High Springs, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
High Springs, Florida
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| City of High Springs | |
Top, left to right: downtown area, water tower, city hall, Priest Theatre, old railroad depot
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Location in Alachua County and the state of Florida
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| Country | United States of America |
| State | Florida |
| County | Alachua |
| Incorporated | 1892 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission–Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 21.97 sq mi (56.89 km2) |
| • Land | 21.89 sq mi (56.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.08 sq mi (0.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 66 ft (20 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,215 |
| • Density | 283.95/sq mi (109.63/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
32643, 32655
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| Area code(s) | 386 |
| FIPS code | 12-30525 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0307633 |
High Springs is a city in Alachua County, Florida, in the United States. It is the fourth-largest city in Alachua County. It is also the seventh-largest city in North Central Florida. In 2020, 6,215 people lived there. This was more than the 5,350 people counted in 2010. High Springs is part of the larger Gainesville, Florida area.
Contents
History of High Springs
The area where High Springs is today was first settled by English-speaking people in the late 1830s. One of the first settlements was at Crockett Springs. This place was about three miles east of where High Springs is now. Early settlers lived there in the 1840s. These included Fernando Underwood and Marshal Blanton.
A real town started to grow in the early 1880s. This happened after the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway was built. Also, several mines for phosphate were opened. A train station and a post office were set up in 1884. The post office was first called Santaffey. A few months later, it was renamed Santa Fe. The next year, it became Orion. Finally, in 1888, it was named High Springs. The town officially became a city in 1892. By the end of the 1890s, the city had over 1,500 people. It was the second-largest city in the county at that time.
Geography of High Springs
High Springs is located at 28°49′N 82°36′W / 28.817°N 82.600°W.
The city covers a total area of 22.0 square miles (57.1 km2). Most of this area, 22.0 square miles (56.9 km2), is land. Only a small part, 0.077 square miles (0.2 km2), is water.
Climate in High Springs
High Springs has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. It gets a good amount of rain throughout the year.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 1,562 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,468 | −6.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,719 | 17.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,864 | 8.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,010 | 7.8% | |
| 1950 | 2,088 | 3.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,329 | 11.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,787 | 19.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,491 | −10.6% | |
| 1990 | 3,144 | 26.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,863 | 22.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,350 | 38.5% | |
| 2020 | 6,215 | 16.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Changes (2010 and 2020)
The city's population grew from 5,350 people in 2010 to 6,215 people in 2020. This shows that more people are choosing to live in High Springs.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 4,116 | 4,503 | 76.93% | 72.45% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 730 | 728 | 13.64% | 11.71% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 23 | 16 | 0.43% | 0.26% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 44 | 0.71% | 0.71% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 6 | 0 | 0.11% | 0.00% |
| Some other race (NH) | 8 | 35 | 0.15% | 0.56% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 76 | 284 | 1.42% | 4.57% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 353 | 605 | 6.60% | 9.73% |
| Total | 5,350 | 6,215 |
In 2020, there were 6,215 people living in High Springs. These people lived in 1,829 households. About 1,424 of these were families.
Education in High Springs
The School Board of Alachua County runs a school in High Springs. It is called the High Springs Community School. This school teaches students from kindergarten up to eighth grade. Students in ninth through twelfth grade go to Santa Fe High School. This high school is in the nearby city of Alachua.
High Springs Library
The Alachua County Library District has a branch library in downtown High Springs. It is located on NW 1st Avenue. The library is open every day of the week. It offers many programs for people of all ages. You can borrow books, audiobooks, music CDs, and DVDs there. The library also provides free computer and internet access for everyone.
The first library branch in High Springs opened in 1959. It was outside of Gainesville. The North Florida Telephone Company let the High Springs Parent-Teacher Association use their empty building. After many years of fundraising by the community, a new library building was started in 1976. The current library building opened on January 3, 1977. To move the books to the new library, children from High Springs formed a long human chain. They passed the books from the old building to the new one.
Notable People from High Springs
- Wes Skiles: He was a famous cave diving explorer and cinematographer.
- Charlie Huggins: He used to be the President of the Alaska State Senate.
- Ellis Amburn: He was a book editor and wrote biographies.
- Myril Hoag: He was a former MLB All-Star player.
See also
In Spanish: High Springs para niños
