Levy County, Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Levy County
U.S. county
Levy County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	March 10, 1845
Named for	David Levy Yulee
Seat	Bronson
Largest city	Williston
Area
• Total	1,413 sq mi (3,660 km²)
• Land	1,118 sq mi (2,900 km²)
• Water	295 sq mi (760 km²) 20.9%%
Population (2020)
• Total	42,915
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km²)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd

Levy County Courthouse, in Bronson

Levy County (pronounced LEE-vee) is a county found on the Gulf Coast in the northwestern part of Florida. In 2020, about 42,915 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Bronson. Since 2018, Levy County has been part of the larger Gainesville area.

History of Levy County

Levy County was created in 1845, after the Seminole Wars. It was named after David Levy Yulee, an important person in Florida's history. He was chosen in 1841 to represent Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives.

When Florida became a state, David Levy Yulee was elected as one of its first two U.S. senators. He served from 1845 to 1851, and again from 1855 to 1861. He was the first Jewish American person to be elected to the United States Senate.

David Levy Yulee helped Florida grow by building the state's first railroad. This railroad, called the Florida Railroad, connected the important ports of Fernandina on the Atlantic Ocean and Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico. He also built other smaller railroads across central Florida. Because of his hard work, he is known as "the father of Florida railroads."

Geography of Levy County

Levy County covers a total area of about 1,413 square miles. Most of this (1,118 square miles) is land, and the rest (295 square miles, or 20.9%) is water.

Neighboring Counties

Levy County shares its borders with these other counties:

Dixie County — to the west
Gilchrist County — to the north
Alachua County — to the northeast
Marion County — to the east
Citrus County — to the south

Protected Natural Areas

Levy County is home to parts of these special natural areas:

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (part of it)

People of Levy County

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	465	—
1860	1,781	283.0%
1870	2,018	13.3%
1880	5,767	185.8%
1890	6,586	14.2%
1900	8,603	30.6%
1910	10,361	20.4%
1920	9,921	−4.2%
1930	12,456	25.6%
1940	12,550	0.8%
1950	10,637	−15.2%
1960	10,364	−2.6%
1970	12,756	23.1%
1980	19,870	55.8%
1990	25,923	30.5%
2000	34,450	32.9%
2010	40,801	18.4%
2020	42,915	5.2%
2023 (est.)	46,545	14.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2015 2019

The population of Levy County has grown a lot over the years. In 1850, only 465 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 42,915 people.

**Levy County racial composition as of 2020**
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	32,958	32,874	80.78%	76.6%
Black or African American (NH)	3,756	3,597	9.21%	8.38%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	129	122	0.32%	0.28%
Asian (NH)	228	292	0.56%	0.68%
Pacific Islander (NH)	14	11	0.03%	0.03%
Some Other Race (NH)	48	170	0.12%	0.4%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	621	1,769	1.52%	4.12%
Hispanic or Latino	3,047	4,080	7.47%	9.51%
Total	40,801	42,915

In 2020, there were 42,915 people living in Levy County. These people lived in 16,971 households, which are like homes or apartments. About 10,747 of these households were families.

Proposed Nuclear Power Plant

In 2008, a company called Progress Energy Florida planned to build a nuclear power plant in Levy County. They wanted to build up to two large reactors that could produce a lot of electricity.

The company applied for a special license to build the plant. This process involved a long review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. However, in 2013, the company decided to cancel their plans to build the plant.

Education in Levy County

Public Schools

The School Board of Levy County is in charge of running the public schools in the area.

Public Libraries

The Levy County Public Library System has five different branches where you can find books and other resources.

Bronson Public Library
Cedar Key Public Library
Luther Callaway Public Library (in Chiefland)
Williston Public Library
A.F. Knotts Public Library (in Yankeetown)

Transportation in Levy County

Airports

Levy County has a few airports:

George T. Lewis Airport
Williston Municipal Airport
Ames Field

Public Transit

Levy County Transit offers public bus services.

Railroads

Levy County has one main railroad line. It runs through eastern Levy County, mostly along US 41. This line is used for carrying freight. There are also old, unused railroad lines that once helped transport goods and people. Part of one old line is now a walking and biking path called the Nature Coast State Trail.

Major Roads

Many important roads run through Levy County, connecting different towns and areas. Here are some of the main ones:

US 19 / US 98 (SR 55) is a major road in western Levy County.
US 27 runs from Marion County and joins US 41 in Williston.
US 27 Alt. (SR 500) is an alternate route of US 27 that connects Williston to Chiefland.
US 41 (SR 45) is a main road in eastern Levy County.
US 129 (SR 49) goes northeast from Chiefland and then north towards Georgia.
SR 24 is an east-west highway that goes through the middle of the county, from Cedar Key to Alachua County.
SR 121 runs from Lebanon Junction through Williston and into Alachua County.
SR 320 connects Manatee Springs State Park with US 19/98/Alternate US 27 in Chiefland.
SR 345 / CR 345 is a combined county and state road from Rosewood to Chiefland.
CR 40 runs mostly east and west through southern Levy County. Part of it is called "Follow That Dream Boulevard" after an Elvis Presley movie.
CR 326 is an east-west road through southeastern Levy County. It goes through Goethe State Forest and into Marion County.
CR 336 runs southeast and northwest through southwestern Levy County in two parts.
CR 337 runs south and north through central Levy County, and also into Alachua and Gilchrist counties. It goes through Bronson.