Taylor County, Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Taylor County

U.S. county

Taylor County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Florida

Florida's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Florida

Founded

December 23, 1856

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

• Estimate

(2023)

21,582

• Density

17.692/sq mi (6.8307/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
Geography
- Adjacent counties
- National protected area
Demographics
- 2020 census
Education
Library
Communities
Transportation
- Airports
- Major highways
See also

History

Taylor County was created on December 23, 1856, from Madison County on the same day as Lafayette County was also split off 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

St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge (part)

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.