Valdosta, Georgia

Valdosta is a city in, and the county seat of Lowndes County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 43,724. It was incorporated on 7 December, 1860, at which time the county government was moved from nearby Troupville.

History

Valdosta was founded in 1860 by residents of Troupville, Georgia. Troupville was a steamboat landing on the Withlacoochee River, but when the Gulf and Atlantic Railroad was built four miles (about 6km) away, the inhabitants simply picked up the town and moved it to the railroad. There are still buildings in Valdosta that made the move.

Related Topics:
1860 - Steamboat - Withlacoochee River - Gulf and Atlantic Railroad - Mile - Km - Railroad - Building

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The county's courthouse was built around 1905, and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Related Topics:
Courthouse - 1905 - National Register of Historic Places

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The now virtually abandoned Troupville 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 valley in Italy. Recipes such as Fonduta alla Valdostana and Pollo alla Valdostana refer to the Italian region and use Fontina cheese made there, and not to the south Georgia city.

Related Topics:
Name - Governor - George Troup - Troup County, Georgia - Estate - Val d'Osta - Valle d'Aosta - Valley - Italy - Fontina cheese

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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 trees.

Related Topics:
Cotton - United States - Boll Weevil - 1917 - Agriculture

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The world's second Coca-Cola bottling plant is in Valdosta.

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One of the most important boosts to the Valdosta economy was when Interstate 75 was routed and built near Valdosta. Many vacationing Americans on their way to Florida make Valdosta a convenient "last stop" on their way to Disney World and the Orlando area, especially those coming from the Midwest and Ontario, Canada

Related Topics:
Interstate 75 - Americans - Florida - Disney World - Orlando - Midwest - Ontario, Canada

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Notable natives include Western dentist/gunfighter/gambler Doc Holliday, comedian Bill Hicks, and James Lord Pierpoint, composer of "Jingle Bells".

Related Topics:
Doc Holliday - Bill Hicks - James Lord Pierpoint - Jingle Bells

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According to some (but not all) sources, the first ATM machine was installed in Valdosta in 1970, at the Five Points Branch of the Citizen's and Southern Bank (C&S), now part of Bank of America.

Related Topics:
Citizen's and Southern Bank - Bank of America

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