Jefferson County, Florida

Jefferson County is a county located in the Big Bend region in the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,761.[1] Its county seat is Monticello.[2]

Jefferson County
U.S. county
Jefferson County Courthouse in Monticello
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°25′N 83°54′W
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedJanuary 20, 1827
Named forThomas Jefferson
SeatMonticello
Largest cityMonticello
Area
 • Total637 sq mi (1,650 km2)
 • Land598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water38 sq mi (100 km2)  6.0%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
14,246
 • Density23.6/sq mi (9.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts2nd, 5th
Websitewww.jeffersoncountyfl.gov

Jefferson County is part of the Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Jefferson County was created in 1827. It was named for Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, who had died the year before the county's establishment.[3]

Forts of Jefferson County
  • Fort Roger Jones (1839), Aucilla (Ocilla Ferry), north of US 90.[4]
  • Fort Noel (1839–1842), south of Lamont on the Aucilla River, six miles (10 km) northwest of Fort Pleasant in Taylor County. Also known as Fort Number Three (M).
  • Camp Carter (1838), near Waukeenah.
  • Fort Welaunee (1838), a settlers' fort on the Welaunee Plantation near Wacissa. Fort Gamble (1839–1843) was later established here.
  • Fort Aucilla (1843), two miles (3 km) south-east of Fort Gamble, southwest of Lamont, between the Aucilla and Wacissa Rivers. Also spelled Ocilla.
  • Fort Wacissa (1838), a settlers' fort located south of Wacissa on the Wacissa River, west of Cabbage Grove.

Geography
Entering Jefferson County on US 19 from Thomas County, Georgia

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 637 square miles (1,650 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 38 square miles (98 km2) (6.0%) is water.[5]

Jefferson County is the only county in Florida which borders both the state of Georgia and the Gulf of Mexico.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Water Bodies

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18303,312—
18405,71372.5%
18507,71835.1%
18609,87628.0%
187013,39835.7%
188016,06519.9%
189015,757−1.9%
190016,1952.8%
191017,2106.3%
192014,502−15.7%
193013,408−7.5%
194012,032−10.3%
195010,413−13.5%
19609,543−8.4%
19708,778−8.0%
198010,70321.9%
199011,2965.5%
200012,90214.2%
201014,76114.4%
Est. 201914,246[6]−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2019[1]

As of the census[11] of 2010, there were 14,761 people, 5,646 households, and 3,798 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 5,251 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% White, 36.2% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races, and 1.30% from two or more races. 3.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,646 households out of which 26.9% had individuals under the age of 18 living with them, 47.30% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out with 18.6% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 32.30% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.00 males age 18 and over.

The following income information is from the 2000 census. The median income for a household in the county was $32,998, and the median income for a family was $40,407. Males had a median income of $26,271 versus $25,748 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,006. About 13.30% of families and 17.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.70% of those under age 18 and 17.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Jefferson County is one of only a handful of counties in the Florida Panhandle that usually favors the Democratic Party. In 2016 it flipped and Donald Trump won the county. In 2018, it voted for both the Republican candidates in the governor's race (Ron DeSantis) and the Senate race (Rick Scott).[12]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Other
2016 51.11% 3,930 46.05% 3,541 2.84% 218
2012 48.70% 3,808 50.45% 3,945 0.86% 67
2008 47.59% 3,797 51.24% 4,088 1.17% 93
2004 44.10% 3,298 55.30% 4,135 0.60% 45
2000 43.91% 2,478 53.89% 3,041 2.20% 124
1996 38.49% 1,851 52.90% 2,544 8.61% 414
1992 32.19% 1,506 48.55% 2,271 19.26% 901
1988 52.89% 2,326 46.73% 2,055 0.39% 17
1984 52.16% 2,244 47.81% 2,057 0.02% 1
1980 39.19% 1,623 57.16% 2,367 3.65% 151
1976 36.30% 1,361 61.62% 2,310 2.08% 78
1972 66.04% 2,108 32.86% 1,049 1.10% 35
1968 14.84% 459 34.48% 1,066 50.68% 1,567
1964 52.82% 1,684 47.18% 1,504
1960 34.70% 600 65.30% 1,129
1956 31.02% 540 68.98% 1,201
1952 36.22% 665 63.78% 1,171
1948 11.56% 153 52.91% 700 35.53% 470
1944 14.93% 188 85.07% 1,071
1940 13.21% 215 86.79% 1,412
1936 9.27% 127 90.73% 1,243
1932 5.40% 81 94.60% 1,418
1928 20.22% 235 79.09% 919 0.69% 8
1924 9.69% 66 83.11% 566 7.19% 49
1920 22.85% 239 72.08% 754 5.07% 53
1916 13.70% 104 85.11% 646 1.19% 9
1912 8.45% 47 82.55% 459 8.99% 50
1908 18.81% 149 71.34% 565 9.85% 78
1904 20.20% 123 77.34% 471 2.46% 15

