Holmes County | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Holmes County Courthouse | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofFlorida | |
 Florida's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:30°52′N85°49′W / 30.87°N 85.81°W /30.87; -85.81 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| Founded | January 8, 1848 |
| Seat | Bonifay |
| Largest city | Bonifay |
| Area | |
• Total | 489 sq mi (1,270 km2) |
| • Land | 479 sq mi (1,240 km2) |
| • Water | 10 sq mi (30 km2) 2.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 19,653 |
• Estimate (2023) | 19,944 |
| • Density | 40/sq mi (16/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | holmescountyfla |
Holmes County is acounty located in the northwestern part of theU.S. state ofFlorida, in thePanhandle. As of the2020 census, the population was 19,653.[1] Itscounty seat isBonifay.[2]
Holmes County was created in 1848.
The county's namesake is a point of debate.Holmes Creek – the county's eastern boundary – bore that name before the county was created, but it was originally namedWeekaywehatchee (aMuscogee name meaning "spring creek"). One claim is that the county was named for Thomas J. Holmes, who came from North Carolina to settle in the area about 1830. Another is that it is named after Holmes, an American Indian chief who settled in the area with his band ofRed StickCreek after 1814. He was subsequently killed in 1818 by a raiding party sent byAndrew Jackson during theFirst Seminole War.[3]
Holmes County has had four county seats in its history. The first was Hewett's Bluff (later renamed Bear Pen, thenCerro Gordo), thenPittman's Ferry, thenWestville, and finallyBonifay. Bonifay has been the county seat since 1905.
Historic places in the county include:
Ponce de Leon Springs State Park, Ponce de Leon
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 489 square miles (1,270 km2), of which 479 square miles (1,240 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (2.1%) is water.[4] It is the fifth-smallest county in Florida by total area.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,205 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,386 | 15.0% | |
| 1870 | 1,572 | 13.4% | |
| 1880 | 2,170 | 38.0% | |
| 1890 | 4,336 | 99.8% | |
| 1900 | 7,762 | 79.0% | |
| 1910 | 11,557 | 48.9% | |
| 1920 | 12,850 | 11.2% | |
| 1930 | 12,924 | 0.6% | |
| 1940 | 15,447 | 19.5% | |
| 1950 | 13,988 | −9.4% | |
| 1960 | 10,844 | −22.5% | |
| 1970 | 10,720 | −1.1% | |
| 1980 | 14,723 | 37.3% | |
| 1990 | 15,778 | 7.2% | |
| 2000 | 18,564 | 17.7% | |
| 2010 | 19,927 | 7.3% | |
| 2020 | 19,653 | −1.4% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 19,944 | [5] | 1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1] | |||
| Race | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 17,722 | 16,766 | 88.93% | 85.31% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,140 | 1,211 | 5.72% | 6.16% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 143 | 120 | 0.72% | 0.61% |
| Asian (NH) | 83 | 81 | 0.42% | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 27 | 13 | 0.14% | 0.07% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 6 | 27 | 0.03% | 0.14% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 362 | 747 | 1.82% | 3.8% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 444 | 688 | 2.23% | 3.5% |
| Total | 19,927 | 19,653 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
| Non-Hispanic White 70–80% 80–90% >90% Black or African American 40–50% |
The2020 United States census counted 19,653 people, 7,282 households, and 4,778 families in Holmes County, Florida.[14][15] The population density was 41.0 per square mile (15.8/km2). There were 8,622 housing units at an average density of 18.0 per square mile (7.0/km2).[15][16] The racial makeup was 86.82% (17,063)white orEuropean American (85.31%non-Hispanic white), 6.29% (1,237)black orAfrican-American, 0.65% (128)Native American orAlaska Native, 0.46% (90)Asian, 0.07% (13)Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian, 1.2% (235) fromother races, and 4.51% (887) fromtwo or more races.[17]Hispanic orLatino of any race was 3.5% (688) of the population.[18]
Of the 7,282 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18; 46.3% were married couples living together; 27.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.6% of households consisted of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15] The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 3.0.[19] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 7.3% of the population.[20]
20.6% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males.[15] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 85.6 males.[15]
The 2016-2020 5-yearAmerican Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $39,215 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,549). The median family income was $48,511 (+/- $3,115).[21] Males had a median income of $26,725 (+/- $1,071) versus $25,931 (+/- $2,337) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $26,486 (+/- $958).[22] Approximately, 17.7% of families and 21.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.8% of those under the age of 18 and 10.3% of those ages 65 or over.[23][24]
As of thecensus[25] of 2000, there were 18,564 people, 6,921 households, and 4,893 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 38 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 7,998 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.79%White, 6.51%Black orAfrican American, 1.01%Native American, 0.39%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.79% fromother races, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.93% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 6,921 households, out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% weremarried couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 112.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,923, and the median income for a family was $34,286. Males had a median income of $25,982 versus $19,991 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,135. About 15.40% of families and 19.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.70% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
The so-called "Dominickers", a number of related mixed-race (white, black, andEuchee Indian) families, lived for decades after the Civil War and well into the twentieth century in a rural area near Ponce de Leon, with a separate church and segregated public elementary school. Although considered a separate ethnicity from both whites and blacks, many Dominickers married into local white families, so that group boundaries blurred; some descendants still live in the area. The 1950 federal census identified 60 members of this group living in Holmes County at that time.[26] Few facts are known about their origins, and little has been published about them.
Holmes County is an archetypically "Solid South" county in Florida. It gave the fifth-highest percentage of the vote forsegregationistGeorge Wallace of any county in the country during the 1968 election,[27] and apart from Deep South nativeJimmy Carter, no Democrat since 1964 has obtained as much as thirty-four percent of the county's vote in any Presidential election.
