Troupville, Georgia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Troupville, Georgia
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 Troupville, Georgia
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Troupville, Georgia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Georgia |
| County | Lowndes |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Troupville was once a small community in Lowndes County, Georgia, near the city of Valdosta. It was known as an "extinct unincorporated community," which means it was a place where people lived but it was never officially a city, and it no longer exists today. Troupville was an important spot for riverboats. It was located where the Withlacoochee River and the Little River (Withlacoochee River) met. This was the furthest point upriver that boats could travel. For a time, Troupville was also the main government center, or "county seat," for Lowndes County. The town was named after Governor George Troup.
Over time, railroads became more popular than riverboats for travel and trade. When a railroad station opened in Valdosta in 1859, many people from Troupville decided to move. They even picked up their houses and moved them to Valdosta! The next year, Valdosta became the new county seat.
Contents
The Story of Troupville
Early Beginnings
Before Troupville, the county seat for Lowndes County moved a couple of times. In 1833, a place called Lowndesville became the county seat. Before that, it was Franklinville.
In 1834, leaders decided to find an even better spot for the county seat. They wanted a place that would grow with the area. By 1836, they were asking merchants and skilled workers to come settle in Troupville. They believed the nearby rivers could be used for boats with a little work. As Troupville grew, Franklinville and Lowndesville became less important.
Becoming the County Seat
In October 1836, plans were made to build a courthouse in Troupville. A courthouse is where important government and legal work happens. On December 14, 1837, the Georgia government officially made Troupville a town. It was also named the third county seat for Lowndes County.
A Prosperous Town
Troupville's location was very good. It was near two rivers and on a main stagecoach route. It was also planned to be on the route of a new railroad. This helped the town become successful. In 1839, land lots in Troupville sold for about $3,443. Ten years later, they were worth much more, around $9,162.
At its busiest, Troupville had many businesses and services. It had three hotels and four stores. There were also many different shops and three churches. The town even had its own newspaper, called the South Georgia Watchman. Troupville was in an area with large cotton farms. It also served as a gateway to the new state of Florida. Just a mile north of town, there was a horse racetrack. Many people enjoyed going there.
The Railroad Changes Everything
By the 1850s, new railroads were being built across Georgia. Two different companies wanted to build tracks through south Georgia. One company, the Brunswick and Florida Railroad, had older plans. However, it did not have enough money. The other company, the Savannah, Albany, and Gulf Railroad, had money but not the right to build tracks everywhere.
After some time, the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad Company was formed. In 1856, they got permission to build a railroad line. This line would go through Lowndes County. The plan was for this new railroad to connect with other lines. Eventually, the Brunswick and Florida Railroad gave up its right to build tracks in central south Georgia.
Engineers looked at three possible routes for the new railroad. One route went through northern Troupville. Another went through northern Lowndes County. The third route went through southern Lowndes County and crossed the Withlacoochee River. On June 17, 1858, they decided on the southern route. This route was chosen because it was straighter and had fewer hills.
A few days later, on June 22, the Lowndes County courthouse in Troupville caught fire. This event was a big deal for the town. On August 9, people met to talk about creating a new county. They decided to use land from Lowndes County to form a new area called Brooks County.
The End of Troupville
The decision to build the railroad through southern Lowndes County meant the end for Troupville. Riverboats were no longer the main way to travel or move goods. It became very important to have a town where the new railroad lines met. Many people living in Troupville decided to move their homes and businesses. They moved them to the new town of Valdosta.
Troupville quickly lost its status as the county seat to Valdosta. By 1871, a bridge was built from Troupville to Brooks County. But by 1874, a person from Valdosta described Troupville as "a deserted village." They said it was just "an old field" with almost nothing left of the town. The town's official permission to exist was finally removed in 1995.
