Waldo, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waldo, Florida
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| City of Waldo | |
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Waldo City Square
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| Motto(s):
Rich in Heritage, A Vision for the Future
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Location in Alachua County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Alachua |
| Incorporated | 1907 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.33 sq mi (6.03 km2) |
| • Land | 2.17 sq mi (5.63 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.40 km2) |
| Elevation | 167 ft (51 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 846 |
| • Density | 389.14/sq mi (150.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
32694
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-74925 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0292824 |
Waldo is a small city located in Alachua County, Florida, in the United States. It is part of the larger Gainesville area. In 2020, about 846 people lived there.
Contents
History of Waldo
Early Roads and Railroads
One of the first major roads in Florida was Bellamy Road. It was built between the 1820s and 1830s. This road went right through the area where Waldo is now. It connected Lake Santa Fe in the east to the Santa Fe River in the west.
Later, in 1853, the Florida Legislature decided to build a railroad. This railroad, called the Florida Railroad, was planned to go from Fernandina Beach to Tampa. It also had a branch line going to Cedar Key. U.S. Senator David Levy Yulee was in charge of this railroad. He decided to build the Cedar Key branch first.
Waldo Station and City Incorporation
By 1859, the railroad reached Gainesville. The place where Bellamy Road and the Florida Railroad crossed was named Waldo Station. It was named after Benjamin Waldo, a friend of Senator Yulee who was a doctor and politician. In 1876, another railroad branch was finished, connecting Waldo to Ocala.
The City of Waldo officially became a city in 1907.
Geography and Climate
Waldo's Location and Size
Waldo is a city that covers about 5.6 square kilometers (2.17 square miles) of land. A small part of this area, about 0.04 square kilometers (0.015 square miles), is water.
Lake Alto
East of Waldo, you'll find Lake Alto. This is a freshwater lake.
Local Climate
Waldo has a climate with hot and humid summers. The winters are generally mild. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
Population Information
Waldo's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 540 | — | |
| 1920 | 571 | 5.7% | |
| 1930 | 703 | 23.1% | |
| 1940 | 567 | −19.3% | |
| 1950 | 647 | 14.1% | |
| 1960 | 735 | 13.6% | |
| 1970 | 800 | 8.8% | |
| 1980 | 993 | 24.1% | |
| 1990 | 1,017 | 2.4% | |
| 2000 | 821 | −19.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,015 | 23.6% | |
| 2020 | 846 | −16.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Recent Census Data (2010 and 2020)
The 2020 United States census showed that 846 people lived in Waldo. There were 538 households and 154 families.
In the 2010 United States census, Waldo had 1,015 people and 348 households. About 59.3% of these households were families. Around 31.0% of households had children under 18 living with them.
The median age in 2010 was 38.4 years. About 24.1% of the people were under 18.
Education in Waldo
Waldo's schools are managed by the School Board of Alachua County.
- Elementary students now attend Chester Shell Elementary in Hawthorne. This change happened after Waldo Community School closed in 2016.
- Students in sixth through twelfth grade go to Hawthorne Middle/High School, also in Hawthorne.
The Alachua County Library District has a library branch right in Waldo.
Notable People from Waldo
Some well-known people have connections to Waldo:
- T. K. Godbey, an expert in agriculture.
- Lawrence B. McGill, an actor.
- Vince Sanders, a radio journalist.
- William B. Sawyer, a doctor.
- Gertrude Shipman, an actress.
The "Speed Trap" Story
Past Designation and Investigation
In 1995, the American Automobile Association (AAA) called Waldo a "speed trap". They suggested that drivers might want to use other routes to avoid getting speeding tickets.
Later, in 2014, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement looked into Waldo's ticketing practices. This happened because some people claimed there were goals for how many tickets police should give out. The city's police chief was even suspended for a short time.
Changes and Removal of Designation
On October 1, 2014, the Waldo City Council voted to close down the city's police department. The former police chief was later found to have done nothing wrong after an investigation. This event helped lead to a new law in Florida. Governor Rick Scott signed a bill that made it clearer that police departments cannot have ticket quotas.
In August 2018, the AAA officially removed the "speed trap" label from Waldo.
Images for kids
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Waldo City Square
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Location in Alachua County and the state of Florida
See also
In Spanish: Waldo (Florida) para niños
