There are 67 counties in the state of Florida. It became a territory of the U.S. in 1821 with two counties complementing the provincial divisions retained as a Spanish territory: Escambia to the west and St. Johns to the east, divided by the Suwanee River. All of the other counties were apportioned from these two original counties. Florida became the 27th U.S. state in 1845, and its last county was created in 1925 with the formation of Gilchrist County from a segment of Alachua County.[1] Florida's counties were originally subdivisions of the state government. In 1968, counties gained the power to develop their own charters.[2] All but one of Florida's county seats are incorporated municipalities. The exception is Crawfordville, county seat of rural Wakulla County.[3]
The names of Florida's counties reflect its diverse cultural heritage. Some are named for Southern political leaders and Spanish explorers, marking the influence of Spanish sovereignty, while others are named for Spanish saints, Native American placenames used by the Spanish, and political leaders of the United States. Natural features of the region, including rivers, lakes, and flora, are also commonly used for county names. Florida has counties named for participants on both sides of Second Seminole War: Miami-Dade County is partially named for Francis L. Dade, a Major in the U.S. Army at the time; Osceola County is named for a Native American resistance leader during the war.[4]
Population figures are based on the 2010 United States Census. The population of Florida is 18,801,310, an increase of 17.6% from 2000. The average population of Florida's counties is 280,616; Miami-Dade County is the most populous (2,496,435) and Liberty County is the least (8,365). The average land area is 805 sq mi (2,085 km2). The largest county is Palm Beach County (2,034 sq mi, 5,268 km2) and the smallest is Union County (240 sq mi, 622 km2). The total area of the state is 65,795 sq miles; of this, the land area of the state constitutes 53,927 square miles (139,670 km2) while the water area constitutes 11,868 sq miles.[5][6]
The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) is used by the U.S. government to uniquely identify counties, and is provided for each entry. These codes link to the United States Census Bureau's "quick facts" for each county. Florida's FIPS code of 12 is used to distinguish from counties in other states. For example, Alachua County's unique nationwide identifier is 12001.[7]
Counties[]
County |
FIPS code [7] |
County seat [8] |
Established [4] |
Formed from [4] |
Etymology [4] |
Population [9] |
Area [5][8] |
Map |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alachua County | 001 | Gainesville | 1824 | St. Johns County | Derived from the native name of a chasm located northwest of Gainesville | 249,365 | ( 2,264 km2) |
874 sq mi|
Baker County | 003 | Macclenny | 1861 | Bradford County | James McNair Baker (1821–1892), a Confederate senator and later a judge in the fourth judicial district | 27,154 | ( 1,515 km2) |
585 sq mi|
Bay County | 005 | Panama City | 1913 | Washington County | St. Andrew's Bay, the central geographic feature of the county | 169,856 | ( 1,979 km2) |
764 sq mi|
Bradford County | 007 | Starke | 1858 | Columbia and Alachua counties | Richard Bradford, the first officer from Florida to die in the Civil War; he was killed during the Battle of Santa Rosa Island | 28,255 | ( 759 km2) |
293 sq mi|
Brevard County | 009 | Titusville | 1855 | Orange County | Thomas Washington Brevard, early settler and later state comptroller from 1853 to 1861 | 543,566 | ( 2,637 km2) |
1,018 sq mi|
Broward County | 011 | Fort Lauderdale | 1915 | Miami-Dade County | Napoleon Bonaparte Broward (1857–1910), 19th Governor of Florida from 1905 to 1909 | 1,780,172 | ( 3,131 km2) |
1,209 sq mi|
Calhoun County | 013 | Blountstown | 1838 | Escambia County | John C. Calhoun (1782–1850) leading Southern politician from South Carolina | 14,750 | ( 1,469 km2) |
567 sq mi|
Charlotte County | 015 | Punta Gorda | 1921 | DeSoto County | Probably a corruption of the name of the Calusa, a group of Native Americans from the area | 160,511 | ( 1,797 km2) |
694 sq mi|
Citrus County | 017 | Inverness | 1887 | Hernando County | The county's citrus trees | 140,031 | ( 1,513 km2) |
584 sq mi|
Clay County | 019 | Green Cove Springs | 1858 | Duval County | Henry Clay (1777–1852), Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829 under John Quincy Adams | 192,370 | ( 1,557 km2) |
601 sq mi|
