Gilchrist County, Florida

Gilchrist County
County
Gilchrist County Courthouse
Gilchrist County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Gilchrist County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°44′N 82°48′W / 29.73°N 82.8°W / 29.73; -82.8
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedDecember 4, 1925
Named forAlbert W. Gilchrist
SeatTrenton
Largest cityTrenton
Area
 • Total
355 sq mi (920 km2)
 • Land350 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Water5.6 sq mi (15 km2)  1.6%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2020)
17,864
 • Density48/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitegilchrist.fl.us
Gilchrist County Courthouse, in Trenton

Gilchrist County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Florida. Organized in 1925 from the western part of Alachua, it is the last county to be formed in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,864.[1] The county seat is Trenton.[2]

Gilchrist County is included in the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Gilchrist County was created in 1925, the last county organized in Florida. It was originally set to be named Melon County due to watermelons being one of the main exports from the area; however, the death of Albert W. Gilchrist, Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913, prompted its renaming to Gilchrist County instead.

It was formed by residents of what was then western Alachua County, as they believed they were not getting adequate representation on the county commission. With the poor roads of the time, they felt it took too long to get to the county seat of Gainesville. They disagreed about a proposed law that would require fencing in cattle in the rural area. They also believed that they would be better off by getting their own share of racetrack revenues, which the state distributed by county.[3]

Much of the county was farmland and timberland when formed, and it is largely rural. Several natural springs are adjacent to the Santa Fe River, including Ginnie Springs, Hart Springs, and Gilchrist Blue Springs, the last of which became a Florida state park in 2017.[3]

Historic buildings

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Historic buildings in Gilchrist County include:

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 355 square miles (920 km2), of which 350 square miles (910 km2) is land and 5.6 square miles (15 km2) (1.6%) is water.[6] It is the fifth-smallest county in Florida by land area and fourth-smallest by total area.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19304,137—
19404,2502.7%
19503,499−17.7%
19602,868−18.0%
19703,55123.8%
19805,76762.4%
19909,66767.6%
200014,43749.3%
201016,93917.3%
202017,8645.5%
2023 (est.)19,587[7]9.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[1]
Gilchrist County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 14,882 14,827 87.86% 83.0%
Black or African American (NH) 884 788 5.22% 4.41%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 63 62 0.37% 0.35%
Asian (NH) 59 56 0.35% 0.31%
Pacific Islander (NH) 1 2 0.01% 0.01%
Some Other Race (NH) 12 45 0.07% 0.25%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 193 736 1.14% 4.12%
Hispanic or Latino 845 1,348 4.99% 7.55%
Total 16,939 17,864

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 17,864 people, 6,701 households, and 4,463 families residing in the county.

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 14,437 people, 5,021 households, and 3,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 inhabitants per square mile (16/km2). There were 5,906 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.52% White, 7.00% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. 2.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In terms of ancestry, 16.9% were English, 13.9% were Irish, 13.7% were American, and 11.4% were German.

There were 5,021 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 14.20% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,328, and the median income for a family was $34,485. Males had a median income of $27,359 versus $21,946 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,985. About 10.90% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

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The Trenton State Farmer's Market is located on State Road 47, north of Trenton.[17]

Politics

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Voter registration

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According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans maintain a majority of registered voters in Gilchrist County.

Gilchrist County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024[18]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Republican 8,936 67.85%
Democratic 2,019 15.33%
other party affiliation 344 2.61%
no party affiliation 1,871 14.21%
Total 13,170 100.00%

Statewide elections

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United States presidential election results for Gilchrist County, Florida[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 8,931 83.27% 1,662 15.50% 132 1.23%
2020 7,895 81.37% 1,700 17.52% 107 1.10%
2016 6,740 79.56% 1,458 17.21% 274 3.23%
2012 5,917 74.55% 1,885 23.75% 135 1.70%
2008 5,656 72.34% 1,996 25.53% 167 2.14%
2004 4,936 70.36% 2,017 28.75% 62 0.88%
2000 3,300 61.17% 1,910 35.40% 185 3.43%
1996 1,939 40.44% 1,985 41.40% 871 18.16%
1992 1,395 34.73% 1,511 37.62% 1,111 27.66%
1988 1,855 61.59% 1,137 37.75% 20 0.66%
1984 2,056 66.15% 1,051 33.82% 1 0.03%
1980 1,093 39.13% 1,627 58.25% 73 2.61%
1976 528 22.43% 1,807 76.76% 19 0.81%
1972 1,306 83.45% 247 15.78% 12 0.77%
1968 183 12.12% 208 13.77% 1,119 74.11%
1964 540 43.17% 711 56.83% 0 0.00%
1960 277 24.93% 834 75.07% 0 0.00%
1956 137 12.90% 925 87.10% 0 0.00%
1952 195 16.43% 992 83.57% 0 0.00%
1948 46 4.34% 884 83.32% 131 12.35%
1944 81 8.59% 862 91.41% 0 0.00%
1940 88 8.01% 1,011 91.99% 0 0.00%
1936 56 6.28% 836 93.72% 0 0.00%
1932 57 6.54% 814 93.46% 0 0.00%
1928 125 22.73% 392 71.27% 33 6.00%
Gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2022 86.50% 6,806 12.92% 1,017 0.58% 45
2018 81.12% 5,975 17.40% 1,282 1.48% 109
2014 69.24% 4,129 24.90% 1,485 5.86% 349
2010 61.71% 3,321 33.39% 1,797 4.90% 264
2006 59.59% 3,160 35.94% 1,906 4.47% 237
2002 60.34% 3,060 38.06% 1,930 1.60% 81
1998 59.83% 2,097 40.17% 1,408
1994 53.05% 1,922 46.95% 1,701

Library

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

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Transportation

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Major highways

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

Notable people

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ 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.[12][13]

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Gilchrist County, Florida", EReference Desk, 2004-2018
  4. ^ "Historic Florida jail for sale – and it might be haunted". Memphis, Tennessee: Fox 13 News. April 18, 2021. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021.
  5. ^ Mavrakis, Emily (April 17, 2021). "For sale: Gilchrist County Jail … and its ghostly inhabitants". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  12. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  13. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  15. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ^ "Trenton State Farmer's Market" Archived December 31, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
  18. ^ "Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
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Government links/Constitutional offices

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Special districts

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Judicial branch

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Museum and Library Resources

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gilchrist County, Florida.

29°44′N 82°48′W / 29.73°N 82.80°W / 29.73; -82.80

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