Dade City, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dade City, Florida
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Downtown Dade City (2024)
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| Nickname(s):
"Tree City, U.S.A."
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| Motto(s):
"Proud Heritage, Promising Future"
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Location of Dade City, Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Pasco |
| Settled | 1870s-1880s |
| Incorporated | 1884 or 1885 |
| Reincorporated | 1889 |
| Named for | Francis L. Dade |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-City Manager form of government |
| Area | |
| • City | 7.813 sq mi (20.236 km2) |
| • Land | 7.586 sq mi (19.648 km2) |
| • Water | 0.227 sq mi (0.589 km2) |
| Elevation | 118 ft (36 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 7,275 |
| • Estimate
(2023)
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8,646 |
| • Density | 1,246.82/sq mi (481.39/km2) |
| • Urban | 20,304 |
| Demonym(s) | Dade Citian |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
33523, 33525, 33526
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-16125 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0281254 |
Dade City is a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States. It is the main city, also known as the county seat, of Pasco County. Dade City is located in the Tampa Bay Area, northeast of Tampa and southwest of Orlando. In 2020, about 7,275 people lived there. The current Mayor of Dade City is Scott Black.
The city is named after Francis L. Dade, a U.S. Army Major. He was killed in the Dade Battle, which started the Second Seminole War. Dade City is known for its gentle hills and a calm, "Old Florida" feeling.
Contents
History of Dade City
An older community called Fort Dade was nearby in the 1870s and 1880s. When a railroad was built a few miles east, businesses moved closer to it. This new town became Dade City. The name became official in 1884.
Dade City first became an official city in 1884 or 1885. It was made official again in 1889. When Pasco County was created in 1887, Dade City became its county seat after a public vote.
Pioneer Florida Museum
The Pioneer Florida Museum opened in 1975. It shows what life was like for early settlers in Central Florida. The museum has many old items and exhibits. These include a 1913 train engine, an old church, a house built before the American Civil War, an old school, and a train station from Trilby, Florida.
Hugh Embry Library
The Hugh Embry Library started in 1904. A young man named Hugh Embry, who was recovering from an illness, wanted to read. Since there was no public library, he asked for book donations from homes. He created a small library in his own house.
His efforts made the community excited about a bigger library. This led to the creation of the Pasco County Library Association in 1905. After Hugh Embry passed away at age 28, the library faced challenges. However, active community members kept it going. The library moved several times and finally reached its current spot in 1963. The building was fully updated in the late 1980s and reopened in 1991.
Old Theaters and Growth
The Crescent Theatre was Dade City's main movie theater from 1926 to 1950. It was located downtown. The front of the building was saved, and it is now used as a center for seniors.
The Pasco Theater was another movie theater that operated from 1948 to 1999. This theater has since been taken down.
Lawrence Puckett, who lived in Dade City from 1925, became mayor from 1981 to 1983. He wrote about the city as it was when he first arrived. During the Florida land boom, many people moved to the state. This caused property prices to go up everywhere. In Dade City, many people made money from real estate and related businesses.
During World War II, a prisoner-of-war camp was set up in Dade City. German soldiers captured in North Africa were held there. They helped by making limestone bricks, building warehouses, and creating boxes. The camp was open from about 1942 to 1946. Today, this site is the Pyracantha Park Civic Center.
Geography of Dade City
Dade City is located at 28°21′42″N 82°11′36″W / 28.361774°N 82.193319°W.
The city covers about 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) of land. Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. Dade City has gently rolling hills. The land rises from about 60 feet to 100 feet high.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 321 | — | |
| 1900 | 509 | 58.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,066 | 109.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,296 | 21.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,811 | 39.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,561 | 41.4% | |
| 1950 | 3,006 | 17.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,759 | 58.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,241 | −10.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,923 | 16.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,633 | 14.4% | |
| 2000 | 6,188 | 9.9% | |
| 2010 | 6,437 | 4.0% | |
| 2020 | 7,275 | 13.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 8,646 | 34.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2020 Census |
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In 2022, there were about 2,505 homes in Dade City. Each home had about 2.74 people on average. The average income for a household was $63,493. About 12.8% of the people in the city lived below the poverty line. About 46.3% of the population had jobs. Also, 23.3% had a college degree or higher, and 83.6% had a high school diploma.
