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List of counties in Florida facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Counties of Florida
Escambia CountySanta Rosa CountyOkaloosa CountyWalton CountyHolmes CountyWashington CountyJackson CountyBay CountyCalhoun CountyGulf CountyFranklin CountyFranklin CountyLiberty CountyGadsden CountyLeon CountyWakulla CountyJefferson CountyTaylor CountyMadison CountyHamilton CountyNassau CountyColumbia CountyBaker CountySuwannee CountyLafayette CountyDuval CountyUnion CountyBradford CountyGilchrist CountyDixie CountyClay CountySt. Johns CountyAlachua CountyPutnam CountyFlagler CountyLevy CountyMarion CountyVolusia CountyBrevard CountyCitrus CountySumter CountyLake CountySeminole CountyOrange CountyHernando CountyPasco CountyPinellas CountyHillsborough CountyPolk CountyOsceola CountyIndian River CountyManatee CountyHardee CountyDeSoto CountySarasota CountyHighlands CountyOkeechobee CountySt. Lucie CountyMartin CountyGlades CountyCharlotte CountyLee CountyHendry CountyPalm Beach CountyCollier CountyBroward CountyMiami-Dade CountyMiami-Dade CountyMonroe CountyMonroe CountyMonroe CountyMonroe CountyA map of Florida's counties with counties labeled. Florida is shaped liked an "L" rotated 180 degrees. Many of the county borders follow the winding courses of river, some are straight. Some of larger counties tend to be in the center of the State.
Location State of Florida
Number 67
Populations 8,314 (Liberty) – 2,662,874 (Miami-Dade)
Areas 240 square miles (620 km2) (Union) –
2,034 square miles (5,270 km2) (Palm Beach)
Government County government
Subdivisions Communities
FloridaCountiesPopulation
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+

There are 67 counties in the state of Florida. It became a territory of the U.S. in 1821 with two counties complementing the provincial divisions retained as a Spanish territory: Escambia to the west and St. Johns to the east, divided by the Suwannee River. All of the other counties were apportioned from these two original counties. Florida became the 27th U.S. state in 1845, and its last county was created in 1925 with the formation of Gilchrist County from a segment of Alachua County. Florida's counties are subdivisions of the state government. In 1968, counties gained the power to develop their own charters. All but two of Florida's county seats are incorporated municipalities. The exceptions are Crawfordville, county seat of rural Wakulla County, and East Naples, located outside Naples city limits in Collier County.

The names of Florida's counties reflect its diverse cultural heritage. Some are named for Confederate political leaders and Spanish explorers, marking the influence of Spanish sovereignty, while others are named for Spanish saints, Native American placenames used by the Spanish, and political leaders of the United States. Natural features of the region, including rivers, lakes, and flora, are also commonly used for county names. Florida has counties named for participants on both sides of Second Seminole War: Miami-Dade County is partially named for Francis L. Dade, a Major in the U.S. Army at the time; Osceola County is named for a Native American resistance leader during the war.

Population figures are based on the 2010 United States Census. The population of Florida is 18,801,310, an increase of 17.6% from 2000. The average population of Florida's counties is 280,616; Miami-Dade County is the most populous (2,662,874) and Liberty County is the least (8,365). The average land area is 805 sq mi (2,085 km2). The largest county is Palm Beach County (2,034 sq mi, 5,268 km2) and the smallest is Union County (240 sq mi, 622 km2). The total area of the state is 65,795  sq miles; of this, the land area of the state constitutes 53,927 square miles (139,670 km2) while the water area constitutes 11,868  sq miles.

The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) is used by the U.S. government to uniquely identify counties, and is provided for each entry. These codes link to the United States Census Bureau's "quick facts" for each county. Florida's FIPS code of 12 is used to distinguish from counties in other states. For example, Alachua County's unique nationwide identifier is 12001.


