Calhoun County, Florida
Encyclopedia
Calhoun County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Florida
. As of 2000, the population was 13,017. The U.S. Census Bureau
2006 estimate for the county was 13,410 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls. Its county seat
is Blountstown, Florida
.
, member of the United States Senate
from South Carolina
and the seventh U.S. vice president, serving under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. As is universal in the Florida Panhandle
, a majority of Calhoun County's residents remain much more attached to Southern culture and lifestyle habits than is common in the Central and Southern regions of the state influenced by large amounts of migration, and the area holds much more in common with states such as Alabama
, Georgia
, or Mississippi
than with much of Florida
.
and is bisected by the Chipola River
, site of Look and Tremble
.
of 2000, there were 13,017 people, 4,468 households, and 3,132 families residing in the county. The population density
was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 5,250 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.87% White
, 15.79% Black
or African American
, 1.26% Native American
, 0.53% Asian
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
, 1.04% from other races
, and 1.45% from two or more races. 3.78% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 4,468 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples
living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.50% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 117.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,575, and the median income for a family was $32,848. Males had a median income of $26,681 versus $21,176 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $12,379. About 14.80% of families and 20.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.
s in local and state contests.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. As of 2000, the population was 13,017. The U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
2006 estimate for the county was 13,410 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Blountstown, Florida
Blountstown, Florida
Blountstown is a city in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 2,433...
.
History
Calhoun County was created in 1838. It was named for John C. CalhounJohn C. Calhoun
John Caldwell Calhoun was a leading politician and political theorist from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. Calhoun eloquently spoke out on every issue of his day, but often changed positions. Calhoun began his political career as a nationalist, modernizer, and proponent...
, member of the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and the seventh U.S. vice president, serving under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. As is universal in the Florida Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
, a majority of Calhoun County's residents remain much more attached to Southern culture and lifestyle habits than is common in the Central and Southern regions of the state influenced by large amounts of migration, and the area holds much more in common with states such as Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, or Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
than with much of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 574.34 square miles (1,487.5 km²), of which 567.31 square miles (1,469.3 km²) (or 98.78%) is land and 7.03 square miles (18.2 km²) (or 1.22%) is water. The county is bounded on the east by the Apalachicola RiverApalachicola River
The Apalachicola River is a river, approximately 112 mi long in the State of Florida. This river's large watershed, known as the ACF River Basin for short, drains an area of approximately into the Gulf of Mexico. The distance to its farthest headstream in northeast Georgia is approximately 500...
and is bisected by the Chipola River
Chipola River
The Chipola River is a tributary of the Apalachicola River in Florida. The river crosses Jackson, Calhoun and Gulf counties. The river flows into the Dead Lakes State Recreation Area just before reaching the Apalachicola. The Dead Lakes were formed when the Apalachicola deposited sand bars...
, site of Look and Tremble
Look and Tremble
Look and Tremble, sometimes Look and Tremble Shoals or Look and Tremble Falls is a shoal or rapids and swimming hole on the Chipola River in the United States state of Florida. It lies south of the County Road 274 crossing of the Chipola west of Altha in Calhoun County...
.
Adjacent counties
- Jackson County, FloridaJackson County, FloridaJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The population as of the 2000 census was 46,755. As of 2005, the population was estimated to be 48,985 . Its county seat is Marianna, Florida.- History :...
- north - Gadsden County, FloridaGadsden County, FloridaGadsden County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, the population was 45,087. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 46,428 . Its county seat is Quincy, Florida. Gadsden County is the only predominantly African-American...
- northeast - Liberty County, FloridaLiberty County, FloridaLiberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its population was estimated in 2005 as 7,733. Its most populous incorporated area and county seat is Bristol....
- east - Gulf County, FloridaGulf County, FloridaGulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,332. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 13,975 . Its county seat is Port St. Joe.- History :...
- south - Bay County, FloridaBay County, FloridaBay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
- west
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 13,017 people, 4,468 households, and 3,132 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 5,250 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.87% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 15.79% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.26% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.53% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.05% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.04% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.45% from two or more races. 3.78% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 4,468 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.50% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 117.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,575, and the median income for a family was $32,848. Males had a median income of $26,681 versus $21,176 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $12,379. About 14.80% of families and 20.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.
