Taylor County, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Taylor County
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Taylor County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Florida
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Florida's location within the U.S. |
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Country | United States |
State | Florida |
Founded | December 23, 1856 |
Named for | Zachary Taylor |
Seat | Perry |
Largest city | Perry |
Area | |
• Total | 1,232 sq mi (3,190 km2) |
• Land | 1,043 sq mi (2,700 km2) |
• Water | 189 sq mi (490 km2) 15.3%% |
Population
(2020)
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• Total | 21,796 |
• Density | 21/sq mi (8/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Taylor County is a county located in the Big Bend region in the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,796. Its county seat is Perry. The county hosts the annual Florida Forest Festival and has been long known as the "Tree Capital of the South" since a 1965 designation from then-Governor W. Haydon Burns.
Contents
History
Taylor County was created on December 23, 1856, from Madison County. It was named for Zachary Taylor, twelfth president of the United States, who served from 1849 to 1850. Taylor won most counties in northern Florida during the election of 1848 and was largely responsible for the ultimate U.S. victory in the Second Seminole War.
During the American Civil War, Taylor County was home to William Strickland and his band of deserters and Unionists called "The Royal Rangers" or the "Independent Rangers". In 1864, a Confederate colonel tasked with hunting down deserters, broke into Strickland's home and found a membership list of 35 men who "bear true allegiance to the United States of America." Despite their names being identified and homes burned to the ground, few members of the Rangers surrendered.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,232 square miles (3,190 km2), of which 1,043 square miles (2,700 km2) is land and 189 square miles (490 km2) (15.3%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Jefferson County, Florida - northwest
- Madison County, Florida - north
- Lafayette County, Florida - east
- Dixie County, Florida - southeast
National protected area
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1860 | 1,384 | — | |
1870 | 1,453 | 5.0% | |
1880 | 2,279 | 56.8% | |
1890 | 2,122 | −6.9% | |
1900 | 3,999 | 88.5% | |
1910 | 7,103 | 77.6% | |
1920 | 11,219 | 57.9% | |
1930 | 13,136 | 17.1% | |
1940 | 11,565 | −12.0% | |
1950 | 10,416 | −9.9% | |
1960 | 13,168 | 26.4% | |
1970 | 13,641 | 3.6% | |
1980 | 16,532 | 21.2% | |
1990 | 17,111 | 3.5% | |
2000 | 19,256 | 12.5% | |
2010 | 22,570 | 17.2% | |
2020 | 21,796 | −3.4% | |
2023 (est.) | 21,582 | −4.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2019 |
2020 census
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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White (NH) | 16,483 | 15,629 | 73.03% | 71.71% |
Black or African American (NH) | 4,629 | 4,196 | 20.51% | 19.25% |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 171 | 102 | 0.76% | 0.47% |
Asian (NH) | 149 | 224 | 0.66% | 1.03% |
Pacific Islander (NH) | 5 | 0 | 0.02% | 0.0% |
Some Other Race (NH) | 15 | 45 | 0.07% | 0.21% |
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 341 | 734 | 1.51% | 3.37% |
Hispanic or Latino | 777 | 866 | 3.44% | 3.97% |
Total | 22,570 | 21,796 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 21,796 people, 7,405 households, and 5,197 families residing in the county.
Education
Students are served by the Taylor County School System. For the 2006 - 2007 school year the Florida Department of Education gave the District a "B" grade with three of its schools earning an "A" and one school earning a "B" grade.
Taylor County High School also has an Army JROTC unit which has been an Honor Unit with Distinction for 27 consecutive years.
Library
The Taylor County Public Library is part of the Three Rivers Library System, which also serves Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Dixie counties.
Communities
Town
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
- Athena
- Bucell Junction
- Clara (shared with Dixie County)
- Dekle Beach
- Eridu
- Fenholloway
- Fish Creek
- Foley
- Hampton Springs
- Iddo
- Keaton Beach
- Lake Bird
- Pinland
- Salem
- Shady Grove
- Tennille
Transportation
Airports
- Perry–Foley Airport
Major highways
- US 19
- US 27
US 27 Alt.- US 98
- US 221
- SR 51
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Taylor (Florida) para niños