Counties

County
FIPS code County seat Established Formed from Etymology Density
Population Area Map
Alachua County 001 Gainesville 1824 Duval and St. Johns From a Seminole-Creek word meaning "jug", apparently in reference to the sinkholes common in the area 285.31 &&&&&&&&&0249365.&&&&&0249,365 &&&&&&&&&&&&0874.&&&&&0874 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02264.&&&&&02,264 km2)
A state map highlighting Alachua County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Baker County 003 Macclenny 1861 New River James McNair Baker (1821–1892), a Confederate senator and later a judge in the fourth judicial district 46.42 &&&&&&&&&&027154.&&&&&027,154 &&&&&&&&&&&&0585.&&&&&0585 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01515.&&&&&01,515 km2)
A state map highlighting Baker County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Bay County 005 Panama City 1913 Calhoun and Washington St. Andrew's Bay, the central geographic feature of the county 222.32 &&&&&&&&&0169856.&&&&&0169,856 &&&&&&&&&&&&0764.&&&&&0764 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01979.&&&&&01,979 km2)
A state map highlighting Bay County in the panhandle part of the state. It is medium in size.
Bradford County 007 Starke 1858 Columbia
named New River until 1861
Richard Bradford, the first officer from Florida to die in the Civil War; he was killed during the Battle of Santa Rosa Island 96.43 &&&&&&&&&&028255.&&&&&028,255 &&&&&&&&&&&&0293.&&&&&0293 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&&0759.&&&&&0759 km2)
A state map highlighting Bradford County in the corner part of the state. It is small in size.
Brevard County 009 Titusville 1844 Hillsborough and Mosquito
named St. Lucie until 1855
Theodore Washington Brevard, early settler and later state comptroller from 1853 to 1861 533.95 &&&&&&&&&0543566.&&&&&0543,566 &&&&&&&&&&&01018.&&&&&01,018 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02637.&&&&&02,637 km2)
A state map highlighting Brevard County in the southeastern part of the state. It is medium in size and narrow in shape.
Broward County 011 Fort Lauderdale 1915 Dade and Palm Beach Napoleon Bonaparte Broward (1857–1910), 19th Governor of Florida from 1905 to 1909 1472.43 &&&&&&&&01780172.&&&&&01,780,172 &&&&&&&&&&&01209.&&&&&01,209 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&03131.&&&&&03,131 km2)
A state map highlighting Broward County in southern part of the state. It is medium in size and shaped like a rectangle.
Calhoun County 013 Blountstown 1838 Franklin, Jackson, and Washington John C. Calhoun (1782–1850) leading Southern politician from South Carolina 26.01 &&&&&&&&&&014750.&&&&&014,750 &&&&&&&&&&&&0567.&&&&&0567 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01469.&&&&&01,469 km2)
State map highlighting Calhoun County
Charlotte County 015 Punta Gorda 1921 DeSoto Probably a corruption of the name of the Calusa, a group of Native Americans from the area 231.28 &&&&&&&&&0160511.&&&&&0160,511 &&&&&&&&&&&&0694.&&&&&0694 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01797.&&&&&01,797 km2)
A state map highlighting Charlotte County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Citrus County 017 Inverness 1887 Hernando The county's citrus trees 239.78 &&&&&&&&&0140031.&&&&&0140,031 &&&&&&&&&&&&0584.&&&&&0584 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01513.&&&&&01,513 km2)
A state map highlighting Citrus County in the middle part of the state. It is medium in size.
Clay County 019 Green Cove Springs 1858 Duval Henry Clay (1777–1852), Secretary of State from 1825 to 1829 under John Quincy Adams 320.08 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".192,370 &&&&&&&&&&&&0601.&&&&&0601 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01557.&&&&&01,557 km2)
A state map highlighting Clay County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Collier County 021 East Naples 1923 Lee Barron Collier (1873–1939), an advertising entrepreneur who developed much of the land in southern Florida 161.96 &&&&&&&&&0328134.&&&&&0328,134 &&&&&&&&&&&02026.&&&&&02,026 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&05247.&&&&&05,247 km2)
A state map highlighting Collier County in the southern part of the state. It is large in size.
Columbia County 023 Lake City 1832 Alachua Christopher Columbus (c. 1451–1506), explorer of the Americas 84.67 &&&&&&&&&&067485.&&&&&067,485 &&&&&&&&&&&&0797.&&&&&0797 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02064.&&&&&02,064 km2)
A state map highlighting Columbia County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size and narrow in shape.
DeSoto County 027 Arcadia 1887 Manatee Hernando de Soto (c. 1496/1497–1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador 54.78 &&&&&&&&&&034894.&&&&&034,894 &&&&&&&&&&&&0637.&&&&&0637 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01650.&&&&&01,650 km2)
