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Marianna, Florida
City of Marianna
Marianna City Hall
Marianna City Hall
Nickname(s): 
The City of Southern Charm
Location in Jackson County and the state of Florida
Location in Jackson County and the state of Florida
Country  United States
State  Florida
County  Jackson
Incorporated 1825
Government
 • Type Commission–Manager
Area
 • Total 18.65 sq mi (48.29 km2)
 • Land 18.60 sq mi (48.17 km2)
 • Water 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2)
Elevation
167 ft (51 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 6,245
 • Density 335.75/sq mi (129.63/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
32446-32448
Area code(s) 850
FIPS code 12-43175
GNIS feature ID 0286422

Marianna is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Florida, United States, and it is home to Chipola College. The official nickname of Marianna is "The City of Southern Charm". The population was 6,245 at the 2020 census.

History

Marianna FL US 90 hist bldgs01
Part of the historic downtown area

Marianna was founded in 1828 by Scottish entrepreneur Scott Beverege and named the town after his wife, Mary and her friend Anna combining their names to form Marianna, it was named the county seat the following year, supplanting the earlier settlement of Webbville, which soon dissolved and no longer exists. Marianna was platted along the Chipola River and many plantation owners from North Carolina relocated to Jackson County for the fertile soil.

It is the final resting place of the Confederate governor of Florida, Governor John Milton, and the scene of a Civil War battle between a small home guard of about 150 boys, older men, and wounded soldiers, and a contingent of approximately 700 Federal troops.

Governor Milton owned Sylvania Plantation and hundreds of slaves, was the governor of Florida during the Civil War years. Governor Milton was vehemently against the Confederate States of America reuniting with the United States of America. He vowed that he would rather die than see the Confederates reunite with the Unionist states.

Geography

Marianna is located at 30°46′35″N 85°14′17″W / 30.77639°N 85.23806°W / 30.77639; -85.23806 (30.776370, -85.238149).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km2), of which 8.0 square miles (21 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (0.37%) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 377
1860 440 16.7%
1870 663 50.7%
1880 586 −11.6%
1890 926 58.0%
1900 900 −2.8%
1910 1,915 112.8%
1920 2,499 30.5%
1930 3,372 34.9%
1940 5,079 50.6%
1950 5,845 15.1%
1960 7,152 22.4%
1970 7,282 1.8%
1980 7,006 −3.8%
1990 6,292 −10.2%
2000 6,230 −1.0%
2010 6,102 −2.1%
2020 6,245 2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

Marianna first appeared in the 1850 U.S. Census with a recorded population of 377.

2010 and 2020 census

Marianna racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 3,173 3,026 52.00% 48.45%
Black or African American (NH) 2,540 2,500 41.63% 40.03%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 23 18 0.38% 0.29%
Asian (NH) 56 115 0.92% 1.84%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) 4 6 0.07% 0.10%
Some other race (NH) 5 23 0.08% 0.37%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) 136 262 2.23% 4.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 165 295 2.70% 4.72%
Total 6,102 6,245

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,245 people, 2,908 households, and 1,662 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 6,102 people, 1,924 households, and 1,189 families residing in the city.

Education

Jackson County School Board operates public K–12 schools. Marianna has four schools, all of which usually perform in the high C-low B range in the state's FCAT grade scale. Marianna K-8 School for grades Pre-K to 8th grade, and Marianna High School for grades 9–12, Jackson Alternative School for grades 4-12, and Hope School for grades PK-12.

Chipola College, home of the Chipola Indians, is the choice for many residents and offers dual-enrollment classes for high school students. The college is a four-year state institution offering bachelor's degrees in nine programs. Additionally, students can earn masters and doctoral degrees on the Chipola Campus through Troy State University, University of Florida, University of West Florida, and Florida State University.

View of Chipola River from porch
Chipola River

From 1961 to 1966, a junior college, Jackson Junior College, served African-American students. It closed in 1966 after passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the opening of Chipola Junior College (today Chipola College) to all students.

Transportation

Highways

Railroads

Freight service is provided by the Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad, which acquired most of the former CSX main line from Pensacola to Jacksonville on June 1, 2019.

Airports

Marianna Municipal Airport was developed at a former World War II Army Air Corps base that was transferred to the city. It is a public-use airport located 4 miles (6.4 km) northeast of the central business district.

Attractions

Two women standing inside a cavern (3247306851)
Florida Caverns State Park

Marianna is an official Florida Main Street town. The downtown area has been restored to look as it did many years ago, to encourage heritage tourism and emphasize its unique character and a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood. The downtown area includes the Marianna Historic District, which has a number of antebellum homes.

Florida Caverns State Park is located 2 miles (3 km) north of town. There is also cave diving in underwater Blue Springs. St. Luke's Episcopal Church and cemetery are state landmarks, as they had a principal role in the U.S. Civil War battle of Marianna in 1864.

The Chipola River is a source of recreation during all but the winter months.

Notable people

  • Kelly J. Baker, writer and editor
  • Tim Davis, former pitcher for the Seattle Mariners
  • Cliff Ellis, basketball head coach, Coastal Carolina University, born in Marianna
  • Timothy Thomas Fortune, civil rights leader, writer, born in Marianna
  • Bobby Goldsboro, pop and country singer-songwriter, born in Marianna
  • Alex Hamilton (born 1993), basketball player for Hapoel Eilat in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
  • David Hart, actor, TV series In the Heat of the Night
  • George Sydney Hawkins, politician and justice
  • Caroline Lee Hentz, novelist and author
  • Danny Lipford, home improvement expert
  • Moss Mabry, Academy Award-nominated costume designer
  • Jeff Mathis, professional baseball player
  • John Milton, governor of Florida during the Civil War
  • William Hall Milton, U.S. senator
  • Sam E. Parish, 8th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
  • Rick Pearson, professional golfer
  • Pete Peterson, American politician and diplomat
  • Wankard Pooser, politician
  • Edd Sorenson, professional cave diver
  • Jim Sorey, professional football player
  • Ret Turner, Emmy Award-winning costume designer
  • Doug Woodlief, professional football player

Gallery

See also

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