Dixie County, Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Dixie County

U.S. county

Dixie County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Florida

Florida's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Florida

Founded

April 25, 1921

Named for

Dixieland

Seat

Cross City

Largest town

Cross City

Area

• Total

864 sq mi (2,240 km²)

• Land

705 sq mi (1,830 km²)

• Water

159 sq mi (410 km²) 18.4%%

Population

(2020)

• Total

16,759

• Density

24/sq mi (9/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

3rd

Dixie County is a county in the northern part of Florida, a state in the U.S. It's in a special area called the Big Bend. In 2020, about 16,759 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Cross City.

History of Dixie County
Geography of Dixie County
- Neighboring Counties
- Protected Natural Areas
Population and People
Interesting Places to Visit
Dixie County Library
Towns and Communities
- Towns
- Unincorporated Communities
Transportation
- Airports
- Major Highways
See also

History of Dixie County

Dixie County was created in 1921. It was formed from the southern part of Lafayette County. The county got its name from "Dixie". This is a common nickname for the southern United States.

Geography of Dixie County

Dixie County covers a total area of about 864 square miles. Most of this area, 705 square miles, is land. The rest, 159 square miles, is water. This means about 18.4% of the county is covered by water.

Neighboring Counties

Dixie County shares borders with several other counties:

Taylor County to the northwest
Lafayette County to the north
Gilchrist County to the east
Levy County to the southeast

Protected Natural Areas

Part of the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is located in Dixie County. This refuge helps protect wildlife and their homes.

Population and People

The number of people living in Dixie County has changed over the years. In 1930, there were 6,419 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 16,759. The county is still growing, with an estimated 17,465 people in 2023.

In 2020, there were 6,233 households in the county. A household is a group of people living together. There were also 4,320 families. The average age of people in the county was 41 years old.

Interesting Places to Visit

Dixie County has some unique spots to explore:

City of Hawkinsville – This is a sunken steamboat in the Suwannee River. It's near Old Town. It is one of Florida's special underwater historical sites.
Old Town Elementary School – This old school building is now the Dixie County Cultural Center.
Old Town Methodist Church – This church was built in 1890. It stands behind the newer church building from 1983.
Putnam Lodge – Located in Cross City, this lodge was built by the Putnam Lumber Company. It served their nearby lumber town called Shamrock.

Dixie County Library

The Dixie County Library is a part of the Three Rivers Regional Library System. This system also serves Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Taylor counties. The library is located at 16328 SE 19th Highway in Cross City, Florida. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.