Unincorporated
- Abe SpringsAbe Springs, FloridaAbe Springs is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- Broad BranchBroad Branch, FloridaBroad Branch is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- ChasonChason, FloridaChason is a small unincorporated community in northwest Calhoun County, Florida, United States. Chason has many beautiful ponds: Page Pond, White Pond, Burke Pond, and Todd Pond are just a few....
- ChipolaChipola, FloridaChipola is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 71.-Geography:Chipola is located at ....
- CoxCox, FloridaCox is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 71.-Geography:Cox is located at ....
- EufalaEufala, FloridaEufala is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- Fisher CornerFisher Corner, FloridaFisher Corner is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 73.-Geography:Fisher Corner is located at ....
- FrinkFrink, FloridaFrink is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 73.-Geography:Frink is located at ....
- GaskinsGaskins, FloridaGaskins is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 71.-Geography:Gaskins is located at .Native American War...
- Henderson MillHenderson Mill, FloridaHenderson Mill is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on County Road 69A.-Geography:Henderson Mill is located at ....
- IoleeIolee, FloridaIolee is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- KinardKinard, FloridaKinard is an unincorporated community in southwestern Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- LeonardsLeonards, FloridaLeonards is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- MarysvilleMarysville, FloridaMarysville is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 69.-Geography:Marysville is located at ....
- McNealMcNeal, FloridaMcNeal is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- New HopeNew Hope, FloridaNew Hope is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 79.-Geography:New Hope is located at ....
- Ocheesee LandingOcheesee Landing, FloridaOcheesee Landing is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- OcheeseulgaOcheeseulga, FloridaOcheeseulga is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- Pine IslandPine Island, Calhoun County, FloridaPine Island is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States....
- Rollins CornerRollins Corner, FloridaRollins Corner is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 20.-Geography:Rollins Corner is located at ....
- Scotts FerryScotts Ferry, FloridaScotts Ferry is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 71.-Geography:Scotts Ferry is located at .It was served by the Marianna and Blountstown Railroad....
- SelmanSelman, FloridaSelman is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 69.-Geography:Selman is located at ....
- WillisWillis, FloridaWillis is an unincorporated community in Calhoun County, Florida, United States. It is located on State Road 73.-Geography:Willis is located at ....
Politics
Like most of the panhandle, Calhoun County votes heavily Republican in presidential and congressional races, although still occasionally supporting Conservative DemocratConservative Democrat
In American politics, a conservative Democrat is a Democratic Party member with conservative political views, or with views relatively conservative with respect to those of the national party...
s in local and state contests.
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Other Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 69.4% | 29.1% | 1.6% |
| 2004 | 63.4% | 35.5% | 1.1% |
| 2000 | 55.5% | 41.7% | 2.9% |
| 1996 | 41.3% | 43.1% | 15.6% |
| 1992 | 37.6% | 36.4% | 26.1% |
| 1988 | 64.0% | 35.1% | 0.9% |
Government links/Constitutional offices
- Calhoun County Board of County Commissioners
- Calhoun County Supervisor of Elections
- Calhoun County Property Appraiser
- Calhoun County Sheriff's Office
- Calhoun County Tax Collector
Special districts
Judicial branch
- Calhoun County Clerk of Courts
- Circuit and County Court for the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving BayBay County, FloridaBay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
, Calhoun, GulfGulf County, FloridaGulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,332. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 13,975 . Its county seat is Port St. Joe.- History :...
, HolmesHolmes County, FloridaHolmes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 18,564. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 19,264 . Its county seat is Bonifay, Florida.-History:...
, JacksonJackson County, FloridaJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The population as of the 2000 census was 46,755. As of 2005, the population was estimated to be 48,985 . Its county seat is Marianna, Florida.- History :...
and WashingtonWashington County, FloridaWashington County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 20,973. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 22,299. Its county seat is Chipley, Florida...
counties