List of counties in Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Counties of Florida
Location	State of Florida
Number	67
Populations	7,706 (Liberty) – 2,686,867 (Miami-Dade)
Areas	240 square miles (620 km2) (Union) – 2,034 square miles (5,270 km2) (Palm Beach)
Government	County government
Subdivisions	Communities

Population by county:     0–49,999      50,000–99,999      100,000–199,999      200,000–299,999      300,000–499,999      500,000–749,999      750,000–999,999      1,000,000–1,499,999      1,500,000–1,999,999      2,000,000+

Florida is a state in the United States. It has 67 areas called counties. These counties help the state government manage different regions. When Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821, it only had two counties: Escambia in the west and St. Johns in the east. These two were separated by the Suwannee River. All other counties were later created from these first two. Florida became the 27th U.S. state in 1845. The newest county, Gilchrist County, was formed in 1925 from part of Alachua County.

Counties in Florida are like smaller divisions of the state government. They have their own local governments. Since 1968, counties have been able to create their own rules, called charters. Most counties have a main town or city called a county seat. This is where the county government offices are located. Only two county seats in Florida are not official cities: Crawfordville in Wakulla County and East Naples in Collier County.

The names of Florida's counties tell stories about its history and culture. Some are named after important people from the Confederate era or Spanish explorers. This shows the influence of Spain on the state. Other names come from Christian saints, Native American places, or important U.S. leaders. Natural features like rivers, lakes, and plants are also common names for counties. For example, Miami-Dade County is partly named after Francis L. Dade, a U.S. Army major. Osceola County is named after Osceola, a leader of the Seminole people during the Second Seminole War.

The population numbers are based on estimates from 2023. Florida's total population is about 22.6 million people. This is a 5% increase since 2020. On average, a Florida county has about 337,474 people. Miami-Dade County is the most populated with over 2.6 million people. Liberty County is the least populated with about 7,706 people. The average land size of a county is about 805 square miles (2,085 km²). Collier County is the largest county by land area.

Exploring Florida's Counties

This section lists all the counties in Florida. You can see when each county was created and what it was formed from. You can also learn about how each county got its name.

