Gadsden County, Florida | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gadsden County Courthouse | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofFlorida | |
 Florida's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:30°35′N84°37′W / 30.58°N 84.61°W /30.58; -84.61 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| Founded | June 24, 1823 |
| Named after | James Gadsden |
| Seat | Quincy |
| Largest city | Quincy |
| Area | |
• Total | 529 sq mi (1,370 km2) |
| • Land | 516 sq mi (1,340 km2) |
| • Water | 12 sq mi (31 km2) 2.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 43,826 |
• Estimate (2023[1]) | 43,833 |
| • Density | 84.9/sq mi (32.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Gadsden County is acounty located in thepanhandle of theU.S. state ofFlorida. As of the2020 census, the population was 43,826.[2] Itscounty seat isQuincy.[3] Gadsden County is included in theTallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. As part of the broaderBlack Belt region within the Deep South, Gadsden County is the onlymajority African-American county in Florida.
Gadsden County was created in 1823.[4] It was named forJames Gadsden[5] ofSouth Carolina, who served asAndrew Jackson'saide-de-camp in Florida in 1818. Gadsden County is historically known for its tobacco crop which is obsolete today.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 529 square miles (1,370 km2), of which 516 square miles (1,340 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.3%) is water.[6]
Gadsden County is part of theTallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gadsden County is in theEastern Time Zone. Its western border with Jackson County forms the boundary in this area between the Eastern andCentral Time Zones.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 4,895 | — | |
| 1840 | 5,992 | 22.4% | |
| 1850 | 8,784 | 46.6% | |
| 1860 | 9,396 | 7.0% | |
| 1870 | 9,802 | 4.3% | |
| 1880 | 12,169 | 24.1% | |
| 1890 | 11,894 | −2.3% | |
| 1900 | 15,294 | 28.6% | |
| 1910 | 22,198 | 45.1% | |
| 1920 | 23,539 | 6.0% | |
| 1930 | 29,890 | 27.0% | |
| 1940 | 31,450 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 36,457 | 15.9% | |
| 1960 | 41,989 | 15.2% | |
| 1970 | 39,184 | −6.7% | |
| 1980 | 41,565 | 6.1% | |
| 1990 | 41,105 | −1.1% | |
| 2000 | 45,087 | 9.7% | |
| 2010 | 46,389 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 43,826 | −5.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 43,833 | [7] | 0.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010-2020[12] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[13] | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 16,174 | 15,335 | 14,093 | 35.87% | 33.06% | 32.16% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 25,632 | 25,881 | 23,326 | 56.85% | 55.79% | 53.22% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 87 | 93 | 71 | 0.19% | 0.20% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 105 | 221 | 147 | 0.23% | 0.48% | 0.34% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 9 | 7 | 4 | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 24 | 39 | 120 | 0.05% | 0.08% | 0.27% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 274 | 394 | 972 | 0.61% | 0.85% | 2.22% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,782 | 4,419 | 5,093 | 6.17% | 9.53% | 11.62% |
| Total | 45,087 | 46,389 | 43,826 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Black or African American 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Non-Hispanic White 40–50% 50–60% 70–80% |
Gadsden County is unique in Florida in that it is the state's only county with anAfrican American majority population.
The2020 United States census counted 43,826 people, 16,806 households, and 11,239 families in Gadsden County, Florida.[15][16] The population density was 84.9 per square mile (32.8/km2). There were 18,929 housing units at an average density of 36.7 per square mile (14.2/km2).[16][17] The racial makeup was 34.08% (14,936)white orEuropean American (32.16%non-Hispanic white), 53.47% (23,435)black orAfrican-American, 0.46% (201)Native American orAlaska Native, 0.34% (148)Asian, 0.03% (13)Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian, 6.51% (2,851) fromother races, and 5.12% (2,242) fromtwo or more races.[18]Hispanic orLatino of any race was 11.62% (5,093) of the population.[19]
Of the 16,806 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18; 38.8% were married couples living together; 36.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 28.4% of households consisted of individuals and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16] The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0.[20] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 13.8% of the population.[21]
21.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 23.3% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.3 males.[16] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 107.8 males.[16]
The 2016-2020 5-yearAmerican Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $41,135 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,461). The median family income was $50,020 (+/- $3,429).[22] Males had a median income of $32,760 (+/- $2,256) versus $27,905 (+/- $1,732) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $29,793 (+/- $1,393).[23] Approximately, 15.2% of families and 21.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 33.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those ages 65 or over.[24][25]
As of the2010 United States census, there were 46,389 people living in the county. 56.0% wereBlack or African American, 35.9%White, 0.5%Asian, 0.3%Native American, 5.9% of some other race and 1.3%of two or more races. 9.5% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of thecensus[26] of 2000, there were 45,087 people, 15,867 households, and 11,424 families living in the county. The population density was 87 inhabitants 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 57.14%Black orAfrican American, 38.70%White, 0.23%Native American, 0.26%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 2.76% fromother races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 6.17% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $14,499. About 16.40% of families and 19.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 28.50% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.