A state map highlighting DeSoto County in the southern part of the state. It is small in size and rectangular in shape.
Dixie County 029 Cross City 1921 Lafayette Dixie, the common nickname for the Southern United States 23.42 &&&&&&&&&&016486.&&&&&016,486 &&&&&&&&&&&&0704.&&&&&0704 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01823.&&&&&01,823 km2)
A state map highlighting Dixie County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Duval County 031 Jacksonville 1822 St. Johns William Pope Duval (1784–1854), the first governor of the Florida Territory 1124.95 &&&&&&&&&0870709.&&&&&0870,709 &&&&&&&&&&&&0774.&&&&&0774 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02005.&&&&&02,005 km2)
A state map highlighting Duval County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Escambia County 033 Pensacola 1821 One of the two original counties Disputed origin; possibly from the Native American word Shambia, meaning "clear water" 450.47 &&&&&&&&&0299114.&&&&&0299,114 &&&&&&&&&&&&0664.&&&&&0664 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01720.&&&&&01,720 km2)
A state map highlighting Escambia County in the westernmost part of the state. It is medium in size and narrow in shape.
Flagler County 035 Bunnell 1917 St. Johns and Volusia Henry Morrison Flagler (1830–1913), founder of the Florida East Coast Railway 200.78 &&&&&&&&&&097376.&&&&&097,376 &&&&&&&&&&&&0485.&&&&&0485 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01256.&&&&&01,256 km2)
A state map highlighting Flagler County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Franklin County 037 Apalachicola 1832 Gadsden and Washington Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America 21.72 &&&&&&&&&&011596.&&&&&011,596 &&&&&&&&&&&&0534.&&&&&0534 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01383.&&&&&01,383 km2)
A state map highlighting Franklin County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Gadsden County 039 Quincy 1823 Jackson James Gadsden (1788–1858), American diplomat and namesake of the Gadsden Purchase 89.44 &&&&&&&&&&046151.&&&&&046,151 &&&&&&&&&&&&0516.&&&&&0516 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01336.&&&&&01,336 km2)
A state map highlighting Gadsden County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Gilchrist County 041 Trenton 1925 Alachua Albert W. Gilchrist (1858–1926), the 20th Governor of Florida 48.72 &&&&&&&&&&017004.&&&&&017,004 &&&&&&&&&&&&0349.&&&&&0349 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&&0904.&&&&&0904 km2)
A state map highlighting Gilchrist County in the corner part of the state. It is small in size.
Glades County 043 Moore Haven 1921 DeSoto The Florida Everglades 16.32 &&&&&&&&&&012635.&&&&&012,635 &&&&&&&&&&&&0774.&&&&&0774 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02005.&&&&&02,005 km2)
A state map highlighting Glades County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Gulf County 045 Port St. Joe 1925 Calhoun The Gulf of Mexico 28.04 &&&&&&&&&&015844.&&&&&015,844 &&&&&&&&&&&&0565.&&&&&0565 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01463.&&&&&01,463 km2)
A state map highlighting Gulf County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Hamilton County 047 Jasper 1827 Jefferson Alexander Hamilton (1757–1804), the first United States Secretary of the Treasury and a Founding Father 28.49 &&&&&&&&&&014671.&&&&&014,671 &&&&&&&&&&&&0515.&&&&&0515 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01334.&&&&&01,334 km2)
A state map highlighting Hamilton County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Hardee County 049 Wauchula 1921 DeSoto Cary A. Hardee (1876–1957), governor of Florida at the time of creation of Hardee County 43.78 &&&&&&&&&&027887.&&&&&027,887 &&&&&&&&&&&&0637.&&&&&0637 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01650.&&&&&01,650 km2)
A state map highlighting Hardee County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size and shaped like a rectangle.
Hendry County 051 LaBelle 1923 Lee Francis A. Hendry (1833–1917), early Floridian pioneer and politician 33.90 &&&&&&&&&&039089.&&&&&039,089 &&&&&&&&&&&01153.&&&&&01,153 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02986.&&&&&02,986 km2)
A state map highlighting Hendry County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Hernando County 053 Brooksville 1843 Alachua and Hillsborough
named Benton from 1844 to 1850
Hernando de Soto (c.1496/1497–1542), a Spanish explorer and conquistador 362.12 &&&&&&&&&0173094.&&&&&0173,094 &&&&&&&&&&&&0478.&&&&&0478 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01238.&&&&&01,238 km2)
A state map highlighting Hernando County in the middle part of the state. It is medium in size.
Highlands County 055 Sebring 1921 DeSoto Named for the county's hilly terrain 95.94 &&&&&&&&&&098630.&&&&&098,630 &&&&&&&&&&&01028.&&&&&01,028 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02663.&&&&&02,663 km2)