County	FIPS code	County seat	Est.	Formed from	Etymology	Density	Population	Area	Map
Alachua County	001	Gainesville	1824	Duval and St. Johns	From a Seminole-Creek word meaning "jug", likely for the sinkholes in the area	327.22	&&&&&&&&&0285994.&&&&&0285,994	&&&&&&&&&&&&0874.&&&&&0874 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02264.&&&&&02,264 km2)
Baker County	003	Macclenny	1861	New River	James McNair Baker (1821–1892), a senator and judge during the Civil War	48.49	&&&&&&&&&&028368.&&&&&028,368	&&&&&&&&&&&&0585.&&&&&0585 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01515.&&&&&01,515 km2)
Bay County	005	Panama City	1913	Calhoun and Washington	St. Andrew's Bay, a key water feature in the county	249.70	&&&&&&&&&0190769.&&&&&0190,769	&&&&&&&&&&&&0764.&&&&&0764 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01979.&&&&&01,979 km2)
Bradford County	007	Starke	1858	Columbia named New River until 1861	Richard Bradford, the first Florida officer to die in the Civil War	95.08	&&&&&&&&&&027858.&&&&&027,858	&&&&&&&&&&&&0293.&&&&&0293 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&&0759.&&&&&0759 km2)
Brevard County	009	Titusville	1844	Hillsborough and Mosquito named St. Lucie until 1855	Theodore Washington Brevard, an early settler and state comptroller	632.59	&&&&&&&&&0643979.&&&&&0643,979	&&&&&&&&&&&01018.&&&&&01,018 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02637.&&&&&02,637 km2)
Broward County	011	Fort Lauderdale	1915	Miami-Dade and Palm Beach	Napoleon Bonaparte Broward (1857–1910), a former governor of Florida	1623.27	&&&&&&&&01962531.&&&&&01,962,531	&&&&&&&&&&&01209.&&&&&01,209 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&03131.&&&&&03,131 km2)
Calhoun County	013	Blountstown	1838	Franklin, Jackson, and Washington	John C. Calhoun (1782–1850), a major politician from South Carolina	23.76	&&&&&&&&&&013470.&&&&&013,470	&&&&&&&&&&&&0567.&&&&&0567 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01469.&&&&&01,469 km2)
Charlotte County	015	Punta Gorda	1921	DeSoto	Likely from the name of the Calusa, a Native American group	297.02	&&&&&&&&&0206134.&&&&&0206,134	&&&&&&&&&&&&0694.&&&&&0694 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01797.&&&&&01,797 km2)
Citrus County	017	Inverness	1887	Hernando	The county's many citrus fruit trees	285.44	&&&&&&&&&0166696.&&&&&0166,696	&&&&&&&&&&&&0584.&&&&&0584 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01513.&&&&&01,513 km2)
Clay County	019	Green Cove Springs	1858	Duval	Henry Clay (1777–1852), a U.S. Secretary of State	386.75	&&&&&&&&&0232439.&&&&&0232,439	&&&&&&&&&&&&0601.&&&&&0601 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01557.&&&&&01,557 km2)
Collier County	021	East Naples	1923	Lee	Barron Collier (1873–1939), a businessman who developed much of southern Florida	199.56	&&&&&&&&&0404310.&&&&&0404,310	&&&&&&&&&&&02026.&&&&&02,026 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&05247.&&&&&05,247 km2)
Columbia County	023	Lake City	1832	Alachua	Christopher Columbus (c. 1451–1506), the famous explorer of the Americas	91.67	&&&&&&&&&&073063.&&&&&073,063	&&&&&&&&&&&&0797.&&&&&0797 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02064.&&&&&02,064 km2)
DeSoto County	027	Arcadia	1887	Manatee	Hernando de Soto (c. 1496/1497–1542), a Spanish explorer	56.48	&&&&&&&&&&035979.&&&&&035,979	&&&&&&&&&&&&0637.&&&&&0637 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01650.&&&&&01,650 km2)
Dixie County	029	Cross City	1921	Lafayette	Dixie, a common nickname for the Southern United States	24.81	&&&&&&&&&&017465.&&&&&017,465	&&&&&&&&&&&&0704.&&&&&0704 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01823.&&&&&01,823 km2)
Duval County	031	Jacksonville	1822	St. Johns	William Pope Duval (1784–1854), Florida Territory's first governor	1331.81	&&&&&&&&01030822.&&&&&01,030,822	&&&&&&&&&&&&0774.&&&&&0774 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02005.&&&&&02,005 km2)
Escambia County	033	Pensacola	1821	One of the two original counties	Its origin is debated; possibly from a Native American word for "clear water"	492.36	&&&&&&&&&0326928.&&&&&0326,928	&&&&&&&&&&&&0664.&&&&&0664 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01720.&&&&&01,720 km2)
