Gilchrist County, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gilchrist County
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Gilchrist County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Florida
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 Florida's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| Founded | December 4, 1925 |
| Named for | Albert W. Gilchrist |
| Seat | Trenton |
| Largest city | Trenton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 355 sq mi (920 km2) |
| • Land | 350 sq mi (900 km2) |
| • Water | 5.6 sq mi (15 km2) 1.6%% |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2020)
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17,864 |
| • Density | 48/sq mi (19/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 3rd |
Gilchrist County is a county in the north central part of Florida, a state in the United States. It was created in 1925 from a part of Alachua County. It is the newest county formed in Florida.
In 2020, about 17,864 people lived here. The main town and county seat is Trenton. Gilchrist County is also part of the larger Gainesville area.
Contents
History of Gilchrist County
Gilchrist County was formed in 1925. It was the very last county to be created in Florida. People first thought about naming it Melon County because watermelons were a big crop there.
But then, Albert W. Gilchrist passed away. He was the Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913. So, the county was named Gilchrist County in his honor instead.
Why the County Was Formed
People living in western Alachua County wanted their own county. They felt they were not being heard enough by the county leaders. The roads were not very good back then. It took too long to travel to Gainesville, which was the county seat.
They also disagreed about a new rule that would make farmers fence in their cattle. Plus, they thought they would get more money from state racetrack earnings if they had their own county.
Nature and Land
When it was formed, Gilchrist County had a lot of farms and forests. It is still mostly a rural area today. Many cool natural springs are found near the Santa Fe River. These include Ginnie Springs, Hart Springs, and Gilchrist Blue Springs. Gilchrist Blue Springs became a Florida state park in 2017.
Historic Buildings to See
Gilchrist County has several old and important buildings. These include:
- First Baptist Church, on East Wade Street
- Gilchrist County Courthouse
- Trenton Depot
- Jennings Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church
- The old Trenton Church of Christ on South Main Street
- Gilchrist County Jail, built in 1926, which was used from 1928 to 1968
Geography of Gilchrist County
Gilchrist County covers about 355 square miles. Most of this area, about 350 square miles, is land. The rest, about 5.6 square miles, is water. It is one of the smallest counties in Florida.
Neighboring Counties
Gilchrist County shares borders with these other counties:
- Columbia County, Florida – to the northeast
- Alachua County, Florida – to the east
- Levy County, Florida – to the south
- Dixie County, Florida – to the southwest
- Suwannee County, Florida – to the northwest
- Lafayette County, Florida – to the northwest
People of Gilchrist County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 4,137 | — | |
| 1940 | 4,250 | 2.7% | |
| 1950 | 3,499 | −17.7% | |
| 1960 | 2,868 | −18.0% | |
| 1970 | 3,551 | 23.8% | |
| 1980 | 5,767 | 62.4% | |
| 1990 | 9,667 | 67.6% | |
| 2000 | 14,437 | 49.3% | |
| 2010 | 16,939 | 17.3% | |
| 2020 | 17,864 | 5.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 19,587 | 15.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2019 |
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The population of Gilchrist County has changed over the years. In 2020, there were 17,864 people living in the county. There were 6,701 households and 4,463 families.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White (NH) | 14,882 | 14,827 | 87.86% | 83.0% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 884 | 788 | 5.22% | 4.41% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 63 | 62 | 0.37% | 0.35% |
| Asian (NH) | 59 | 56 | 0.35% | 0.31% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 1 | 2 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 12 | 45 | 0.07% | 0.25% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 193 | 736 | 1.14% | 4.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 845 | 1,348 | 4.99% | 7.55% |
| Total | 16,939 | 17,864 |
In 2000, about 24.4% of the people were under 18 years old. About 13.6% were 65 years or older. The average age was 35 years.
Economy
The Trenton State Farmer's Market is an important place for business. It is located on State Road 47, just north of Trenton.
Library
The Gilchrist County Public Library is part of a bigger library system. This system also helps people in Dixie, Lafayette, and Taylor counties.
Communities
Cities
- Fanning Springs (part of this city is also in Levy County)
- Trenton (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Town
Census-designated place
Other Unincorporated Communities
Transportation
Major Highways
US 19
US 98
US 27 Alt.
US 129
SR 26
SR 47
Notable People
- Easton Corbin, a country music singer, is from Gilchrist County.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Gilchrist para niños
