Vidalia ( vye-DAYL-yə, ) is a city located primarily in Toombs County, Georgia, United States. The city also extends very slightly into Montgomery County. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 10,785. and had a combined population of 35,640 at the 2020 census.

Description and history

The town was incorporated on January 1, 1890. It is the largest city in Toombs County, but it is not the county seat. The original name for the town was "Jenkins Station", after a local landowner, Warren T. Jenkins. Although several origins for the town's modern name have been suggested, it was most likely given by a daughter of Samuel Hawkins, the president of the Savannah, Americus and Montgomery Railroad (later the S.A.M shortline), were not an important crop until much later.

From 1952 to 1956, Vidalia was home to the Vidalia Indians, a Class D minor league baseball affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. Vidalia played in the Georgia State League and won the 1953 League Championship.

In the 1950s, Piggly Wiggly grocery stores opened a distribution center in Vidalia, bringing with it a large influx of jobs as well as railroad business. At that time, Vidalia served as an interchange junction between the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and the Georgia and Florida. For this, a large seven-track yard was constructed, as well as a sizable engine servicing facility and interchange yard. The latter, smaller interchange yard is still in use to some degree by the Georgia Central Railway, while the larger yard was removed sometime in the 1970s. Dot Foods currently occupies most of the old Piggly Wiggly distribution center, with smaller companies leasing space.

Geography

Vidalia is located in northwestern Toombs County at (32.215305, -82.410086). The westernmost part of the city is in northeastern Montgomery County.

The city is located along U.S. Route 280, which runs east–west through the center of town. U.S. 280 leads east to Lyons, the Toombs county seat, and southwest to Mount Vernon, the Montgomery county seat. Other highways that run through the city include Georgia State Routes 15, 130, 292, and 297.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Vidalia has a total area of , of which are land and , or 2.03%, are water.

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2020 census

thumb|left|Vidalia (left) and Vidalia Regional Airport (right)

As of the 2020 census, there were 10,785 people, 4,285 households, and 2,499 families residing in the city.

The median age was 39.4 years. 25.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 83.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 76.5 males age 18 and over.

Of the city's households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.8% were married-couple households, 16.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 41.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Museums and other points of interest

The Altama Gallery is a museum of history and art located inside the restored Brazell House.

Education

Public schools

thumb|right|280px|Vidalia welcome sign

Vidalia Public Schools are part of the Vidalia City School District. The school district holds preschool to grade twelve, and consists of two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school. The district has 144 full-time teachers and over 2,408 students.

  • J.D. Dickerson Primary School
  • Sally Dailey Meadows Elementary School
  • J.R. Trippe Middle School
  • Vidalia Comprehensive High School
  • Edward D Phillips Special Education Center.

Private

  • The Paul Anderson Youth Home offers faith-based accredited preparatory education and substance abuse treatment to at-risk youth.
  • Vidalia Heritage Academy provides development of character and academic excellence from a Christian perspective in a Christian environment for Preschool, Elementary School, and Middle/High School youth.

==Notable people==<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WP:WikiProject Cities/US Guideline -->

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  • Paul Anderson, Olympic weightlifter and strongman; founder of the Paul Anderson Youth Home in Vidalia
  • Mel Blount, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back, five-time Pro Bowler and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee; born in Vidalia
  • Paul Claxton, professional golfer; born in Vidalia
  • Don Harris, NBC News correspondent killed during the Jonestown Massacre; born in Vidalia
  • Carl Simpson, football player; born in Vidalia
  • Fred Stokes, defensive end who played ten seasons in the National Football League; born in Vidalia

References

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  • City of Vidalia entry from the State of Georgia government portal
  • Vidalia Convention & Visitors Bureau
  • Vidalia Onion Festival
  • Vidalia Onion official website
  • The Wall Street Journal - "The Onion's Best Friend Is an Ogre"