A state map highlighting Highlands County in the southern part of the state. It is large in size.
Hillsborough County 057 Tampa 1834 Alachua Wills Hill, Earl of Hillsborough (1718–1793), former Secretary of State for the Colonies 1206.26 &&&&&&&&01267775.&&&&&01,267,775 &&&&&&&&&&&01051.&&&&&01,051 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02722.&&&&&02,722 km2)
A state map highlighting Hillsborough County in the middle part of the state. It is large in size.
Holmes County 059 Bonifay 1848 Jackson and Walton Holmes Creek, which forms the eastern boundary of the county 41.23 &&&&&&&&&&019873.&&&&&019,873 &&&&&&&&&&&&0482.&&&&&0482 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01248.&&&&&01,248 km2)
A state map highlighting Holmes County in the northwestern part of the state. It is small in size.
Indian River County 061 Vero Beach 1925 St. Lucie The Indian River Lagoon, which flows through the county 276.13 &&&&&&&&&0138894.&&&&&0138,894 &&&&&&&&&&&&0503.&&&&&0503 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01303.&&&&&01,303 km2)
A state map highlighting Indian River County in the eastern part of the state. It is small in size.
Jackson County 063 Marianna 1822 Escambia Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), the seventh President of the United States 53.81 &&&&&&&&&&049292.&&&&&049,292 &&&&&&&&&&&&0916.&&&&&0916 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02372.&&&&&02,372 km2)
A state map highlighting Jackson County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Jefferson County 065 Monticello 1827 Leon Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the third President of the United States and principal author of the Declaration of Independence 24.51 0Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ","..Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character ",".14,658 &&&&&&&&&&&&0598.&&&&&0598 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01549.&&&&&01,549 km2)
A state map highlighting Jefferson County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Lafayette County 067 Mayo 1856 Madison Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), French aristocrat and general in the American Revolutionary War 16.47 &&&&&&&&&&&08942.&&&&&08,942 &&&&&&&&&&&&0543.&&&&&0543 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01406.&&&&&01,406 km2)
A state map highlighting Lafayette County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Lake County 069 Tavares 1887 Orange and Sumter Named for the many lakes in the region 315.86 &&&&&&&&&0301019.&&&&&0301,019 &&&&&&&&&&&&0953.&&&&&0953 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02468.&&&&&02,468 km2)
A state map highlighting Lake County in the middle part of the state. It is large in size and narrow in shape.
Lee County 071 Fort Myers 1887 Monroe Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War 785.24 &&&&&&&&&0631330.&&&&&0631,330 &&&&&&&&&&&&0804.&&&&&0804 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02082.&&&&&02,082 km2)
A state map highlighting Lee County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Leon County 073 Tallahassee 1824 Gadsden Juan Ponce de León (1474–1521), Spanish explorer who named Florida 416.75 &&&&&&&&&0277971.&&&&&0277,971 &&&&&&&&&&&&0667.&&&&&0667 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01728.&&&&&01,728 km2)
A state map highlighting Leon County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Levy County 075 Bronson 1845 Alachua David Levy Yulee (1810–1886), one of the state's original United States Senators 35.92 &&&&&&&&&&040156.&&&&&040,156 &&&&&&&&&&&01118.&&&&&01,118 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02896.&&&&&02,896 km2)
A state map highlighting Levy County in the corner part of the state. It is large in size.
Liberty County 077 Bristol 1855 Gadsden The patriotic ideal of liberty 9.94 &&&&&&&&&&&08314.&&&&&08,314 &&&&&&&&&&&&0836.&&&&&0836 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02165.&&&&&02,165 km2)
A state map highlighting Liberty County in the northwestern part of the state. It is large in size.
Madison County 079 Madison 1827 Jefferson James Madison (1751–1836), fourth President of the United States 27.62 &&&&&&&&&&019115.&&&&&019,115 &&&&&&&&&&&&0692.&&&&&0692 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01792.&&&&&01,792 km2)
A state map highlighting Madison County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Manatee County 081 Bradenton 1855 Hillsborough The manatee, or sea cow, is native to Florida waters. 441.49 &&&&&&&&&0327142.&&&&&0327,142 &&&&&&&&&&&&0741.&&&&&0741 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01919.&&&&&01,919 km2)