Collier County | 021 | Naples | 1923 | Lee County | Barron Collier (1873–1939), an advertising entrepreneur who developed much of the land in southern Florida | 328,134 | ( 5,247 km2) |
2,026 sq mi|
Columbia County | 023 | Lake City | 1832 | St. Johns County | Christopher Columbus (c. 1451–1506), explorer of the Americas | 67,485 | ( 2,064 km2) |
797 sq mi|
DeSoto County | 027 | Arcadia | 1887 | Manatee County | Hernando de Soto (c. 1496/1497–1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador | 34,894 | ( 1,650 km2) |
637 sq mi|
Dixie County | 029 | Cross City | 1921 | Lafayette County | Dixie, the common nickname for the Southern United States | 16,486 | ( 1,823 km2) |
704 sq mi|
Duval County | 031 | Jacksonville | 1822 | St. Johns County | William Pope Duval (1784–1854), the first governor of the Florida Territory | 870,709 | ( 2,005 km2) |
774 sq mi|
Escambia County | 033 | Pensacola | 1821 | One of the two original counties of Florida | Disputed origin; possibly from the Native American word Shambia, meaning "clear water" | 299,114 | ( 1,720 km2) |
664 sq mi|
Flagler County | 035 | Bunnell | 1917 | St. Johns and Volusia counties | Henry Morrison Flagler (1830–1913), founder of the Florida East Coast Railway | 97,376 | ( 1,256 km2) |
485 sq mi|
Franklin County | 037 | Apalachicola | 1832 | Escambia County | Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America | 11,596 | ( 1,383 km2) |
534 sq mi|
Gadsden County | 039 | Quincy | 1823 | Jackson County | James Gadsden (1788–1858), American diplomat and namesake of the Gadsden Purchase | 46,151 | ( 1,336 km2) |
516 sq mi|
Gilchrist County | 041 | Trenton | 1925 | Alachua County | Albert W. Gilchrist (1858–1926), the 20th Governor of Florida | 17,004 | ( 904 km2) |
349 sq mi|
Glades County | 043 | Moore Haven | 1921 | DeSoto County | The Florida Everglades | 12,635 | ( 2,005 km2) |
774 sq mi|
Gulf County | 045 | Port St. Joe | 1925 | Calhoun County | The Gulf of Mexico | 15,844 | ( 1,463 km2) |
565 sq mi|
Hamilton County | 047 | Jasper | 1827 | Escambia County | Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804), the first United States Secretary of the Treasury and a Founding Father | 14,671 | ( 1,334 km2) |
515 sq mi|
Hardee County | 049 | Wauchula | 1921 | DeSoto County | Cary A. Hardee (1876–1957), governor of Florida at the time of creation of Hardee County | 27,887 | ( 1,650 km2) |
637 sq mi|
Hendry County | 051 | La Belle | 1923 | Lee County | Francis A. Hendry (1833–1917), early Floridian pioneer and politician | 39,089 | ( 2,986 km2) |
1,153 sq mi|
Hernando County | 053 | Brooksville | 1843 | Hillsborough, Mosquito, and Alachua counties | Hernando de Soto (c.1496/1497–1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador | 173,094 | ( 1,238 km2) |
478 sq mi|
Highlands County | 055 | Sebring | 1921 | DeSoto County | Named for the county's hilly terrain | 98,630 | ( 2,663 km2) |
1,028 sq mi|
Hillsborough County | 057 | Tampa | 1834 | St. Johns County | Wills Hill, 1st Marquess of Downshire (1718–1793), former Secretary of State of the American Colonies | 1,267,775 | ( 2,722 km2) |
1,051 sq mi|
Holmes County | 059 | Bonifay | 1848 | Jackson and Walton counties | Holmes Creek, which forms the eastern boundary of the county | 19,873 | ( 1,248 km2) |
482 sq mi|
Indian River County | 061 | Vero Beach | 1925 | St. Lucie County | The Indian River Lagoon, which flows through the county | 138,894 | ( 1,303 km2) |
503 sq mi|
Jackson County | 063 | Marianna | 1822 | Escambia County | Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the seventh President of the United States | 49,292 | ( 2,372 km2) |
916 sq mi|
Jefferson County | 065 | Monticello | 1827 | Escambia County | Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the third President of the United States and principal author of the Declaration of Independence | 14,658 | ( 1,549 km2) |
598 sq mi|
Lafayette County | 067 | Mayo | 1856 | Madison County | Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), French aristocrat and general in the American Revolutionary War | 8,942 | ( 1,406 km2) |
543 sq mi|
Lake County | 069 | Tavares | 1887 | Orange and Sumter counties | Named for the many lakes in the region | 301,019 | ( 2,468 km2) |
953 sq mi|
Lee County | 071 | Fort Myers | 1887 | Monroe County | Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War | 631,330 | ( 2,082 km2) |
804 sq mi|
Leon County | 073 | Tallahassee | 1824 | Escambia County | Juan Ponce de León (1474–1521), Spanish explorer who named Florida | 277,971 | ( 1,728 km2) |
667 sq mi|
