Valdosta, Georgia – Lowndes County 

The Valdosta-Lowndes County area in deep south Georgia has recently been designated as an urbanized metropolitan area.  Interstate 75, which is a major north-south route connecting the central part of Canada and the northern United States with Florida, passes along the western edge of Valdosta.  For many travelers this is their stop before crossing into Florida on their way south.  Valdosta is about 15 miles from the Florida line, about 250 miles south of Atlanta and an equidistance from Orlando, Florida.  It is about an 8 hour drive on to Miami and the Florida Keys.  Valdosta is almost on the same latitude as Jacksonville, FL and Tallahassee, FL and about equidistant from those two Florida cites as well as Gainesville, FL.  It is about a two hour drive from Valdosta to these locations.  Valdosta is also about equidistant from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. 

This rapidly developing area is a diverse coastal plain habitat for many plants and animals.  Existing on the southern border of the temperate zone and on the northern edge of the tropical zone, yards are landscaped with azaleas, camellias, and dogwoods as well as tropical elephant ears and palm trees.  Herons, egrets, sandhill cranes, eagles, and a variety of songbirds are easily seen.  Alligators and other reptiles inhabit the wetland areas.  The Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area is just on the eastern edge of Valdosta; the famous Okeefeenokee Swamp is about an hour to the east.   Woodland areas are often planted slash pine, although some native longleaf pine are still around.  Farmers increasingly are growing cotton, although until recently tobacco was a major crop.  Commercial peach growing in Georgia begins just north of Valdosta.  Although individuals in some seasons are successful with citrus trees, Valdosta is a little too far north for successful commercial citrus production.

The weather in the area is like that of north Florida and generally mild except for late summer when temperatures and the humidity can be extreme.  It is possible from March-June and late September-early November to not have to use heat or air conditioning.  Although frost several times during the winter is usual, snow “sprinkles” and ice are almost unknown, not occurring most winters at all.

This growing area has a more diverse population than might be expected for a deep south community due in part to the presence of Valdosta State University, Moody Air Force Base, and the travel/service industry resulting from the presence of several interstate exits.  Valdosta is also a commercial/service center for rural south Georgia.

Valdosta State University is a regional university in the University System of Georgia.  The institution offers undergraduate degrees in a broad number of majors in the humanities, sciences, arts, education, nursing, and business.  Graduate work is offered in several areas including a PhD in education.  The College of the Arts brings drama, music, and the visual arts to the community.  Through the cooperation of the community and the university the Valdosta Symphony came into being several years ago and performs throughout the year.  An active Office of International Programs brings a number of international students and faculty into the community each year.  The university serves about 10,000 students and is the region’s third major employer behind the base and the South Georgia Regional Medical Center.

There are two public school systems, Lowndes County and Valdosta City Schools, as well as Valwood School and several church related schools, which are private institutions.  Valdosta Technical College offers career oriented post high school education and Georgia Military College has a branch campus in Valdosta.

Valdosta has for quite a number of years had a friendly relationship with Moody Air Force Base, which is the area’s largest employer.  The presence of military families from across the United States living in the community has had the affect of broadening the perspective of many native Valdostans.   The presence of a university faculty and growing student numbers at VSU has had a similar effect in bringing different perspectives into the community.

Valdosta has a number of churches, most of which are the traditional Christian denominations and these churches are largely traditional, some quite fundamentalist in their views.  The community is home to several more liberal Christian churches and to several non-Christian religious communities including, Islam, Jewish, Baha’i, and an Asian and Indian community with Buddhist and Hindu believers.  The Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta has often been a religious home for newcomers to the community who do not find an organized religious group for their belief system or find the traditional groups too restrictive. 

Economic and population growth threaten the previous rural and natural wilderness aspects of the area.   There will be a continuing challenge to leadership in south Georgia to manage growth while preserving what makes the area an environmentally and ecologically vibrant and attractive region.

of the UU Church of Valdosta