Troupville, Georgia, Lowndes County, is a ghost town that was once the region’s bustling center of commerce and politics. Founded in the 19th century, it served as the county seat before eventually succumbing to the forces of change and progress. Below is detailed information about the town.
County: Lowndes County
Zip Code: Not available
Latitude / Longitude: 30.8510° N, 83.3099° W
Elevation: Approximately 131 feet (40 meters)
Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone (ET)
Established: 1837
Disestablished: 1859
Comments: Troupville was named after Georgia Governor George Troup. The town thrived in its early years, primarily due to its strategic location at the confluence of the Withlacoochee and Little Rivers, which made it a prime spot for commerce and trade.
However, the advent of the railroad in the 1850s led to its decline, as the tracks bypassed Troupville in favor of the nearby burgeoning town of Valdosta.
Remains: Today, very little remains of Troupville. The area where the town once stood is largely overgrown with vegetation, although some historical markers and foundational remnants may still be visible to those who explore the site.
Current Status: Troupville is considered a ghost town and is not inhabited. It exists primarily as a historical site of interest for those exploring the history of Lowndes County and the broader region.
In early 1871, a toll bridge crossing the Little River from Troupville to Brooks County was completed. By 1874, a Valdostan described Troupville as “a deserted village or rather an old field with scarcely a vestige of the village remaining.”
Remarks: Troupville’s story is a tribute to how transportation advancements, like the railroad, can dramatically alter the fortunes of a once-thriving community.
Its legacy lives on in the memory of the region’s history and its influence on the development of nearby Valdosta. The site attracts historians and ghost town enthusiasts seeking to uncover Georgia’s past stories.
In 1833, Lowndesville, Georgia, replaced Franklinville, east of modern Hahira, as the county seat. In 1834, a group of citizens was appointed to select a new county seat to keep pace with settlement.
In July 1836, a group of commissioners was advertising for merchants and mechanics to settle at Troupville. They believed that the Little River and Withlacoochee River could be made navigable to this point at a small expense.
They declined after the county seat was moved away from Franklinville and Lowndesville. In October 1836, newspapers advertised proposals to build a courthouse at Troupville.
The city was incorporated on 14 December 1837 by an act of the Georgia legislature and designated as the county seat (the third).
