SCHOOL (Students: 278; Location: 800 GORNTO ROAD; Grades: PK – 8)
  • FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 177; Location: 2700 NORTH FORREST STREET; Grades: PK – 6)
  • AZALEA CITY BAPTIST SCHOOL (Students: 135; Location: 3001 COUNTRY CLUB DR; Grades: PK – 4)
  • LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL (Students: 70; Location: 4565 BEMISS ROAD; Grades: KG – 11)
  • ONE WAY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 26; Location: 3909 BEMISS ROAD; Grades: PK – UG)

Libraries

Library in Valdosta:

  • SOUTH GEORGIA REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM (Operating income: $1,351,132; Location: 300 WOODROW WILSON DRIVE; 179,268 books; 2,156 audio materials; 6,284 video materials; 276 serial subscriptions)

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