A state map highlighting Manatee County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Marion County 083 Ocala 1844 Alachua, Hillsborough, and Mosquito Francis Marion (c. 1732–1795), military officer during the American Revolution 210.59 &&&&&&&&&0332529.&&&&&0332,529 &&&&&&&&&&&01579.&&&&&01,579 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&04090.&&&&&04,090 km2)
A state map highlighting Marion County in the corner part of the state. It is large in size.
Martin County 085 Stuart 1925 Palm Beach John W. Martin (1884–1958), governor of Florida at time of creation of the county 265.28 &&&&&&&&&0147495.&&&&&0147,495 &&&&&&&&&&&&0556.&&&&&0556 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01440.&&&&&01,440 km2)
A state map highlighting Martin County in the southern part of the state. It is small in size and shaped like a rectangle.
Miami-Dade County 086 Miami 1836 Monroe
named Dade until 1997
City of Miami and Francis L. Dade (c. 1793–1835), Major in the United States Army during the Second Seminole War 1313.50 &&&&&&&&02662874.&&&&&02,662,874 &&&&&&&&&&&01946.&&&&&01,946 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&05040.&&&&&05,040 km2)
A state map highlighting Miami-Dade County in the southernmost part of the state. It is large in size.
Monroe County 087 Key West 1823 St. Johns James Monroe (1758–1831), fifth President of the United States 74.10 &&&&&&&&&&073873.&&&&&073,873 &&&&&&&&&&&&0997.&&&&&0997 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02582.&&&&&02,582 km2)
A state map highlighting Monroe County in the southernmost part of the state. It is medium in size.
Nassau County 089 Fernandina Beach 1824 Duval Duchy of Nassau in Germany 113.80 &&&&&&&&&&074195.&&&&&074,195 &&&&&&&&&&&&0652.&&&&&0652 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01689.&&&&&01,689 km2)
A state map highlighting Nassau County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Okaloosa County 091 Crestview 1915 Santa Rosa and Walton A native word meaning "a pleasant place," "black water", or "beautiful place" 196.03 &&&&&&&&&0183482.&&&&&0183,482 &&&&&&&&&&&&0936.&&&&&0936 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02424.&&&&&02,424 km2)
A state map highlighting Okaloosa County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size and shaped like a narrow rectangle.
Okeechobee County 093 Okeechobee 1917 Osceola and St. Lucie Lake Okeechobee, which was in turn is from the Hitchiti words for "big water" 51.86 &&&&&&&&&&040140.&&&&&040,140 &&&&&&&&&&&&0774.&&&&&0774 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02005.&&&&&02,005 km2)
A state map highlighting Okeechobee County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Orange County 095 Orlando 1824 St. Johns
named Mosquito until 1845
The fruit that was the county's main product 1287.56 &&&&&&&&01169107.&&&&&01,169,107 &&&&&&&&&&&&0908.&&&&&0908 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02352.&&&&&02,352 km2)
A state map highlighting Orange County in the middle part of the state. It is medium in size.
Osceola County 097 Kissimmee 1887 Brevard and Orange Osceola (1804–1838), a leader of the Seminole during the Second Seminole War 208.90 &&&&&&&&&0276163.&&&&&0276,163 &&&&&&&&&&&01322.&&&&&01,322 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&03424.&&&&&03,424 km2)
A state map highlighting Osceola County in the middle part of the state. It is large in size.
Palm Beach County 099 West Palm Beach 1909 Dade The county's large amounts of palm trees The biggest county in Florida 656.43 &&&&&&&&01335187.&&&&&01,335,187 &&&&&&&&&&&02034.&&&&&02,034 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&05268.&&&&&05,268 km2)
A state map highlighting Palm Beach County in the southern part of the state. It is large in size.
Pasco County 101 Dade City 1887 Hernando Samuel Pasco (1834–1917), United States Senator at the time of creation of the county 626.12 &&&&&&&&&0466457.&&&&&0466,457 &&&&&&&&&&&&0745.&&&&&0745 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01930.&&&&&01,930 km2)
A state map highlighting Pasco County in the middle part of the state. It is medium in size.
Pinellas County 103 Clearwater 1912 Hillsborough From the Spanish Punta Piñal, or "Point of Pines" 3276.42 &&&&&&&&&0917398.&&&&&0917,398 &&&&&&&&&&&&0280.&&&&&0280 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&&0725.&&&&&0725 km2)
A state map highlighting Pinellas County in the middle part of the state. It is small in size.
Polk County 105 Bartow 1861 Brevard and Hillsborough James K. Polk (1795–1849), the 11th President of the United States 325.06 &&&&&&&&&0609492.&&&&&0609,492 &&&&&&&&&&&01875.&&&&&01,875 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&04856.&&&&&04,856 km2)
A state map highlighting Polk County in the middle part of the state. It is large in size.
Putnam County 107 Palatka 1849 Alachua and St. Johns Benjamin A. Putnam (1801–1869), soldier during the Second Seminole War and Floridian legislator 102.55 &&&&&&&&&&074041.&&&&&074,041 &&&&&&&&&&&&0722.&&&&&0722 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01870.&&&&&01,870 km2)
