Liberty County, Florida

Liberty County
County
Liberty County Courthouse
Liberty County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Liberty 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°14′N 84°53′W / 30.23°N 84.89°W / 30.23; -84.89
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedDecember 15, 1855
Named forLiberty
SeatBristol
Largest townBristol
Area
 • Total843 sq mi (2,180 km2)
 • Land836 sq mi (2,170 km2)
 • Water7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total7,974[1]
 • Density10/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitelibertyclerk.com

Liberty County is a county located in the state of Florida, part of the Big Bend region. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,974,[2] making it the least populous county in Florida.[3] Its county seat is Bristol. Torreya State Park and the Apalachicola National Forest are located within the county. The Apalachicola River runs through the county as well. Liberty County is the only dry county in Florida as Lafayette County prohibits bars, but not retail sale of beer.

History

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Liberty County was created in 1855[4] and is named after the American ideal of liberty.[5]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 843 square miles (2,180 km2), of which 836 square miles (2,170 km2) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km2) (0.9%) is water.[6] The county is bordered on the west by the Apalachicola River.

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,457—
18701,050−27.9%
18801,36229.7%
18901,4526.6%
19002,956103.6%
19104,70059.0%
19205,0066.5%
19304,067−18.8%
19403,752−7.7%
19503,182−15.2%
19603,138−1.4%
19703,3797.7%
19804,26026.1%
19905,56930.7%
20007,02126.1%
20108,36519.1%
20207,974−4.7%
2023 (est.)7,706[7]−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[2]
Liberty County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 6,159 5,729 73.63% 71.85%
Black or African American (NH) 1,472 1,353 17.6% 16.97%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 77 52 0.92% 0.65%
Asian (NH) 16 18 0.19% 0.23%
Pacific Islander (NH) 0 1 0.0% 0.01%
Some Other Race (NH) 8 26 0.1% 0.33%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 115 233 1.37% 2.92%
Hispanic or Latino 518 562 6.19% 7.05%
Total 8,365 7,974 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,974 people, 2,513 households, and 1,602 families residing in the county.

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 7,021 people, 2,222 households, and 1,553 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km2). There were 3,156 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.41% White, 18.43% Black or African American, 1.81% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 4.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. More than 10% of the population are Mormons.[17]

There were 2,222 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.90% 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 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 37.70% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 144.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 159.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,840, and the median income for a family was $34,244. Males had a median income of $22,078 versus $22,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,225. About 16.80% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 24.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

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Liberty County has shifted rapidly towards the Republican Party in the 21st century. As of 2023, Republicans maintain an advantage in voter registration, which is the case in all but four counties in the Panhandle. As recently as 2016, Liberty County had 3,399 registered Democrats and just 722 registered Republicans,[18] although it has consistently voted for Republican candidates, last supporting a Democrat with Jimmy Carter.

United States presidential election results for Liberty County, Florida[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,846 79.83% 694 19.47% 25 0.70%
2016 2,543 76.78% 651 19.66% 118 3.56%
2012 2,301 69.96% 942 28.64% 46 1.40%
2008 2,339 71.18% 895 27.24% 52 1.58%
2004 1,927 63.79% 1,070 35.42% 24 0.79%
2000 1,317 54.65% 1,017 42.20% 76 3.15%
1996 913 42.19% 868 40.11% 383 17.70%
1992 1,126 43.71% 820 31.83% 630 24.46%
1988 1,421 65.27% 709 32.57% 47 2.16%
1984 1,410 68.45% 650 31.55% 0 0.00%
1980 899 43.81% 1,114 54.29% 39 1.90%
1976 620 34.91% 1,137 64.02% 19 1.07%
1972 1,199 84.38% 222 15.62% 0 0.00%
1968 154 8.96% 242 14.09% 1,322 76.95%
1964 910 70.71% 377 29.29% 0 0.00%
1960 243 21.99% 862 78.01% 0 0.00%
1956 238 21.48% 870 78.52% 0 0.00%
1952 237 18.60% 1,037 81.40% 0 0.00%
1948 30 3.53% 737 86.81% 82 9.66%
1944 38 5.72% 626 94.28% 0 0.00%
1940 119 11.16% 947 88.84% 0 0.00%
1936 64 7.41% 800 92.59% 0 0.00%
1932 31 4.35% 682 95.65% 0 0.00%
1928 147 39.20% 226 60.27% 2 0.53%
1924 18 8.04% 193 86.16% 13 5.80%
1920 5 1.10% 416 91.63% 33 7.27%
1916 57 14.65% 280 71.98% 52 13.37%
1912 32 12.08% 206 77.74% 27 10.19%
1908 69 25.27% 176 64.47% 28 10.26%
1904 50 24.88% 143 71.14% 8 3.98%
Political Party Number of registered voters (March 31, 2024)[20] %
Republican 2,679 58.11%
Democratic 1,462 31.71%
Independent 448
Other 21
Total 4,610 100.00

Liberty County is run by a board of five county commissioners, each elected at-large. The following is a list of the commissioners with the number representative of his/her district:[21]

  1. Dewayne Branch (R)
  2. Hannah Causseaux (R)
  3. Jim Johnson (R)
  4. Doyle Brown (R)
  5. Scott Phillips (NPA)

The school board is run by five members, each also elected at-large in non-partisan elections. The following is a list of the school board with the number representative of his/her district:[21]

  1. James Flowers
  2. Jodi Bailey
  3. Darrel Hayes
  4. Jason Singletary
  5. Charles Morris

The remaining elected officials are the constitutional officers and the school board members.[21]

  • County Judge: Christopher D. Bufano
  • Clerk of Court: Daniel Stanley (R)
  • Sheriff: Buddy Money (R)
  • Property Appraiser: Cindy Potter Walker (R)
  • Tax Collector: Marie Goodman (R)
  • Supervisor of Elections: Grant Conyers (R)
  • Superintendent of Schools: Kyle Peddie (R)

Library

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Liberty County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System, which serves Gulf and Bay counties as well.

Communities

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Transportation

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Much like Calhoun County, Liberty County has no Interstates or U.S. Highways, just state roads.

  • FL State Road 20 is the main west-to-east route that runs east from the Apalachicola River at the Calhoun/Liberty County line to the Ochlockonee River at the Liberty/Leon County line, passing through Bristol and Hosford.
  • FL State Road 65 is the main south-to-north route running from the Franklin/Liberty County line at Sumatra to the Liberty/Gadsden County line north of Hosford.
  • FL State Road 12 is a southwest-to-southeast route running from Liberty County in the southwest to Havana in the northeast. It also contains a county extension into Levy County.
  • FL State Road 267 briefly runs alongside state road 20 until it splits away shortly after crossing the Leon/Liberty county line and heads north towards Quincy.

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. ^ "QuickFacts: Liberty County, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 32.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 186.
  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 14, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 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. ^ "Mormon Empire: Florida: Tookie Gentry". The Salt Lake Tribune. March 30, 2008. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  18. ^ "Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Archived from the original on October 24, 2016.
  19. ^ "Dave Leip's Election Results Liberty County Florida". Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  20. ^ "Voter Registration - By County and Party - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  21. ^ a b c "County Elected Officials". Liberty Elections. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
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Government links/Constitutional offices

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Special districts

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Judicial branch

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Liberty County, Florida.

30°14′N 84°53′W / 30.23°N 84.89°W / 30.23; -84.89

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