Valdosta Georgia GA Warrant Search

Valdosta, Georgia 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 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 43,724; by the 2006 census estimate, it had grown slightly to 45,529. The 2007 estimate showed a population of 130,170 in the Valdosta metropolitan area. 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. History Valdosta was incorporated on December 7, 1860, at which time the county government was moved from nearby Troupville. 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 Atlantic and Gulf 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 nomenclature stood for '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 1830's 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 all of 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.[citation needed]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. Geography Valdosta is located at 30°50′48″N 83°16′59″W / 30.84667°N 83.28306°W / 30.84667; -83.28306 (30.846661, -83.283101).It is located in the coastal plain of Georgia and thus has a virtually flat landscape. Valdosta lies 240 miles south of the state capital of Atlanta, and approximately fifteen miles north of the state's border with Florida. Highways 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.[citation needed]According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 30.3 square miles (78.4 km²). 29.9 square miles (77.5 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.09% water. Climate Valdosta has a humid subtropical climate (Koppen climate classification Cfa), with mild, wet winters and hot, humid summers. 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, Brooks, Lanier, and Echols Counties.) City As of the census 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/sq mi (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. Economy Located in the far southern portion of the state, near the Florida 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) and a couple of other shopping areas (Downtown, Five Points). Several large stores surround the mall or are near the mall including Best Buy, Home Depot, Kohl's Lowe's and Office Max. Major highways Interstate 75(State Route 8) runs north to south through a western section of Valdosta. U.S. Highway 84(Wiregrass Georgia Parkway) is colocated withState Route 38and runs west to east bisecting the city and is known as Hill Avenue through the city limits. State Route 7runs north to south entering the city at theWithlacoochee Riverbeing 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 withU.S. Route 41just outside the city limits. Other Transportation The Valdosta Regional Airport, 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. 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 trackes were removed in the 1940s to be used as scrap metal for the war effort. Lowndes County School District The Lowndes County School District 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 District 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 School 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, and St. John Catholic School. Higher Education Valdosta is also the home of Valdosta State University (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 six-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. High school football Valdosta has a strong high school football tradition. The Valdosta High School Wildcats have one of the most successful high school football programs in the country, earning 23 Georgia state championships between 1940 and 1998.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 for the years 1985-1987 and 1999-2000. College football Valdosta State University began fielding an NCAA Division II football program in 1982. The Blazers 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 at Valdosta State University. Baseball Valdosta hosted several different minor league baseball teams during the twentieth century, and was one of six cities in the Georgia State League 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 baseball team. They were a minor league team that was a “farm” team for the Brooklyn Dodgers. ESPN's Titletown, USA TitleTown USA was a month-long segment on Espn 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. Newspaper The Valdosta Daily Times Radio AM:WJEM1150 AM; 5 kW Gospel WVLD1450 AM; 1 kW Sports Radio WGOV950 AM; 4 kW Adult Urban Contemporary WFVR910 AM; 50 kW FM:WDDQTALK 92.1 FM Talk radio WAY88.1 FM Christian Contemporary WVVS90.9 FM VSU station WWET91.7 FM WAAC92.9 FM Country WJYF95.3 FM Christian Contemporary WQPW95.7 FM Adult Contemporary WLYX96.7 FM Urban WAFT101.1 FM Christian WXHT102.7 FM Pop Hits (Broadcast from Valdosta but licensed to Madison, FL) WSTI105.3 FM Classic Soul and R&B (Broadcast from Valdosta but licensed to Quitman, GA) WWRQ107.9 FM Rock Notable residents and natives James Lord Pierpont, the author of 'Jingle Bells', lived many years in Valdosta, where he taught music. He later moved toQuitman, Georgia, where he died. Doc Holliday, Western dentist/gunfighter/gambler Melvin E. Thompson, the 71st Governor of Georgia, retired and died in Valdosta. Noah LangdalePresident ofGeorgia State Universityfrom 1957 to 1988. Louis Lomax, African-American journalist, the son of a leading local educator Buck Belue, former Valdosta High School standout and quarterback of theUniversity of Georgia's 1980 national championship team, now a radio talk show host Vincent Burns,NFLdefensive tackleIndianapolis Colts Randall Godfrey, NFLlinebacker,Seattle Seahawks&San Diego Chargers Jay Ratliff, NFLnose tackle,Dallas Cowboys Ellis Clary, former Major League Baseball player,coach, and scout Desmond (Desi) Relaford, Major League Baseball infielder Father Divine, was arrested in Valdosta in 1914 and charged withlunacyin Valdosta under the nameJohn Doe (alias God). He was acquitted. Sonny Shroyer, actor best known for role asEnos StrateonThe Dukes of Hazzard, born in Valdosta on August 28, 1935. Demond Wilson, Minister and TV actor best known for playing Lamont onSanford and Son Bill Hicks, comedian Mary Turner, African-American lynching victim From First To Last, Matt Good, Derek Bloom and Travis Richer, Alternative music artists. Domonique Simone, Adult film star Rhett Akins, Country music artist. Billy Joe Royal, Country music artist. NewSong, Christian music band Brice Hunter, was anAmerican footballwide receiverin theNational Football League. He played for theTampa Bay Buccaneers. Valdosta in fiction Parts ofFannie Flagg's novelFried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafeis set in Valdosta. InAllen Steele's science fiction novelCoyote Frontier, Valdosta in the year 2070 is the site of Camp Buchanan, an internment camp for dissident liberal intellectuals. Scenes fromErnest in the Armytake place in Valdosta, even though the entire film was shot inSouth Africa. Scenes from the filmZombieland, starringWoody Harrelson, were shot on Valdosta streets and nearbyWild Adventurestheme park.