The most common backgrounds reported were English (82.7%) and Spanish (17.2%). The average age in the city was 40.4 years old.
2020 Census Details
| Race / ethnicity (NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000 | Pop. 2010 | Pop. 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 3,616 | 3,682 | 3,824 | 58.44% | 57.20% | 52.56% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,482 | 1,294 | 1,263 | 23.95% | 20.10% | 17.36% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 19 | 6 | 21 | 0.31% | 0.09% | 0.29% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 37 | 28 | 41 | 0.60% | 0.43% | 0.56% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 9 | 5 | 0.05% | 0.14% | 0.07% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 5 | 7 | 19 | 0.08% | 0.11% | 0.26% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 51 | 82 | 238 | 0.82% | 1.27% | 3.27% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 975 | 1,329 | 1,864 | 15.76% | 20.65% | 25.62% |
| Total | 6,188 | 6,437 | 7,275 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
According to the 2020 United States census, Dade City had 7,275 people. There were 2,718 households and 1,707 families. The city had about 1178 people per square mile. There were 3,227 housing units.
The population was made up of:
- 58.86% White
- 17.79% African American
- 0.66% Native American
- 0.58% Asian
- 0.08% Pacific Islander
- 9.68% from other races
- 12.36% from two or more races
About 25.62% of the population was Hispanic or Latino. About 21.2% of residents were under 18 years old. Also, 3.4% were under 5 years old, and 24.7% were 65 or older. The population was 45.9% male and 54.1% female.
Culture and Fun Events
Dade City is a popular place for tourists. People enjoy its antique shops, old buildings, and famous events.
- Kumquat Festival: This festival happens every year in January. It celebrates the kumquat, a small citrus fruit grown locally. Thousands of people come to enjoy it.
- Dade City Cruise In: A car show held every first Saturday from September to May. It takes place around the historic courthouse square.
- Christmas Events: During the holiday season, there is an annual Christmas parade in December. You can also enjoy the Country Christmas Stroll and Church Street Christmas later in the month.
Downtown Dade City
Downtown Dade City is known for its charming shops and many restaurants. You can find businesses like Kiefer Jewelers, The Book Shack, and Treehouse Mercantile. Restaurants include Florida Cracker Lunch on Limoges, Del Carmen Mexican restaurant, and Olio, which serves Italian food.
Dade City Hall is located downtown on Meridian Avenue, next to the police station. The Hugh Embry branch library is right across the street from city hall. It is part of the Pasco County Library Cooperative.
The beautiful Pasco County Courthouse is the main building in historic downtown Dade City. It was designed by architect Edward Columbus Hosford and finished in 1909.
Wells Fargo is now in the two-story brick building across from the courthouse. This building was first opened by the Bank of Pasco County in 1891. It was the first brick building ever built in Dade City.
Getting Around Dade City
Main Roads
- US 98 / US 301 (Gall Boulevard / US 98 Bypass) is the main road running north and south through Dade City.
- FL 52 (Clinton Avenue) is a main east-west road. It runs through central Pasco County.
- CR 41 (Fort King Road/17th Street/Meridian Avenue/21st Street/Blanton Road) is an extension of a state road.
- CR 52 (San Antonio Road/21st Street/Meridian Avenue) was a main east-west road until February 2023.
Airports
The city is served by the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.
Railroads
Passenger train service used to be available at the Atlantic Coast Line depot. Since 2004, the depot only offers bus service that connects to trains in Jacksonville and Lakeland.
CSX Transportation provides freight train service to Dade City.
Local Bus Service
Pasco County Public Transportation offers local bus service on routes 30 and 31 in Dade City.
Famous People from Dade City
- Martha Barnett: An attorney and former president of the American Bar Association.
- Kurt S. Browning: A politician and Superintendent of Schools for Pasco County, Florida.
- Jim Courier: A professional tennis player.
- Dallas Eakins: An NHL coach.
- Dave Eiland: An MLB pitcher.
- Joey Ivie: An NFL player.
- Roy Roberts: An actor.
- Michael Penix: An NFL player.
In Spanish: Dade City para niños