Flagler County	035	Bunnell	1917	St. Johns and Volusia	Henry Morrison Flagler (1830–1913), who founded the Florida East Coast Railway	271.01	&&&&&&&&&0131439.&&&&&0131,439	&&&&&&&&&&&&0485.&&&&&0485 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01256.&&&&&01,256 km2)
Franklin County	037	Apalachicola	1832	Gadsden and Washington	Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the U.S.	23.58	&&&&&&&&&&012594.&&&&&012,594	&&&&&&&&&&&&0534.&&&&&0534 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01383.&&&&&01,383 km2)
Gadsden County	039	Quincy	1823	Jackson	James Gadsden (1788–1858), an American diplomat	84.95	&&&&&&&&&&043833.&&&&&043,833	&&&&&&&&&&&&0516.&&&&&0516 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01336.&&&&&01,336 km2)
Gilchrist County	041	Trenton	1925	Alachua	Albert W. Gilchrist (1858–1926), the 20th governor of Florida	56.12	&&&&&&&&&&019587.&&&&&019,587	&&&&&&&&&&&&0349.&&&&&0349 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&&0904.&&&&&0904 km2)
Glades County	043	Moore Haven	1921	DeSoto	The Florida Everglades wetlands	16.52	&&&&&&&&&&012786.&&&&&012,786	&&&&&&&&&&&&0774.&&&&&0774 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02005.&&&&&02,005 km2)
Gulf County	045	Port St. Joe	1925	Calhoun	The Gulf of Mexico	27.78	&&&&&&&&&&015693.&&&&&015,693	&&&&&&&&&&&&0565.&&&&&0565 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01463.&&&&&01,463 km2)
Hamilton County	047	Jasper	1827	Jefferson	Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804), the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury	26.16	&&&&&&&&&&013471.&&&&&013,471	&&&&&&&&&&&&0515.&&&&&0515 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01334.&&&&&01,334 km2)
Hardee County	049	Wauchula	1921	DeSoto	Cary A. Hardee (1876–1957), governor of Florida when the county was created	40.44	&&&&&&&&&&025760.&&&&&025,760	&&&&&&&&&&&&0637.&&&&&0637 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01650.&&&&&01,650 km2)
Hendry County	051	LaBelle	1923	Lee	Francis A. Hendry (1833–1917), an early Florida politician	37.58	&&&&&&&&&&043333.&&&&&043,333	&&&&&&&&&&&01153.&&&&&01,153 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02986.&&&&&02,986 km2)
Hernando County	053	Brooksville	1843	Alachua and Hillsborough named Benton from 1844 to 1850	Hernando de Soto (c. 1496/1497–1542), a Spanish explorer	445.20	&&&&&&&&&0212807.&&&&&0212,807	&&&&&&&&&&&&0478.&&&&&0478 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01238.&&&&&01,238 km2)
Highlands County	055	Sebring	1921	DeSoto	Named for the county's hilly land	104.68	&&&&&&&&&0107614.&&&&&0107,614	&&&&&&&&&&&01028.&&&&&01,028 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02663.&&&&&02,663 km2)
Hillsborough County	057	Tampa	1834	Alachua	Wills Hill, Earl of Hillsborough (1718–1793), a former British Secretary of State	1461.05	&&&&&&&&01535564.&&&&&01,535,564	&&&&&&&&&&&01051.&&&&&01,051 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02722.&&&&&02,722 km2)
Holmes County	059	Bonifay	1848	Jackson and Walton	Holmes Creek, a waterway forming the county's eastern border	41.38	&&&&&&&&&&019944.&&&&&019,944	&&&&&&&&&&&&0482.&&&&&0482 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01248.&&&&&01,248 km2)
Indian River County	061	Vero Beach	1925	St. Lucie	The Indian River Lagoon, which flows through the county	337.56	&&&&&&&&&0169795.&&&&&0169,795	&&&&&&&&&&&&0503.&&&&&0503 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01303.&&&&&01,303 km2)
Jackson County	063	Marianna	1822	Escambia	Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the seventh U.S. President	53.08	&&&&&&&&&&048622.&&&&&048,622	&&&&&&&&&&&&0916.&&&&&0916 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02372.&&&&&02,372 km2)
Jefferson County	065	Monticello	1827	Leon	Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the third U.S. President	25.84	&&&&&&&&&&015450.&&&&&015,450	&&&&&&&&&&&&0598.&&&&&0598 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01549.&&&&&01,549 km2)
Lafayette County	067	Mayo	1856	Madison	Marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), a French general in the American Revolutionary War	14.88	&&&&&&&&&&&08078.&&&&&08,078	&&&&&&&&&&&&0543.&&&&&0543 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01406.&&&&&01,406 km2)
Lake County	069	Tavares	1887	Orange and Sumter	Named for the many lakes in the region	445.40	&&&&&&&&&0424462.&&&&&0424,462	&&&&&&&&&&&&0953.&&&&&0953 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02468.&&&&&02,468 km2)
