Valdosta: The Azalea City
The city of Valdosta is named after a scenic estate owned by
Governor George Troup in Laurens County, Georgia. Governor
Troup signed the act that created Lowndes County in 1825. The
unique, Americanized name is thought to be derived from a
district in the Alpine Mountains of Italy called Valle d’Aosta.
up to its name with its
azaleas and gardens
during the spring
and summer seasons.
Fortunately for the
community, R.J. Drexel,
a generous, natureloving
…derived from a
district in the Alpine
Mountains of Italy
called Valle d’Aosta.
person, came to Valdosta as its parks superintendent
many years ago. He began planting azaleas along city streets, the
cemetery, church grounds and around the government buildings
of Valdosta. In the spring of each year, Mr. Drexel would give
Mr. Drexel inspired the ladies of the Garden Club to use azalea
liners as a ways-and-means project. Members would purchase
huge loads of azalea liners from an area nursery and sell them
for 10 cents each to raise funds for the Crescent, home of the
is home to the city’s annual Azalea Festival
each Spring.
5 Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center and Tourism Authority