Peaceful vibes and colorful blooms in Quitman
Quitman is known as Camellia City, and it’s fitting the flowering shrub that’s sometimes brewed into relaxing cups of tea is the symbol of the laid-back South Georgia city. Pink and cream camellias bloom across Quitman, where resident Betty Sheffield developed a new variety of the flower in the 1940s. The community of 4,500 people also stands out for its unhurried atmosphere and proximity to Valdosta and Interstate 75, says Scarlett Holt, a Realtor at The American Dream who sells houses in Quitman. “It’s a good place to retire to,” Holt says.
A mix of modest homes and grander historic properties
Streets divide much of the community into blocks bordered with bungalows and ranch-style homes. Palms, yuccas and trees draped with Spanish moss often grow up to the edge of the street, and sidewalks vanish in some areas. Antique Queen Anne and Craftsman houses line Court Street, where live oaks grow from the median and shade the road. Holt is licensed to sell homes in Florida and Georgia, and she says increasing homeowners insurance premiums and the climbing cost of living drive many Floridians to South Georgia. “It’s more people coming from Florida to Georgia than from Georgia coming to Florida.” Typical prices in Quitman start at $100,000 and climb to $285,000, but a Court Street home recently sold for $425,000.
Brooks County School District invests in the arts
The community’s public schools are clustered on the north side of Quitman. Children can start at Quitman Elementary School, graded a C-plus by Niche. After fifth grade, kids progress to C-rated Brooks County Middle School and Brooks County High School, which gets a B-minus. Brooks County High has leveled up its fine arts offerings in recent years. The district spent $4.5 million building the high school a 500-seat performing arts center, which opened in 2021. It’s used by students in the Fine Arts Pathway, which includes courses such as drama, chorus and band.
Southern cooking and retail chains along historic Screven Street
Locals can do most of their shopping on Screven Street, which passes Food Lion, Tractor Supply Co. and Dollar General. The road also runs through downtown, where brick storefronts built in the late 1800s house businesses such as Royal Cafe, opened in 1913. Creatives set up at Camellia Coffee & Creamery to sell handmade jewelry or sign their recently published book. Archbold Brooks, a hospital in Quitman, has an emergency room, while SGMC Health Main is a larger hospital in the nearby city of Valdosta. Valdosta is also home to big-box stores such as Target, The Home Depot and Sam’s Club.
Horticulturists compete at the annual Camellia Show
Quitman honors its nickname every February with the Camellia Show, a local tradition since the ‘30s. Growers from around the region bring hundreds of pink camellia blooms to the show, where judges inspect them and award prizes for the best flowers.
Sports, golf and hunting in Brooks County
The Boys & Girls Club Brooks County oversees several youth sports, including soccer, football and basketball. The Boys & Girls Club is next to a complex of fields, where nearly 20 baseball and softball teams play in the spring. On the other side of the community, Quitman Country Club’s 18-hole course is open to the public. Privately owned preserves outside of Quitman offer quail hunting, skeet shooting and fishing in cypress-dotted lakes.
First Baptist Quitman has been part of the community for more than 150
Founded in 1859, First Baptist Quitman is one of several churches in the community. The church is usually busy multiple nights per week with events from Bible studies to family suppers. First Baptist Quitman collects donated items to fill shoeboxes for Samaritan’s Purse, a charity that helps people around the world experiencing poverty. The church accepts items throughout the year, from gloves and hats in January to school supplies in July.
Highway connections to Valdosta, Macon
U.S. Route 221 connects Quitman to Valdosta, about 15 miles east. In Valdosta, drivers can get on Interstate 75, which stretches across Georgia and extends into Florida. The Southern Georgia Regional Commission runs a shuttle service that Quitman residents can use to book rides. Valdosta Regional Airport offers daily commercial flights to Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, and Tallahassee International is about 70 miles away.
Written By
Alex Soderstrom
