Leon County, Florida
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content
Leon County, Florida
Seal of Leon County, Florida
Map
Map of Florida highlighting Leon County
Location in the state of Florida
Map of the U.S. highlighting Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded December 29, 1824
Seat Tallahassee
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
702 sq mi (1,818 km²)
667 sq mi (1,728 km²)
35 sq mi (91 km²), 4.99%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
239,452
360/sq mi (139/km²)
Website: www.leoncountyfl.gov
Named for: Juan Ponce de León

Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida. In 2000, its population was 239,452. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 245,756.[1] The principal place in Leon County is Tallahassee, the county seat and state capital. The county is home to two of Florida's major public universities, Florida A&M University and Florida State University. Leon County residents hold the distinction as having the highest level of education of those in any of Florida's 67 counties with Alachua County as 2nd.[2]

The county forms the nucleus of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

Main article: History of Leon County

Originally part of Escambia and later Gadsden County, Leon County was created in 1824. It was named for Juan Ponce de León, the Spanish explorer who was the first European to reach Florida. During the 1850s - 1860s, Leon County was a "cotton kingdom" and ranked 5th out of all of Florida and Georgia counties in the production of cotton from the 20 major plantations.

Also see Plantations of Leon County.

Geography

Physical

Unlike much of Florida, Leon County has rolling hills. The highest point is 280 feet (85 m) located in the north part of the county. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 702 square miles (1,818 km²), of which, 667 square miles (1,727 km²) of it is land and 35 square miles (91 km²) of it (4.99%) is water.

Major highways

National protected area

Demographics

Race

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 239,452 people, 96,521 households, and 54,341 families residing in the county. The population density was 359 people per square mile (139/km²). There were 103,974 housing units at an average density of 156 per square mile (60/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.36% White, 29.11% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.91% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. 3.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Age

There were 96,521 households out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.80% were married couples living together, 13.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.70% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.30% under the age of 18, 21.40% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

Education

The adult citizens of Leon County enjoy the highest level of education in the state of Florida followed by Alachua County with a total of 67.8%.

Level of Education
Level Leon Co. Florida U.S.
College/Associate Degree 28.5% 28.8% 27.4%
Bachelor's Degree 24.0% 14.3% 15.5%
Master's or Ph. D. 17.7% 8.1% 8.9%
Total 70.2% 51.2% 51.8%

Source of above: [2]

Income

The median income for a household in the county was $37,517, and the median income for a family was $52,962. Males had a median income of $35,235 versus $28,110 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,024. About 9.40% of families and 18.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.20% of those under age 18 and 8.20% of those age 65 or over.

Accolades

Political

Voting trends

Leon County (Florida) courthouse; 2007.
Leon County (Florida) courthouse; 2007.

Leon County is a traditional Blue county and has voted Democratic consistently. It has voted Democratic throughout its history. As of December 31, 2007 there were 85,546 Democrats and 42,744 Republicans in Leon County. Other affiliations accounted for 22,284 voters.[4]

In the 2004 Presidential race, Leon County strongly supported John Kerry (D) with 83,830 votes to George W. Bush's (R) 51,594 votes. Ralph Nader (Ref) received 476 votes.

In the 2000 Presidential race, Leon County strongly supported Al Gore (D) with 61,427 votes to George W. Bush's (R) 39,062. Ralph Nader (I) received 1,932 votes.

County representation

Leon County Government
Position Name Party
Commissioner Cliff Thaell Democrat
Commissioner Jane Sauls Democrat
Commissioner Dan Winchester Democrat
Commissioner Bob Rackleff Democrat
Commissioner Bill Proctor Democrat
Commissioner Bryan Desloge Republican
Commissioner Ed DePuy Republican
Elections Supervisor Ion Sancho NPA
Tax Collector Doris Maloy Democrat
Property Appraiser Bert Hartsfield Democrat
Court Clerk Bob Inzer Democrat
Sheriff Larry Campbell Democrat
School Superintendent Jackie Pons Democrat
Soil and Water Supervisor 1 Blas Gomez Non Partisan

Consolidation with Tallahassee

Voters of Leon County have gone to the polls four times to vote on consolidation of Tallahassee and Leon County governments into one jurisdiction combining police and other city services with already shared (consolidated) Tallahassee Fire Department and Leon County Emergency Medical Services. Tallahassee's city limits would (at current size) increase from 98.2 square miles (254 km2) to 702 square miles (1,820 km2). Roughly 36 percent of Leon County's 250,000 residents live outside the Tallahassee city limits.

