Vidalia onions are iconically sweet and sold by the millions annually, and in Vidalia, Georgia, they're homegrown. The onions earn their name from Vidalia, the "sweet onion city," where they're cultivated, distributed and widely celebrated.
Vidalia's 10,000 residents come to life during harvest with the Vidalia Onion Festival, which draws folks in from across the state. "Basically, the whole town volunteers," says Realtor Arlene Davis of ERA Southeast Coastal Real Estate. "We have an onion committee that cooks our onion rings. You could not do it without the people here." That's what Davis likes best about Vidalia, the community. "It's a very small town atmosphere with great people. I moved here 34 years ago for my husband's job, and I told him I would stay a year, and here we still are."
Agriculture is the biggest industry in Toombs County, which ranks fourth in the state for vegetable production. Toombs is one of only 20 counties that can call their onions Vidalias, according to the Georgia legislature. The state's first nuclear power plant, about 20 miles south, is another major employer.
Onion art can be seen throughout Vidalia.
Local farmers grow the famous Vidalia Onion.
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April's iconic Vidalia Onion Festival in historic downtown
Downtown is the sweet onion city's beating heart. Its walkable streets, lined with locally owned boutiques and restaurants, helped earn Vidalia its National Main Street City designation in 2003. It's also the center of Vidalia's biggest event, the Vidalia Onion Festival. "We start digging up our onions by hand in April every year, and that's when we have the festival," Davis says. "We get some big-name talent to perform every year, crown our onion queen and have car shows. It's a big deal; we have people come from all over." Davis recalls some of her favorite festival traditions. "I love the Blue Angels that fly by, and of course, the onion rings are really good."
After farmers gather onions for the year, they sell them in grocery stores and small markets along Highway 280. "You'll also see people setting up booths along the main road and selling onions there," Davis says.
Local busineses along US 280 sell locally made produce.
The Vidalia Onion is a one of a kind and is grown right here in town.
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Historic homes downtown and expansive properties on the outskirts
The median home price is around $222,000, significantly under the national median. The market mainly consists of single-family homes. Early 20th-century cottages and bungalows are clustered downtown, and ranch-style homes started to fill the gaps from the mid to late 20th century. Subdivisions, like Pinewood Place and Rocky Creek, began to pop up on the city's outskirts toward the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Hundreds of properties across the city have at least five acres.
Some homes in Vidalia boast a deep front porch.
Many homes in Vidalia are renovated bungalows.
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Discovering the story of the sweet onion
The Vidalia Onion Museum tells the story of the sweet onion through educational exhibits and the smallest registered Vidalia onion field. The Vidalia mascot, Yumion, occasionally pops into the museum to greet the kids passing through. The Altama Museum of Art and History is an epicenter of regional art, hosting classes and artist markets. The PAL Theater, a community staple since 1927, has movie screenings and stage theater productions that draw audiences across Toombs County.
Learn about Vidalia's history at the Onion Museum.
The Pal Theater is located in Downtown Vidalia.
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Vidalia Heritage Academy earns high remarks on Niche
The Vidalia City School District scores an overall B-plus on Niche and serves over 2,300 students. The district operates four schools, including Vidalia High School. Private, faith-based options include Vidalia Heritage Academy, which scores an A-minus on Niche. Southeastern Technical College has a campus in Vidalia and offers associate degrees, technical certificates and customized training.
The Vidalia Heritage Academy is located in downtown.
Southwestern Technical College is located on the outskirts of Vidalia.
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Tournaments at Ed Smith Complex and splashes in the Altamaha River
Several neighborhood parks with playscapes and pavilions pepper the greater downtown area. The Vidalia Recreation Department operates the Ed Smith Complex, the city's hub of recreational athletics, in the east end. It's particularly popular for baseball and softball, home to five lit fields and several batting cages. The Vidalia Aquatic Center provides a pool, and the Altamaha River, "Georgia's Mightiest River," runs south of the city. "A lot of people like to go kayaking on the river," Davis says.
Students play sports at the Ed Smith Complex in Vidalia.
Neighborhood parks in Vidalia boast playgrounds.
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Hopping on Highway 280
U.S. Route 280 bisects Vidalia, connecting the city with Lyons to the east and Mount Vernon to the west. U.S. Route 1 is accessible in Lyons, about 6 miles away, and meets Interstate 16 when heading north. Memorial Health Meadows Hospital is east of downtown. The Vidalia Regional Airport doesn't offer commercial flights, so residents typically head to Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport, about 85 miles east.
Vidalia after Hurricane Helene
Hurricanes and severe storms rarely impact Vidalia, but Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage in 2024. "Everyone really pulled together after Helene came through," Davis says. "When the electric companies brought in their linemen, everyone lined the streets and clapped, and we had a big dinner for them. There was a high amount of volunteerism from churches and the people." Summers are hot in Vidalia, and winters are mild; temperatures often exceed 90 degrees from June through August.
Crime statistics are not readily available for Vidalia.
Jimmy Shanken, CCIM, CIPS, RSPS, Associate Broker, Realtor®
I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. After working in the restaurant business for many years, I joined the U.S. Army, serving 8 years. I earned numerous awards but am most proud of being a member of the Sgt. Morales Club in Germany and a member of the first class of the Audie Murphy Club on Fort Stewart. These distinctions are only awarded to the top Non-Commissioned Officers in the Army. I deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990 and served in Desert Shield then moved into Iraq for Desert Storm.
I arrived at Fort Stewart in October of 1994 and purchased my first home in Long County. Upon ending my Army career, I started Allenhurst Fence in 1996 which I sold to Nations Fence in 2000.
I have served as a REALTOR in the Hinesville/Fort Stewart area since 2002. As a combat veteran with a family, I have a personal understanding of the hardships that go along with deployments and changes of station. I strive to serve my clients and customers with integrity and proficiency just as I did as a squad leader. Currently I am a 32° Master Mason and a Shriner as well as being a member of the Rotary Club in Hinesville. I pride myself in doing more before 9 am than most people do all day. Give me a call today and you will be Thanken Shanken tomorrow!
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