A state map highlighting Putnam County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
St. Johns County 109 St. Augustine 1821 One of the two original counties Name derived from the St. Johns River, which in turn derives its name from San Juan del Puerto 321.55 &&&&&&&&&0195823.&&&&&0195,823 &&&&&&&&&&&&0609.&&&&&0609 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01577.&&&&&01,577 km2)
A state map highlighting St. Johns County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
St. Lucie County 111 Fort Pierce 1905 Brevard Saint Lucy (283–304), the Christian martyr 490.17 &&&&&&&&&0280379.&&&&&0280,379 &&&&&&&&&&&&0572.&&&&&0572 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01481.&&&&&01,481 km2)
A state map highlighting St. Lucie County in the southern part of the state. It is small in size.
Santa Rosa County 113 Milton 1842 Escambia Santa Rosa Island, which is in turn named for Saint Rosa de Viterbo (1235–1252), a saint born in Viterbo, Italy 151.68 &&&&&&&&&0154104.&&&&&0154,104 &&&&&&&&&&&01016.&&&&&01,016 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02631.&&&&&02,631 km2)
A state map highlighting Santa Rosa County in the northwestern part of the state. It is large in size.
Sarasota County 115 Sarasota 1921 Manatee Native American word, of uncertain meaning, for the area 668.20 &&&&&&&&&0382213.&&&&&0382,213 &&&&&&&&&&&&0572.&&&&&0572 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01481.&&&&&01,481 km2)
A state map highlighting Sarasota County in the southern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Seminole County 117 Sanford 1913 Orange The Seminole Native American tribe 1380.10 &&&&&&&&&0425071.&&&&&0425,071 &&&&&&&&&&&&0308.&&&&&0308 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&&0798.&&&&&0798 km2)
A state map highlighting Seminole County in the middle part of the state. It is small in size.
Sumter County 119 Bushnell 1853 Marion Thomas Sumter (1734–1832), general in the American Revolution 179.04 &&&&&&&&&&097756.&&&&&097,756 &&&&&&&&&&&&0546.&&&&&0546 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01414.&&&&&01,414 km2)
A state map highlighting Sumter County in the middle part of the state. It is medium in size and narrow in shape.
Suwannee County 121 Live Oak 1858 Columbia The Suwannee River, a 266-mile long river in northern Florida 61.01 &&&&&&&&&&041972.&&&&&041,972 &&&&&&&&&&&&0688.&&&&&0688 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01782.&&&&&01,782 km2)
A state map highlighting Suwannee County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Taylor County 123 Perry 1856 Madison Zachary Taylor (1784–1850), 12th President of the United States 21.78 &&&&&&&&&&022691.&&&&&022,691 &&&&&&&&&&&01042.&&&&&01,042 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02699.&&&&&02,699 km2)
A state map highlighting Taylor County in the corner part of the state. It is medium in size.
Union County 125 Lake Butler 1921 Bradford Named for the area's residents united desire to split into a separate county 64.12 &&&&&&&&&&015388.&&&&&015,388 &&&&&&&&&&&&0240.&&&&&0240 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&&0622.&&&&&0622 km2)
A state map highlighting Union County in the corner part of the state. It is small in size.
Volusia County 127 DeLand 1854 Orange The port of Volusia, whose etymology is uncertain; possibly derived from the Native American word for "Land of the Euchees," the term for the area's native inhabitants 447.38 &&&&&&&&&0494804.&&&&&0494,804 &&&&&&&&&&&01106.&&&&&01,106 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02865.&&&&&02,865 km2)
A state map highlighting Volusia County in the middle part of the state. It is large in size.
Wakulla County 129 Crawfordville 1843 Leon The Wakulla River, itself named for a Spanish corruption of a Timucuan word used to describe the body of water, but that is of uncertain meaning 51.03 &&&&&&&&&&030978.&&&&&030,978 &&&&&&&&&&&&0607.&&&&&0607 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01572.&&&&&01,572 km2)
A state map highlighting Wakulla County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.
Walton County 131 DeFuniak Springs 1824 Escambia and Jackson George Walton, first Secretary of Florida Territory 52.73 &&&&&&&&&&055793.&&&&&055,793 &&&&&&&&&&&01058.&&&&&01,058 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&02740.&&&&&02,740 km2)
A state map highlighting Walton County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size and narrow in shape.
Washington County 133 Chipley 1825 Jackson and Walton George Washington (1732–1799), first President of the United States 42.99 &&&&&&&&&&024935.&&&&&024,935 &&&&&&&&&&&&0580.&&&&&0580 sq mi
(&&&&&&&&&&&01502.&&&&&01,502 km2)
A state map highlighting Washington County in the northwestern part of the state. It is medium in size.