Rosenwald schools were established in Gadsden County.
TheGadsden County School District, the only school district,[27] operates public schools.
Gadsden County is home to one public high school,Gadsden County High School (formerly East Gadsden High School), formed in 2017 by the merger of East Gadsden High and the high school portion ofWest Gadsden High School; the West Gadsden High building was converted to West Gadsden Middle.[28][29] West Gadsden was formed by the merger of the formerChattahoochee High andGreensboro High and was located on the western outskirts of Quincy near Greensboro. East Gadsden, formed by the merger ofJames A. Shanks High and Havana Northside High, was located on Hwy. 90 east of Quincy.
Robert F. Munroe Day School andTallavanna Christian School are private schools in the county that were founded assegregation academies.[30]
TheGadsden County Public Library System has 3 branches.
Due to its majority-black population, Gadsden County is the most reliably Democratic county in Florida. It is also the strongest Democratic county in Florida, giving Democrats higher margins than even in highly populated urban counties likeBroward, despite having a population of 43,826.[31] No Democratic gubernatorial or presidential candidate has received less than 60% of the vote in the county since 1992, even for those who lost in landslides statewide.
In the2022 gubernatorial election, it was one of only five counties in the state to vote for Democratic nomineeCharlie Crist over incumbent Republican governorRon DeSantis, and it was the only one to give Crist more than 60% of the vote. Crist lost statewide by 19.4%. Similarly, in the2024 presidential election it was the only county to giveKamala Harris over 60% of the vote, and one of only six counties won by Harris. Harris lost statewide by 13%.
According to the secretary of state's office, Democrats maintain a massive majority of registered voters in Gadsden County. As of May 23, 2022, the county has the highest percentage of registered Democrats of all counties in Florida. The last Republican to win a majority in the county wasRichard Nixon in his landslide1972 victory.[32] As a measure of how strongly Democratic the county is, Gadsden was the solitary Florida county to vote againstReagan in1984[33] andGeorge Bush in1988, even as both won in statewide landslides.
| Gadsden County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024[34] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |||
| Democratic | 18,300 | 69.05% | |||
| Republican | 5,641 | 21.29% | |||
| Independent | 2,825 | 10.66% | |||
| Third Parties | 413 | 1.56% | |||
| Total | 26,501 | 100.00% | |||
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1904 | 54 | 10.07% | 471 | 87.87% | 11 | 2.05% |
| 1908 | 89 | 12.06% | 563 | 76.29% | 86 | 11.65% |
| 1912 | 75 | 9.73% | 609 | 78.99% | 87 | 11.28% |
| 1916 | 57 | 5.53% | 875 | 84.95% | 98 | 9.51% |
| 1920 | 38 | 1.91% | 1,922 | 96.68% | 28 | 1.41% |
| 1924 | 47 | 5.86% | 681 | 84.91% | 74 | 9.23% |
| 1928 | 346 | 22.31% | 1,184 | 76.34% | 21 | 1.35% |
| 1932 | 105 | 5.33% | 1,865 | 94.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 198 | 7.15% | 2,572 | 92.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 417 | 11.47% | 3,218 | 88.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 462 | 15.22% | 2,574 | 84.78% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 376 | 13.42% | 1,427 | 50.93% | 999 | 35.65% |
| 1952 | 1,835 | 40.41% | 2,706 | 59.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,321 | 36.87% | 2,262 | 63.13% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,010 | 46.18% | 2,343 | 53.82% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 5,207 | 53.33% | 4,556 | 46.67% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 1,337 | 14.76% | 3,274 | 36.15% | 4,446 | 49.09% |
