Gadsden County, Florida

Infobox U.S. County
county = Gadsden County
state = Florida




founded = 24 June 1832
seat = Quincy | area_total_sq_mi =528
area_water_sq_mi =12
area percentage = 2.34%
census yr = 2000
pop = 45087
density_km2 =34
web = www.gadsdengov.net
|

Gadsden County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, the population was 45,087. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 46,428 [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls] . Its county seat is Quincy, FloridaGR|6. Gadsden County is the only predominantly African-American county in Florida. Gadsden county is home to two high schools - West Gadsden High School in Quincy and East Gadsden High School in Havana.

The county is part of the Tallahassee, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Gadsden County was created in 1823. It was named for James Gadsden of South Carolina, who served as Andrew Jackson's aide-de-camp in Florida in 1818.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 528 square miles (1,369 km²), of which, 516 square miles (1,337 km²) of it is land and 12 square miles (32 km²) of it (2.34%) is water.

Gadsden County is part of the Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Adjacent counties

*Decatur County, Georgia - north
*Seminole County, Georgia - north
*Grady County, Georgia - northeast
*Leon County, Florida - east
*Liberty County, Florida - southwest
*Calhoun County, Florida - southwest
*Jackson County, Florida - northwest

Education

Gadsden County, though below the Florida average, has an educational attainment that surpasses two of its neighbors Liberty County with a total of 25.2% and Calhoun County with a total of 30.6%. "(U.S. Census)".

Politics

Gadsden County is known as an unusual stronghold of the Democratic Party in north Florida, a result of the county's racial make-up (it is over 50% African American). Gadsden shares this distinction with Leon County and Jefferson County to its east. All of northern Florida leans toward the Republican Party with the exception of these three counties.(see Red states and blue states for map).

Demographics

Gadsden County is unique in Florida, in that it is the state's only county with an African American majority population. As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 45,087 people, 15,867 households, and 11,424 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile (34/km²). There were 17,703 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 38.70% White, 57.14% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.76% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 6.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,867 households out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.50% were married couples living together, 22.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.40% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 90.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,248, and the median income for a family was $36,238. Males had a median income of $27,159 versus $21,721 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,499. About 16.40% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.50% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

* City of Chattahoochee
* Town of Greensboro
* City of Gretna
* Town of Havana
* City of Midway
* City of Quincy

References

* "Gadsden: a Florida County in Word and Picture", by Miles Kenan Womack, Jr.

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

* [http://www.gadsdengov.net/ Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners]
* [http://www.election.dos.state.fl.us/county/gadsden.shtml/ Gadsden County Supervisor of Elections]
* [http://www.qpublic.net/gadsden/ Gadsden County Property Appraiser]
* [http://www.gadsdensheriff.org/ Gadsden County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.gadsdentaxcollector.com/ Gadsden County Tax Collector]

pecial districts

* [http://www.gcps.k12.fl.us/ Gadsden County Schools]
* [http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/nwfwmd/ Northwest Florida Water Management District]

Judicial branch

* [http://www.clerk.co.gadsden.fl.us/ Gadsden County Clerk of Courts]
* [http://www.co.leon.fl.us/PD/index.asp Public Defender, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida] serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties
* [http://www.sao2fl.org/ Office of the State Attorney, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida]
* [http://www.2ndcircuit.leon.fl.us/ Circuit and County Court for the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida]

Tourism links

* [http://www.gadsdencc.com/ Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.OriginalFlorida.org/ The Original Florida Tourism Task Force]
* [http://www.visitgadsden.com/ Official Gadsden County Tourism website]