Former counties

Fayette County was created in 1832 from the portion of Jackson County

Renamed counties

Five counties in Florida have been renamed. Most renamings occurred between 1845 and 1861, during the first sixteen years of Florida's statehood. One occurred in 1997, when Dade County changed its name to Miami-Dade County.

County Dates Etymology Fate
Benton County 1844–1850 Thomas Benton (1782–1858), U.S. Senator from Missouri who supported the Armed Occupation Act of 1842 that many Floridians wanted in order to evict Native Americans Original name of county was Hernando County, and the name was changed back to that in 1850
Dade County 1836–1997 Francis L. Dade (c. 1793–1835), Major in the United States Army during the Second Seminole War Changed to Miami-Dade County in 1997, in order to benefit from the City of Miami's internationally-recognizable name
Mosquito County 1824–1845 Taken from the name the Spanish had given the entire coast, "Los Mosquitos" Mosquito had already repeatedly ceded land to other counties by 1845, when it was renamed Orange County
New River County 1858–1861 The New River Renamed to Bradford County in 1861
St. Lucie County 1844–1855 Saint Lucy (283–304), the Christian martyr Renamed Brevard County in 1855

Proposed counties

Two counties were proposed in Florida's state legislature, but neither actually became counties. A bill was passed by the legislature to create Bloxham County, but residents did not vote to approve it. See Leigh Read County, Florida for the events surrounding the proposed county.

County Proposal date Etymology Notes
Bloxham County 1915 William D. Bloxham (1835–1911), 13th and 17th Governor of Florida county seat at Williston
Leigh Read County 1842 Leigh Read, legislator proposed renaming of Mosquito County
Miami County 1947 City of Miami consolidated city-county
Ocean County 1991 Atlantic Ocean Jacksonville Beaches

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Condados de Florida para niños

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List of counties in Florida Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.