Education
Jefferson County High School

On April 23, 2009, the Florida Department of Education took over financial oversight of the district to rescue it from a declared financial emergency due to budget deficits.[14][15] In June 2011, the district exited financial emergency one year sooner than expected due to efforts from District faculty and staff; subsequently, it operated for two years with a fund balance well over the mandated 3%.

Career Academies have been introduced on the campus of Jefferson County Middle High School offering students options in career areas connected to the local economy.

The Jefferson County Tigers won the state championship in football in 2011.

Library

Jefferson County's library is the R.J. Bailar Public Library, which works with the Wilderness Coast Public Libraries.

Transportation

Railroads

The sole existing railroad line is a CSX line once owned by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad that was used by Amtrak's Sunset Limited until 2005, when the service was truncated to New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina. No Amtrak trains stopped anywhere in Jefferson County.

Major highways
See also: List of county roads in Jefferson County, Florida
  • Interstate 10 is the main west-to-east interstate highway in the county, and serves as the unofficial dividing line between northern and southern Jefferson County. It contains three interchanges within the county; the first being SR 59 in Lloyd (Exit 217), the second at US 19 in Drifton (Exit 225), and the third south of Aucilla at CR 257 (Exit 233). Beyond this point I-10 runs through Madison County.
  • US 19 is the westernmost north-south US highway in the county. It enters from southwestern Madison County as the Georgia-Florida Parkway in a concurrency with US 27, then breaks away from US 27 in Capps to run straight north through Monticello where it encounters a traffic circle with US 90 around the historic Monticello Courthouse. North of the city it runs through the State of Georgia.
  • US 27 is another north-south US highway in the county. It enters from Madison County in a concurrency with US 19, but unlike US 19 breaks away at Capps and runs west toward Tallahassee
  • SR 59 is the westernmost north-south highway in Jefferson County and is the only roadway connection between U.S. 90 (at its intersection in Leon County) to the southernmost east-west route through Jefferson County, U.S. Route 98.
  • US 90 was the main west-to-east highway in the county, until it was surpassed by I-10. It enters the county from Leon County twice, the second time from a causeway over the southern end of Lake Miccosukee, and eventually enters Monticello in a traffic circle with US 19. East of the city, it curves southeast through rural Jefferson County, then passes north of Aucilla before crossing the Madison County Line at a bridge over the Aucilla River.
  • US 98 is the southernmost east-west route running through the Conservation Areas of the Gulf of Mexico from Wakulla to Taylor Counties. The sole major intersection is with SR 59.
  • US 221 is the easternmost US highway in the county, running south and north through the northeastern portion of Jefferson County, including Ashville before crossing the Georgia State Line.
  • CR 259

Communities
Old Lloyd Railroad Depot, now the area's post office

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities
  • Alma
  • Ashville
  • Capps
  • Casa Blanco
  • Cody
  • Dills
  • Drifton
  • Fanlew
  • Festus
  • Fincher
  • Jarrott
  • Limestone
  • Lois
  • Montivilla
  • Nash
  • Thomas City

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 32.
  4. "IRC Library:Fort Roger Jones". Archived from the original on 2013-03-16. Retrieved 2008-08-01.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. Journal, Pensacola News. "Florida and Jefferson County Election Results: General". Pensacola News Journal. Retrieved 2019-06-19.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  14. "State to take over Jefferson County School District's weak finances". Tallahassee Democrat.
  15. "Parents and teachers react to Jefferson County Schools' dire finances". Tallahassee Democrat.

Constitutional Offices

Jefferson County Schools

Judicial Branch

Special Districts

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