Holmes County once had more registered Democrats than Republicans, but many were descendants ofDixiecrats, Southerners who registered as Democrats due to tradition but voted Republican in most elections.[28] Barack Obama earned only 15.2% of the vote in 2012.[28] Hillary Clinton earned less than 10% of the vote in 2016.[28] In 2024, Holmes was the most Republican county in the state of Florida, when it gave just under 90% of its vote toDonald Trump.[29]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 8,193 | 89.72% | 882 | 9.66% | 57 | 0.62% |
| 2020 | 8,080 | 89.01% | 924 | 10.18% | 74 | 0.82% |
| 2016 | 7,483 | 87.46% | 853 | 9.97% | 220 | 2.57% |
| 2012 | 6,919 | 83.46% | 1,264 | 15.25% | 107 | 1.29% |
| 2008 | 7,033 | 81.63% | 1,446 | 16.78% | 137 | 1.59% |
| 2004 | 6,412 | 77.25% | 1,810 | 21.81% | 78 | 0.94% |
| 2000 | 5,012 | 67.77% | 2,177 | 29.43% | 207 | 2.80% |
| 1996 | 3,249 | 47.75% | 2,312 | 33.98% | 1,243 | 18.27% |
| 1992 | 3,196 | 48.96% | 1,877 | 28.75% | 1,455 | 22.29% |
| 1988 | 4,225 | 71.61% | 1,639 | 27.78% | 36 | 0.61% |
| 1984 | 4,548 | 78.70% | 1,231 | 21.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 3,221 | 52.41% | 2,767 | 45.02% | 158 | 2.57% |
| 1976 | 1,850 | 35.71% | 3,256 | 62.86% | 74 | 1.43% |
| 1972 | 3,819 | 92.51% | 309 | 7.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 377 | 7.00% | 312 | 5.79% | 4,700 | 87.21% |
| 1964 | 3,225 | 73.00% | 1,193 | 27.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 1,235 | 34.26% | 2,370 | 65.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 1,036 | 29.17% | 2,516 | 70.83% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 1,230 | 27.67% | 3,216 | 72.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 492 | 15.39% | 1,799 | 56.29% | 905 | 28.32% |
| 1944 | 908 | 25.51% | 2,652 | 74.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 887 | 24.84% | 2,684 | 75.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 772 | 19.37% | 3,213 | 80.63% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 429 | 13.71% | 2,701 | 86.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 2,260 | 74.44% | 735 | 24.21% | 41 | 1.35% |
| 1924 | 377 | 32.03% | 658 | 55.90% | 142 | 12.06% |
| 1920 | 537 | 33.56% | 869 | 54.31% | 194 | 12.13% |
| 1916 | 427 | 28.83% | 763 | 51.52% | 291 | 19.65% |
| 1912 | 52 | 7.74% | 411 | 61.16% | 209 | 31.10% |
| 1908 | 337 | 39.00% | 438 | 50.69% | 89 | 10.30% |
| 1904 | 140 | 29.60% | 284 | 60.04% | 49 | 10.36% |
The Holmes County Times-Advertiser is now owned by Halifax Media. The weekly newspaper publishes each Wednesday.
Holmes District School Board operates public schools.Holmes County High School andPonce de Leon High School are its public high schools. Poplar Springs High School is a K-12 Combination School in Northeastern Holmes County and Bethlehem High School is a K-12 Combination School in the Bethlehem Community.
TheHolmes County Public Library is the county's library system. It is located at 303 North J. Harvey Etheridge Street, Bonifay, Florida 32425. The library is open Tuesday-Friday 8:00am–5:00pm, and Saturday 8:00am–12:00pm and offers public computers with internet access, free wi-fi, programming for all ages, and access to e-books, e-audiobooks, and numerous online databases and resources.
Holmes County is also a part of thePanhandle Public Library Cooperative System. PPLCS also includesCalhoun andJackson counties.
I-10 (Interstate 10) is the main west-to-east interstate highway in the county, and runs along southern Holmes County. It contains two interchanges within the county; SR 81 (Exit 94) in Ponce de Leon, then momentarily passes in and out of Washington County only to encounter the second interchange at SR 79 (Exit 112), in Bonifay.
US 90 (U.S. Highway 90) was the main west-to-east highway in the county, until it was surpassed by I-10.
SR 2 is the west-to-east route that's closest to the Alabama border beginning at SR 81 (see below). A tri-county extension runs west of SR 81 in Royal Crossroads through Walton and Okaloosa Counties.
SR 79 is a south-to-north highway running though eastern Holmes County. The road enters the county from Washington County to the south as passes through Bonifay, Holland Crossroads and Esto, before finally crossing the Florida-Alabama State Line where it turns intoAL 167.
SR 81 is a south-to-north highway running through western Holmes County. The road enters the county from Walton County to the south as passes through Ponce De Leon, Prosperity, Hobbs Crossroads and Royal Crossroads, before finally crossing the Florida-Alabama State Line where it turns intoAL 87.Holmes County has one railroad line. The primary one is theCSXP&A Subdivision, a line formerly owned by theLouisville and Nashville Railroad that servedAmtrak'sSunset Limited. This service formerly went toNew Orleans, but in 2005 service was truncated by the extensive damage in the Gulf area due toHurricane Katrina. Another former L&N line existed within the northeastern corner of the county. The Georgiana Branch entered the state and county fromHighnote, Alabama then ran throughEsto and laterEleanor before crossing SR 2 and leaving the county towardsGraceville andCampbellton, where it had a junction with theBay Line Railroad.
{{cite web}}:|last= has generic name (help)Places adjacent to Holmes County, Florida | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofHolmes County, Florida,United States | ||
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| City |  | |
| 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 | |
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| National | |