Lee County	071	Fort Myers	1887	Monroe	Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), a Confederate general during the Civil War	1038.03	&&&&&&&&&0834573.&&&&&0834,573	&&&&&&&&&&&&0804.&&&&&0804 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02082.&&&&&02,082 km2)
Leon County	073	Tallahassee	1824	Gadsden	Juan Ponce de León (1474–1521), the Spanish explorer who named Florida	445.15	&&&&&&&&&0296913.&&&&&0296,913	&&&&&&&&&&&&0667.&&&&&0667 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01728.&&&&&01,728 km2)
Levy County	075	Bronson	1845	Alachua	David Levy Yulee (1810–1886), one of Florida's first U.S. Senators	41.63	&&&&&&&&&&046545.&&&&&046,545	&&&&&&&&&&&01118.&&&&&01,118 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02896.&&&&&02,896 km2)
Liberty County	077	Bristol	1855	Gadsden	The patriotic idea of liberty	9.22	&&&&&&&&&&&07706.&&&&&07,706	&&&&&&&&&&&&0836.&&&&&0836 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02165.&&&&&02,165 km2)
Madison County	079	Madison	1827	Jefferson	James Madison (1751–1836), the fourth U.S. President	26.76	&&&&&&&&&&018519.&&&&&018,519	&&&&&&&&&&&&0692.&&&&&0692 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01792.&&&&&01,792 km2)
Manatee County	081	Bradenton	1855	Hillsborough	The manatee, a sea cow native to Florida	595.27	&&&&&&&&&0441095.&&&&&0441,095	&&&&&&&&&&&&0741.&&&&&0741 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01919.&&&&&01,919 km2)
Marion County	083	Ocala	1844	Alachua, Hillsborough, and Mosquito	Francis Marion (c. 1732–1795), a military officer during the American Revolution	259.63	&&&&&&&&&0409959.&&&&&0409,959	&&&&&&&&&&&01579.&&&&&01,579 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&04090.&&&&&04,090 km2)
Martin County	085	Stuart	1925	Palm Beach	John W. Martin (1884–1958), governor of Florida when the county was created	293.73	&&&&&&&&&0163315.&&&&&0163,315	&&&&&&&&&&&&0556.&&&&&0556 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01440.&&&&&01,440 km2)
Miami-Dade County	086	Miami	1836	Monroe named Dade until 1997	The City of Miami and Francis L. Dade (c. 1793–1835), a Major in the U.S. Army	1380.71	&&&&&&&&02686867.&&&&&02,686,867	&&&&&&&&&&&01946.&&&&&01,946 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&05040.&&&&&05,040 km2)
Monroe County	087	Key West	1823	St. Johns	James Monroe (1758–1831), the fifth U.S. President	80.86	&&&&&&&&&&080614.&&&&&080,614	&&&&&&&&&&&&0997.&&&&&0997 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02582.&&&&&02,582 km2)
Nassau County	089	Fernandina Beach	1824	Duval	Duchy of Nassau in Germany	155.68	&&&&&&&&&0101501.&&&&&0101,501	&&&&&&&&&&&&0652.&&&&&0652 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01689.&&&&&01,689 km2)
Okaloosa County	091	Crestview	1915	Santa Rosa and Walton	A Choctaw word meaning "a pleasant place" or "beautiful place"	233.40	&&&&&&&&&0218464.&&&&&0218,464	&&&&&&&&&&&&0936.&&&&&0936 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02424.&&&&&02,424 km2)
Okeechobee County	093	Okeechobee	1917	Osceola and St. Lucie	Lake Okeechobee, from Native American words for "big water"	53.52	&&&&&&&&&&041427.&&&&&041,427	&&&&&&&&&&&&0774.&&&&&0774 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02005.&&&&&02,005 km2)
Orange County	095	Orlando	1824	St. Johns named Mosquito until 1845	The fruit that was the county's main product	1620.50	&&&&&&&&01471416.&&&&&01,471,416	&&&&&&&&&&&&0908.&&&&&0908 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02352.&&&&&02,352 km2)
Osceola County	097	Kissimmee	1887	Brevard and Orange	Osceola (1804–1838), a leader of the Seminole tribe	331.15	&&&&&&&&&0437784.&&&&&0437,784	&&&&&&&&&&&01322.&&&&&01,322 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&03424.&&&&&03,424 km2)
Palm Beach County	099	West Palm Beach	1909	Miami Dade County	The county's many palm trees	754.08	&&&&&&&&01533801.&&&&&01,533,801	&&&&&&&&&&&02034.&&&&&02,034 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&05268.&&&&&05,268 km2)
Pasco County	101	Dade City	1887	Hernando	Samuel Pasco (1834–1917), a U.S. Senator	849.66	&&&&&&&&&0632996.&&&&&0632,996	&&&&&&&&&&&&0745.&&&&&0745 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01930.&&&&&01,930 km2)
Pinellas County	103	Clearwater	1912	Hillsborough	From the Spanish Punta Piñal, meaning "Point of Pines"	3434.27	&&&&&&&&&0961596.&&&&&0961,596	&&&&&&&&&&&&0280.&&&&&0280 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&&0725.&&&&&0725 km2)