| 1972 | 5,995 | 61.01% | 3,829 | 38.97% | 2 | 0.02% |
| 1976 | 3,531 | 33.85% | 6,798 | 65.17% | 102 | 0.98% |
| 1980 | 3,718 | 30.41% | 8,222 | 67.26% | 285 | 2.33% |
| 1984 | 5,807 | 43.95% | 7,403 | 56.03% | 2 | 0.02% |
| 1988 | 5,992 | 47.64% | 6,372 | 50.66% | 213 | 1.69% |
| 1992 | 3,975 | 27.62% | 8,486 | 58.96% | 1,933 | 13.43% |
| 1996 | 3,817 | 26.88% | 9,407 | 66.25% | 975 | 6.87% |
| 2000 | 4,770 | 32.38% | 9,736 | 66.09% | 225 | 1.53% |
| 2004 | 6,253 | 29.80% | 14,629 | 69.72% | 102 | 0.49% |
| 2008 | 6,811 | 30.22% | 15,582 | 69.14% | 145 | 0.64% |
| 2012 | 6,630 | 29.43% | 15,770 | 70.01% | 125 | 0.55% |
| 2016 | 6,728 | 30.29% | 15,020 | 67.62% | 466 | 2.10% |
| 2020 | 7,465 | 31.42% | 16,153 | 67.98% | 144 | 0.61% |
| 2024 | 7,495 | 34.17% | 14,203 | 64.76% | 234 | 1.07% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 37.36%6,511 | 62.00%10,805 | 0.64%110 |
| 2018 | 30.91%6,200 | 68.36%13,712 | 0.72%146 |
| 2014 | 27.27%4,798 | 70.62%12,425 | 2.11%371 |
| 2010 | 25.90%4,324 | 72.27%12,067 | 1.83%307 |
| 2006 | 32.45%4,557 | 66.25%9,303 | 1.29%182 |
| 2002 | 25.83%3,948 | 73.46%11,228 | 0.71%109 |
| 1998 | 35.66%4,028 | 64.34%7,269 | |
| 1994 | 30.63%3,422 | 69.37%7,751 |
County commissioners
Local elected officials
I-10 is the main west-to-east interstate highway in the county, and serves as the unofficial dividing line between northern and southern Gadsden County. It contains four interchanges within the county; CR 270A (Exit 166), SR 12 (Exit 174), SR 267 (Exit 181), and US 90 (Exit 192).
US 90 as the main west-to-east highway in the county prior to the construction of I-10 in the late 1960s. It runs from theVictory Bridge in Chattahoochee in the northwest, and then southeast through Gretna, Douglas City, and Quincy before finally leaving the county east of Midway into Leon County.
US 27 is the sole south-to-north U.S. highway running through the northeastern part of the county.
SR 12 is a west-to-east state highway running from Liberty County in the southwest to Havana in the northeast. It also contains a county extension into Leon County.
SR 65
SR 159 is a short south to north road connecting US 27 to SR 12 in Havana, with a county extension northwest toGeorgia State Route 309 at the Georgia State Line.
SR 267Gadsden County has at least four existing railroad lines, three of which are owned byCSX. The first two CSX lines beingP&A Subdivision, a line formerly owned by theLouisville and Nashville Railroad, and the other is the Tallahassee Subdivision, a formerSeaboard Air Line Railroad line. These two lines meet inChatahoochee and servedAmtrak'sSunset Limited until it was truncated toNew Orleans in 2005 byHurricane Katrina. A third line is theApalachicola Northern Railroad, a line that spans as far south asPort St. Joe. The line enters from Liberty County, then crosses SR 12 in Greensboro, runs under I-10, follows CR 268 in Hardaway, and then turns west into Chatahoochee. The fourth line is the third CSX Line, the Bainbridge Subdivision, which runs along the west side of US 27 from Leon County by way of a bridge over theOchlockonee River to the Georgia State Line. While some spurs still exist, other lines within the county were abandoned.
Public Transportation is provided byBig Bend Transit, which operates 3 bus routes in the county.[37]
Places adjacent to Gadsden County, Florida | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofGadsden County, Florida,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Topics |  Map of North Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Counties | ||
| Major cities | ||
| Cities and towns 50k–100k | ||
| Cities and towns 10k–40k | ||
| Metro areas | ||
| Regions | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