Levy County | 075 | Bronson | 1845 | Alachua County | David Levy Yulee (1810–1886), one of the state's original United States Senators | 40,156 | ( 2,896 km2) |
1,118 sq mi|
Liberty County | 077 | Bristol | 1855 | Gadsden County | The patriotic ideal of liberty | 8,314 | ( 2,165 km2) |
836 sq mi|
Madison County | 079 | Madison | 1827 | Jefferson County | James Madison (1751–1836), fourth President of the United States | 19,115 | ( 1,792 km2) |
692 sq mi|
Manatee County | 081 | Bradenton | 1855 | Hillsborough and Orange counties | The Manatee, or sea cow, is native to Floridian waters | 327,142 | ( 1,919 km2) |
741 sq mi|
Marion County | 083 | Ocala | 1844 | Alachua and Orange counties | Francis Marion (c. 1732–1795), military officer during the American Revolution | 332,529 | ( 4,090 km2) |
1,579 sq mi|
Martin County | 085 | Stuart | 1925 | Saint Lucie and Palm Beach counties | John W. Martin (1884–1958), governor of Florida at time of creation of the county | 147,495 | ( 1,440 km2) |
556 sq mi|
Miami-Dade County | 086 | Miami | 1836 | St. Johns County | City of Miami and Francis L. Dade (c. 1793–1835), Major in the United States Army during the Second Seminole War | 2,554,766 | ( 5,038 km2) |
1,945 sq mi|
Monroe County | 087 | Key West | 1823 | St. Johns County | James Monroe (1758–1831), fifth President of the United States | 73,873 | ( 2,582 km2) |
997 sq mi|
Nassau County | 089 | Fernandina Beach | 1824 | St. Johns County | Duchy of Nassau in Germany | 74,195 | ( 1,689 km2) |
652 sq mi|
Okaloosa County | 091 | Crestview | 1915 | Santa Rosa and Walton counties | A native word meaning "a pleasant place," "black water", or "beautiful place" | 183,482 | ( 2,424 km2) |
936 sq mi|
Okeechobee County | 093 | Okeechobee | 1917 | Osceola and Brevard counties | Lake Okeechobee, which was in turn is from the Hitchiti words for "big water" | 40,140 | ( 2,005 km2) |
774 sq mi|
Orange County | 095 | Orlando | 1824 | St. Johns County | The fruit that was the county's main product | 1,169,107 | ( 2,352 km2) |
908 sq mi|
Osceola County | 097 | Kissimmee | 1887 | Brevard and Orange counties | Osceola (1804–1838), a leader of the Seminole during the Second Seminole War | 276,163 | ( 3,424 km2) |
1,322 sq mi|
Palm Beach County | 099 | West Palm Beach | 1909 | Miami-Dade County | The county's large amounts of palm trees | 1,335,187 | ( 5,268 km2) |
2,034 sq mi|
Pasco County | 101 | Dade City | 1887 | Hernando County | Samuel Pasco (1834–1917), United States Senator at the time of creation of the county | 466,457 | ( 1,930 km2) |
745 sq mi|
Pinellas County | 103 | Clearwater | 1911 | Hillsborough County | From the Spanish Punta Piñal, or "Point of Pines" | 917,398 | ( 725 km2) |
280 sq mi|
Polk County | 105 | Bartow | 1861 | Brevard and Hillsborough counties | James K. Polk (1795–1849), the 11th President of the United States | 609,492 | ( 4,856 km2) |
1,875 sq mi|
Putnam County | 107 | Palatka | 1849 | Alachua and St. Johns counties | Benjamin A. Putnam (1801–1869), soldier during the Second Seminole War and Floridian legislator | 74,041 | ( 1,870 km2) |
722 sq mi|
St. Johns County | 109 | Saint Augustine | 1821 | One of the two original counties | Name derived from the St. Johns River, which in turn derives its name from San Juan del Puerto | 195,823 | ( 1,577 km2) |
609 sq mi|
St. Lucie County | 111 | Fort Pierce | 1905 | Brevard County | Saint Lucy (283–304), the Christian martyr | 280,379 | ( 1,481 km2) |
572 sq mi|
Santa Rosa County | 113 | Milton | 1842 | Escambia County | Santa Rosa Island, which is in turn named for Saint Rosa de Viterbo (1235–1252), a saint born in Viterbo, Italy | 154,104 | ( 2,631 km2) |
1,016 sq mi|
Sarasota County | 115 | Sarasota | 1921 | Manatee County | Native American word, of uncertain meaning, for the area | 382,213 | ( 1,481 km2) |
572 sq mi|
Seminole County | 117 | Sanford | 1913 | Orange County | The Seminole Native American tribe | 425,071 | ( 798 km2) |
308 sq mi|
Sumter County | 119 | Bushnell | 1853 | Orange County | Thomas Sumter (1734–1832), general in the American Revolution | 97,756 | ( 1,414 km2) |
546 sq mi|
Suwannee County | 121 | Live Oak | 1858 | Columbia County | The Suwannee River, a 266-mile long river in northern Florida | 41,972 | ( 1,782 km2) |
688 sq mi|
Taylor County | 123 | Perry | 1856 | Madison County | Zachary Taylor (1784–1850), 12th President of the United States | 22,691 | ( 2,699 km2) |
1,042 sq mi|
Union County | 125 | Lake Butler | 1921 | Bradford County | Named for the area's residents united desire to split into a separate county | 15,388 | ( 622 km2) |
240 sq mi|