Polk County	105	Bartow	1861	Brevard and Hillsborough	James K. Polk (1795–1849), the 11th U.S. President	436.44	&&&&&&&&&0818330.&&&&&0818,330	&&&&&&&&&&&01875.&&&&&01,875 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&04856.&&&&&04,856 km2)
Putnam County	107	Palatka	1849	Alachua and St. Johns	Benjamin A. Putnam (1801–1869), a soldier and legislator	105.20	&&&&&&&&&&075955.&&&&&075,955	&&&&&&&&&&&&0722.&&&&&0722 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01870.&&&&&01,870 km2)
St. Johns County	109	St. Augustine	1821	One of the two original counties	Named after the St. Johns River, which got its name from San Juan del Puerto	525.63	&&&&&&&&&0320110.&&&&&0320,110	&&&&&&&&&&&&0609.&&&&&0609 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01577.&&&&&01,577 km2)
St. Lucie County	111	Fort Pierce	1905	Brevard	Saint Lucy (283–304), a Christian saint	653.12	&&&&&&&&&0373586.&&&&&0373,586	&&&&&&&&&&&&0572.&&&&&0572 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01481.&&&&&01,481 km2)
Santa Rosa County	113	Milton	1842	Escambia	Santa Rosa Island, named for Saint Rosa de Viterbo (1235–1252), an Italian saint	199.96	&&&&&&&&&0203162.&&&&&0203,162	&&&&&&&&&&&01016.&&&&&01,016 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02631.&&&&&02,631 km2)
Sarasota County	115	Sarasota	1921	Manatee	A Native American word for the area, with an unknown meaning	819.95	&&&&&&&&&0469013.&&&&&0469,013	&&&&&&&&&&&&0572.&&&&&0572 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01481.&&&&&01,481 km2)
Seminole County	117	Sanford	1913	Orange	The Seminole Native American tribe	1572.31	&&&&&&&&&0484271.&&&&&0484,271	&&&&&&&&&&&&0308.&&&&&0308 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&&0798.&&&&&0798 km2)
Sumter County	119	Bushnell	1853	Marion	Thomas Sumter (1734–1832), a general in the American Revolution	277.59	&&&&&&&&&0151565.&&&&&0151,565	&&&&&&&&&&&&0546.&&&&&0546 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01414.&&&&&01,414 km2)
Suwannee County	121	Live Oak	1858	Columbia	The Suwannee River, a 266-mile long river in northern Florida	67.05	&&&&&&&&&&046130.&&&&&046,130	&&&&&&&&&&&&0688.&&&&&0688 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01782.&&&&&01,782 km2)
Taylor County	123	Perry	1856	Madison	Zachary Taylor (1784–1850), the 12th U.S. President	20.71	&&&&&&&&&&021582.&&&&&021,582	&&&&&&&&&&&01042.&&&&&01,042 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02699.&&&&&02,699 km2)
Union County	125	Lake Butler	1921	Bradford	Named for the residents' shared desire to form a new county	64.72	&&&&&&&&&&015532.&&&&&015,532	&&&&&&&&&&&&0240.&&&&&0240 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&&0622.&&&&&0622 km2)
Volusia County	127	DeLand	1854	Orange	The port of Volusia, whose name might mean "Land of the Euchees"	533.78	&&&&&&&&&0590357.&&&&&0590,357	&&&&&&&&&&&01106.&&&&&01,106 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02865.&&&&&02,865 km2)
Wakulla County	129	Crawfordville	1843	Leon	The Wakulla River, named from a Native American word with an unknown meaning	60.05	&&&&&&&&&&036449.&&&&&036,449	&&&&&&&&&&&&0607.&&&&&0607 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01572.&&&&&01,572 km2)
Walton County	131	DeFuniak Springs	1824	Escambia and Jackson	George Walton, the first Secretary of Florida Territory	81.62	&&&&&&&&&&086354.&&&&&086,354	&&&&&&&&&&&01058.&&&&&01,058 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&02740.&&&&&02,740 km2)
Washington County	133	Chipley	1825	Jackson and Walton	George Washington (1732–1799), the first U.S. President	44.14	&&&&&&&&&&025602.&&&&&025,602	&&&&&&&&&&&&0580.&&&&&0580 sq mi (&&&&&&&&&&&01502.&&&&&01,502 km2)

Counties That Changed Names

Five counties in Florida have changed their names over time. Most of these changes happened between 1845 and 1861, soon after Florida became a state. One recent change was in 1997, when Dade County became Miami-Dade County.

Ideas for New Counties

Sometimes, people suggest creating new counties in Florida. Here are a few ideas that have been proposed:

See also

• Florida
• List of municipalities in Florida
• List of former municipalities in Florida
• List of places in Florida
• List of county seats in Florida
• List of census-designated places in Florida