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Taylor County, Florida facts for kids

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Taylor County
Taylor County Courthouse
Taylor County Courthouse
Map of Florida highlighting Taylor County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
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)
 • 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.

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

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
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.

Taylor County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
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

Transportation

Airports

  • Perry–Foley Airport

Major highways

  • US 19
  • US 27

  • US 27 Alt.
  • US 98
  • US 221
  • SR 51

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Taylor (Florida) para niños

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