Leon County Voting On Consolidation
Year FOR AGAINST
1968 10,381 (41.32%) 14,740 (58.68%)
1973 11,056 (46.23%) 12,859 (53.77%)
1976 20,336 (45.01%) 24,855 (54.99%)
1992 37,062 (39.8%) 56,070 (60.2%)

The proponents of consolidation have stated that the new jurisdiction would attract business by its very size. Merging of governments would cut government waste, duplication of services, etc. However Professor Richard Feiock states that no discernible relationship exists between consolidation and the local economy.[1]

U.S. Congressional representatives

Allen Boyd (D) map represents roughly 90% of Leon County while Ander Crenshaw (R) map represents about 10%.

State Representatives

Rep. Loranne Ausley (D), District 9, represents the northern half of Leon County including most of Tallahassee. Rep. Marti Coley (R), District 7, represents the southern portion of the county. Rep. Curtis Richardson (D), District 8, also represents a west-central portion of the county.

Municipalities

Incorporated

Unincorporated

  • Black Creek - Identified on USGS maps as a small enclave of 5 or 6 houses along Mahan Drive, just north of Black Creek, the waterway.
  • Baum - Identified on USGS maps as the structures in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of Mahan Drive and Baum Road.
  • Bradfordville
  • Capitola
  • Centerville
  • Chaires
  • Chaires Crossroads - Identified on USGS maps as the structures in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of Chaires Cross Road and Apalachee Parkway. Historically a part of the Joseph Chaires Plantation.
  • Gardner - Identified on USGS maps as the structures in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of Mahan Road and Crump Road, including Miles Johnson Road.
  • Felkel
  • Fort Braden
  • Iamonia
  • Ivan
  • Lutterloh
  • Meridian
  • Miccosukee
  • Ochlockonee
  • Rose - Identified on USGS maps as the intersection of several dirt roads and the Florida Gas Transmission pipeline just east of Old Plank Road, south of Tram Road, north of Natural Bridge Road. There are no structures or inhabitants in this area.
  • Wadesboro
  • Woodville

Public safety

The law enforcement agency charged with countywide policing is the Leon County Sheriff's Office. Fire and Emergency medical services provided by the Tallahassee Fire Department and Leon County Emergency Medical Services respectively.

Schools

Public schools in Leon County are administered and under the operation of the Leon County School District. LCS is operated by a superintendent, 5 board members, and 1 Student Representative. There are:

  • 24 Elementary Schools
  • 8 Middle Schools
  • 6 High Schools
  • 8 Special / Alternative Schools
  • 2 Charter Schools

High Schools

Newsweek Magazine's Top 1000 Schools for 2006 lists 4 of Leon County's 5 public high schools in the top 200 in the United States out of over 10,000 schools.

Points of Interest

Geology

Geological make-up of Leon County.
Geological make-up of Leon County.

Leon County has 3 defining geologic periods. They are Neogene Period and Paleogene Period of the Cenozoic era and the Quaternary sub-era which includes the Pleistocene epoch and Holocene epoch.

Geologic formations

Bodies of water

References

  1. ^ http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls
  2. ^ a b 2000 U.S. Census at EPodunk.com - An examination of all Florida counties
  3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Leon County Supervisor of Elections

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

Tourism links

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Municipalities and communities of
Leon County, Florida
County seat: Tallahassee
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Coordinates: 30°28′N 84°17′W / 30.46, -84.28
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