Lowndes County is named for William Lowndes, a South Carolina statesman who died shortly after being nominated for Vice President of the United States. The county seat, Valdosta, was named for Governor George Troup’s plantations, named for an Italian alpine valley, Val D’Osta.

The first county seat, Franklinville, was established in 1828. In 1837, Troupville became the county seat until the railroad surveyors came to the area. The citizens of Troupville decided to pickup and move the town four miles to ensure its economic prosperity. The town was then renamed Valdosta in 1860 and became the new seat of county government.