Dixie County, Florida

History

Dixie County was created in 1921 from the southern portion of Lafayette County and named for "Dixie", the common nickname for the southern United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 864 sqmi, of which 705 sqmi is land and 159 sqmi (18.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Taylor County – northwest
• Lafayette County – north
• Gilchrist County – east
• Levy County – southeast

National protected area

• Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2015 2019

Non-Hispanic White

2020 Census

The 2020 United States census counted 16,759 people, 6,248 households, and 3,905 families in Dixie County, Florida. The racial makeup was 83.88% (14,057) white or European American (82.05% non-Hispanic white), 9.37% (1,571) black or African-American, 0.36% (61) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.38% (64) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.28% (214) from other races, and 4.7% (788) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 4.11% (688) of the population.

Of the 6,248 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18; 43.3% were married couples living together; 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.9% of households consisted of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 7.2% of the population.

18.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 77.3 males.

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $41,674 (with a margin of error of +/- $1,917). The median family income was $47,188 (+/- $8,669). Males had a median income of $32,985 (+/- $2,117) versus $21,214 (+/- $3,480) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $27,358 (+/- $5,285). Approximately, 11.9% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those ages 65 or over.

2000 Census

In 2000 there were an estimated 5,205 households and 3,659 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 /mi2. There were 7,362 housing units at an average density of 10 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 88.80% White, 8.98% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were English, 15.2% were Irish, 14.7% were American, and 5.2% were German.

There were 5,205 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 113.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,082, and the median income for a family was $31,157. Males had a median income of $26,694 versus $17,863 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,559. About 14.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans constitute the majority of registered voters in Dixie County.

Statewide elections

Republicans hold the majority of registered voters in the county. Democrats have not carried a majority of votes in a presidential election since 1980 (and last carried a plurality in 1996), nor have they carried a majority in a gubernatorial election since 1994. The county has rapidly and steadily shifted Republican since the 1990s; by 2016, the Republican candidate earned over 80% of the vote in the presidential election. In 2020, the Republican nominee gained over 82% of the vote.

Points of interest

• City of Hawkinsville – sunken steamboat in the Suwannee River near Old Town, one of the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves.
• Old Town Elementary School, now the Dixie County Cultural Center.
• Old Town Methodist Church built in 1890 located behind the 1983 church building.
• Putnam Lodge in Cross City, Florida built by the Putnam Lumber Company for its nearby lumber town of Shamrock

Library

The Dixie County Library is part of the Three Rivers Regional Library System, which also serves Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Taylor counties. It is located at 16328 SE 19th Highway in Cross City, Florida. The branch is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. The current library director is Cindy Bellot.

Communities

Towns

• Cross City
• Horseshoe Beach

Unincorporated communities

• Clara (partly in Taylor County)
• Eugene
• Hines
• Jena
• Jonesboro
• Old Town
• Shamrock
• Shired Island
• Suwannee
• Yellow Jacket

Transportation

Airports

• Dixie County Airport

Major highways

• , are the main US highways throughout Dixie County, running southeast to northwest from the bridge over the Suwannee River at the Levy-Gilchrist county line to the bridge over the Steinhatchee River at the Taylor County line. US Routes 98 and 27 Alternate overlap US 19 throughout the county.
• passes through a short sliver of Dixie County in western Taylor County between Taylor and Lafayette Counties, but has no major intersections.
• runs south to north from US 19-98-Alt. 27 in Old Town along the eastern end of the county, eventually crossing the border into Lafayette County. A county extension runs south toward Yellow Jacket and Suwannee.

Notes

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. Mayo, Nathan. (1925). "The Fifth Census of the State of Florida". Florida Department of Agriculture.
4. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
9. "QuickFacts. Florida counties".
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
11. (1980). "1980 U.S. Census - General Population Characteristics - Table 16 Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980".
12. (1980). "1990 U.S. Census - Social and Economic Characteristics - Table 6. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990".
13. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Dixie County, Florida".
14. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dixie County, Florida".
15. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Dixie County, Florida".
16. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
17. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
18. not an option in the 1980 Census
19. not an option in the 1990 Census
20. "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type".
21. "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: Profile of General Populations and Housing Characteristics".
22. "Gazetteer Files".
23. "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE".
24. "US Census Bureau, Table P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race".
25. "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: Educational Attainment".
26. "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: Median Income in the Past 12 Months (In 2020 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)".
27. "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2020 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)".
28. "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months".
29. "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months o9f Families".
30. "Voter Registration – Current by County – Division of Elections – Florida Department of State".
31. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
32. "Our Campaigns".