Basic industries include wood products and turpentine manufacturing, food processing and some tobacco, and there is considerable activity in the area’s five industrial parks. The area lacks interest in general, but does have some history and historical homes and buildings and a handful of performing arts and cultural amenities. A new theme park just opened to capitalize on the north-south leisure traffic. The cost of living is low.

The surrounding terrain is flat and mostly set up for agriculture. The inland subtropical climate brings mild winters with cloudy, rainy periods and warm, sticky summers with occasional downpours. Valdosta sits at a point where moist tropical air and cool northerly air may collide and stall, bringing long periods of rain. Total rainfall is fifth highest among U.S. metro areas. Although winter temperatures are usually mild, freezing does occur in most winters, and many have at least some snow. First freeze is early December, last is mid-February.