Columbia County, Florida

Columbia County, Florida
Location in the state of Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Founded	February 4, 1832
Seat	Lake City
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	801.04 sq mi (2,075 km²) 797.05 sq mi (2,064 km²) 3.99 sq mi (10 km²), 0.50%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	67,531 85/sq mi (32.71/km²)
Website	www.columbiacountyfla.com

Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 56,513. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 64,040 [1]. Its county seat is Lake City, Florida^[1].

The Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Columbia County.

History

Columbia County was created in 1832. For the origin of its name, see Columbia.

In 1958, the Columbia Amateur Radio Society was formed. This was a group of amateur radio operators that enjoyed the ability to communicate all over the world. This radio club still exists today.^[2]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1840	2,102		—
1850	4,808		128.7%
1860	4,646		−3.4%
1870	7,335		57.9%
1880	9,589		30.7%
1890	12,877		34.3%
1900	17,094		32.7%
1910	17,689		3.5%
1920	14,290		−19.2%
1930	14,638		2.4%
1940	16,859		15.2%
1950	18,216		8.0%
1960	20,077		10.2%
1970	25,250		25.8%
1980	35,399		40.2%
1990	42,613		20.4%
2000	56,513		32.6%
2010	67,531		19.5%
[3][4][5]

As of the census^[6] of 2000, there were 56,513 people, 20,925 households, and 14,919 families residing in the county. The population density was 71 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 23,579 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.72% White, 17.03% Black or African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 2.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 20,925 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.70% were married couples living together, 12.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 23.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,881, and the median income for a family was $35,927. Males had a median income of $27,353 versus $21,738 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,598. About 11.40% of families and 15.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.10% of those under age 18 and 13.60% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 801.04 square miles (2,074.7 km²), of which 797.05 square miles (2,064.4 km²) (or 99.50%) is land and 3.99 square miles (10.3 km²) (or 0.50%) is water.^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Echols County, Georgia - north
• Clinch County, Georgia - northeast
• Baker County - east
• Union County - southeast
• Alachua County - south
• Gilchrist County - southwest
• Suwannee County - west
• Hamilton County - northwest

See also: List of counties bordering eight or more counties

National protected area

• Osceola National Forest (part)

Cities and towns

Incorporated

• Town of Fort White
• City of Lake City

Unincorporated

• Five Points
• Watertown
• Lulu
• Columbia City

Politics

Columbia County is one of several North Florida counties that vote more "southern" than the rest of the state, which means the county tends to vote Republican in presidential elections, but can support Democrats for state and local offices if they are conservative.^[8]

Presidential elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Other
2008	66.1%	32.5%	1.4%
2004	67.1%	32.1%	0.8%
2000	59.2%	38.1%	2.7%
1996	46.5%	41.0%	12.5%
1992	43.4%	37.0%	23.0%
1988	65.1%	34.2%	0.7%

Education

The former Columbia County High School serves as the district headquarters

The Columbia County School District operates public schools.

See also

Florida portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Columbia County, Florida

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ In 1958, the Columbia Amateur Radio Society was formed.
3. ^ http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/cencounts/files/fl190090.txt
4. ^ http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_PL_QTPL&prodType=table
5. ^ http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/
6. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
7. ^ "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. http://www.census.gov/tiger/tms/gazetteer/county2k.txt. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
8. ^ Columbia County, Florida Supervisor of Elections website: 2008 Election Results

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

• Columbia County Government / Board of County Commissioners
• Columbia County Supervisor of Elections
• Columbia County Property Appraiser
• Columbia County Tax Collector
• Columbia County Sheriff's Office
• Columbia County Tourism

Special districts

• Columbia County Public Schools
• Suwannee River Florida Water Management District
• Columbia Amateur Radio Society since 1958

Judicial branch

Columbia County Courthouse in Lake City

• Columbia County Clerk of Courts
• Public Defender, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties
• Office of the State Attorney, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida
• Circuit and County Court, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida

Tourism links

• Lake City Weather dot Com Get LIVE Weather Reports here.
• Columbia County Tourism Development Council
• Suwannee Online

Coordinates: 30°14′N 82°38′W / 30.23°N 82.63°W / 30.23; -82.63