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Taylor County, Florida

Coordinates: 30°01′N 83°37′W / 30.02°N 83.62°W / 30.02; -83.62
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Taylor County
County
Taylor County Courthouse
Taylor County Courthouse
Official seal of Taylor County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Taylor County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°01′N 83°37′W / 30.02°N 83.62°W / 30.02; -83.62
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedDecember 23, 1856
Named forZachary Taylor
SeatPerry
Largest cityPerry
Area
 • Total
1,232 sq mi (3,190 km2)
 • Land1,043 sq mi (2,700 km2)
 • Water189 sq mi (490 km2)  15.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,796
 • Estimate 
(2023)
21,582 Decrease
 • Density18/sq mi (6.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.taylorcountygov.com

Taylor County is a county located in the Big Bend region in the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,796.[1] Its county seat is Perry.[2] The county hosts the annual Florida Forest Festival and has been long known as the "Tree Capital of the South" since a 1965 designation from then-Governor W. Haydon Burns.[3]

History

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Taylor County was created on December 23, 1856, from Madison County on the same day as Lafayette County was also split off from Madison County. It was named for Zachary Taylor, twelfth president of the United States, who served from 1849 to 1850. Taylor won most counties in northern Florida during the election of 1848 and was largely responsible for the ultimate U.S. victory in the Second Seminole War.[4]

During the American Civil War, Taylor County was home to William Strickland and his band of deserters and Unionists called "The Royal Rangers" or the "Independent Rangers".[5] In 1864, a Confederate colonel tasked with hunting down deserters, broke into Strickland's home and found a membership list of 35 men who "bear true allegiance to the United States of America." Despite their names being identified and homes burned to the ground, few members of the Rangers surrendered.[6]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,232 square miles (3,190 km2), of which 1,043 square miles (2,700 km2) is land and 189 square miles (490 km2) (15.3%) is water.[7]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,384—
18701,4535.0%
18802,27956.8%
18902,122−6.9%
19003,99988.5%
19107,10377.6%
192011,21957.9%
193013,13617.1%
194011,565−12.0%
195010,416−9.9%
196013,16826.4%
197013,6413.6%
198016,53221.2%
199017,1113.5%
200019,25612.5%
201022,57017.2%
202021,796−3.4%
2023 (est.)21,582[8]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[13]

2020 census

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Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Taylor County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[14][15]
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 16,483 15,629 73.03% 71.71%
Black or African American (NH) 4,629 4,196 20.51% 19.25%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 171 102 0.76% 0.47%
Asian (NH) 149 224 0.66% 1.03%
Pacific Islander (NH) 5 0 0.02% 0.0%
Some Other Race (NH) 15 45 0.07% 0.21%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 341 734 1.51% 3.37%
Hispanic or Latino 777 866 3.44% 3.97%
Total 22,570 21,796

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,796 people, 7,405 households, and 5,197 families residing in the county.

2000 census

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As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 19,256 people, 7,176 households, and 5,130 families residing in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 9,646 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.84% White, 19.04% Black or African American, 0.98% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,176 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.50% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 24.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,032, and the median income for a family was $35,061. Males had a median income of $27,967 versus $19,054 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,281. About 14.50% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.

In March 2016, the county's unemployment rate was 5.6%.

Education

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Students are served by the Taylor County School System. For the 2006 - 2007 school year the Florida Department of Education gave the District a "B" grade with three of its schools earning an "A" and one school earning a "B" grade.[17]

Taylor County High School also has an Army JROTC unit which has been an Honor Unit with Distinction for 27 consecutive years.[18]

Library

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The Taylor County Public Library is part of the Three Rivers Library System, which also serves Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Dixie counties.[19]

Communities

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Town

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Politics

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Taylor County was a Democratic-leaning county until 1964, when Republican Barry Goldwater carried it. Democrats only carried the county three times since then, with the last being in 1996.

United States presidential election results for Taylor County, Florida[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 7,954 79.37% 1,991 19.87% 77 0.77%
2020 7,751 76.45% 2,299 22.68% 88 0.87%
2016 6,930 74.13% 2,152 23.02% 266 2.85%
2012 6,249 68.37% 2,764 30.24% 127 1.39%
2008 6,457 68.79% 2,803 29.86% 127 1.35%
2004 5,467 63.71% 3,049 35.53% 65 0.76%
2000 4,058 59.59% 2,649 38.90% 103 1.51%
1996 3,188 39.86% 3,583 44.80% 1,226 15.33%
1992 2,693 37.34% 2,568 35.60% 1,952 27.06%
1988 4,057 69.06% 1,763 30.01% 55 0.94%
1984 4,038 69.98% 1,732 30.02% 0 0.00%
1980 2,776 47.31% 2,963 50.49% 129 2.20%
1976 1,983 36.68% 3,370 62.34% 53 0.98%
1972 4,109 84.50% 754 15.50% 0 0.00%
1968 794 15.71% 941 18.62% 3,318 65.66%
1964 2,661 60.91% 1,708 39.09% 0 0.00%
1960 1,212 38.85% 1,908 61.15% 0 0.00%
1956 776 28.52% 1,945 71.48% 0 0.00%
1952 744 29.40% 1,787 70.60% 0 0.00%
1948 216 10.81% 1,354 67.73% 429 21.46%
1944 165 8.28% 1,828 91.72% 0 0.00%
1940 198 7.34% 2,499 92.66% 0 0.00%
1936 127 6.27% 1,897 93.73% 0 0.00%
1932 130 8.24% 1,447 91.76% 0 0.00%
1928 465 38.05% 739 60.47% 18 1.47%
1924 100 16.45% 476 78.29% 32 5.26%
1920 128 17.73% 563 77.98% 31 4.29%
1916 51 8.36% 547 89.67% 12 1.97%
1912 56 15.43% 236 65.01% 71 19.56%
1908 160 31.13% 250 48.64% 104 20.23%
1904 119 37.54% 168 53.00% 30 9.46%

Transportation

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Airports

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Major highways

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See also: List of county roads in Taylor County, Florida


See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Taylor County, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 25, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Viola, Mark (October 19, 2015). "Tree Capital of the South". Perry Newspapers. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  4. ^ Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 34.
  5. ^ Cash, W.T. (July 1948). "Taylor County History and Civil War Deserters". The Florida Historical Quarterly. 27 (1): 50. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  6. ^ Beals, Carleton (1965). War Within a War; the Confederacy Against Itself (1st ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Chilton Books. pp. 69–70.
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  13. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ District, Taylor County School. "Taylor County School District". www.taylor.k12.fl.us. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  18. ^ "Taylor County High School Band | the Pride of Taylor County". Archived from the original on January 1, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
  19. ^ "Three Rivers Regional Library System » Serving Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, & Taylor counties". 3riverslibrary.com. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Taylor County, Florida.

Government links/Constitutional offices

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Special districts

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Judicial branch

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30°01′N 83°37′W / 30.02°N 83.62°W / 30.02; -83.62

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