Volusia County | 127 | DeLand | 1854 | Orange County | The port of Volusia, whose etymology is uncertain; possibly derived from the Native American word for "Land of the Euchees," the term for the area's native inhabitants | 494,804 | ( 2,865 km2) |
1,106 sq mi|
Wakulla County | 129 | Crawfordville | 1843 | Leon County | The Wakulla River, itself named for a Spanish corruption of a Timucuan word used to describe the body of water, but that is of uncertain meaning | 30,978 | ( 1,572 km2) |
607 sq mi|
Walton County | 131 | DeFuniak Springs | 1824 | Escambia County | George Walton, first Secretary of Florida Territory | 55,793 | ( 2,740 km2) |
1,058 sq mi|
Washington County | 133 | Chipley | 1825 | Jackson and Walton counties | George Washington (1732–1799), first President of the United States | 24,935 | ( 1,502 km2) |
580 sq mi
Renamed counties[]
Five counties in Florida have been renamed. Most renamings occurred between 1845 and 1861, during the first sixteen years of Florida's statehood. One occurred in 1997, when Dade County changed its name to Miami-Dade County.
County[4] | Dates[4] | Etymology[4] | Fate[4] |
---|---|---|---|
Benton County | 1844–1850 | Thomas Benton (1782–1858), U.S. Senator from Missouri who supported the Armed Occupation Act of 1842 that many Floridians wanted in order to evict Native Americans | Original name of county was Hernando County, and the name was changed back to that in 1850 |
Dade County | 1836–1997 | Francis L. Dade (c. 1793–1835), Major in the United States Army during the Second Seminole War | Changed to Miami-Dade County in 1997 in order to have a more recognizable name |
Mosquito County | 1824–1845 | Taken from the name the Spanish had given the entire coast, "Los Mosquitos" | Changed to Orange County in 1845 |
New River County | 1858–1861 | The New River | Changed to Bradford County in 1861 |
St. Lucia County | 1844–1855 | Saint Lucy (283–304), the Christian martyr | Changed to Brevard County in 1855 |
Proposed counties[]
Two counties were proposed in Florida's state legislature, but neither actually became counties. A bill was passed by the legislature to create Bloxham County, but residents did not vote to approve it. See Leigh Read County, Florida for the events surrounding the proposed county.
County[4] | Proposal date[4] | Etymology[4] |
---|---|---|
Bloxham County | 1914 | William D. Bloxham (1835–1911), 13th and 17th Governor of Florida |
Leigh Read County | 1842 | Leigh Read, legislator |
Ocean County | 1991 | Atlantic Ocean |
See also[]
- Florida
- List of municipalities in Florida
- List of places in Florida
References[]
- General
- Atlas of Florida, revised edition. Edward A. Fernald & Elizabeth D. Purdum, editors (University Press of Florida, 1996). "Evolution of Counties," pp. 98–99
- Specific
- ^ "A Guide to Alachua County's History". Alachua County Florida. http://www.alachua.fl.us/government/history/?era=2500. Retrieved March 24, 2010.
- ^ "About Florida's Counties". Florida Association of Counties. http://www.fl-counties.com/Pages/About_Floridas_Counties.aspx. Retrieved January 20, 2010.
- ^ "Demographics". Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce. http://wakullacountychamber.com/living-in-wakulla/demographics/. Retrieved 2012-01-30.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Florida County Maps". Florida Center for Instructional Technology – University of South Florida. http://fcit.usf.edu/florida/maps/galleries/county/index.htm. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
- ^ a b "Florida QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/maps/florida_map.html. Retrieved April 23, 2008. (2008 Census estimates)
- ^ "Population Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. December 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. http://web.archive.org/web/20100223204727/http://www.census.gov/popest/states/states.html. Retrieved March 13, 2010. (updated 2008 population estimate)
- ^ a b "United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) County FIPS Code Listing". United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/codes/fl.html. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
- ^ a b "NACo – Find a county". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Find_a_County&Template=/cffiles/counties/state.cfm&state.cfm&statecode=FL. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
- ^ "Florida QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12000.html. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
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