The city was named after Gen. William Moultrie,[8] the Revolutionary War hero after whom Fort Moultrie was named following the successful defense of Charleston, South Carolina, against the British under Peter Parker, an anniversary subsequently celebrated as Carolina Day.

The Boston & Albany line, which later became the Georgia Northern Railway, was the first through town, bringing with it growth and prosperity for the county.

Practically every train brought new residents interested in supplying naval stores or working in the sawmills.

Land was cleared and development companies began dividing the forested area into farm tracts.

The city is located between Albany to the northwest, Tifton to the northeast, Thomasville to the southwest, and Valdosta to the southeast.

[27] Industry in the Moultrie area grew considerably when Sanderson Farms opened a processing plant in 2006 that now employs over 1,000 workers, over 10 percent of the local workforce.

[citation needed] The manufacturer of light, single-engined STOL aircraft, the Maule Air, is also located in Moultrie.