Editing Citrus County, Florida (section)

==Government==
===Libraries===
Originally, the libraries within Citrus County were separate and overseen by different local organizations. In 1961, the libraries of Crystal River, Floral City, Hernando, Homosassa, and Inverness joined the Central Florida Regional Library System along with Levy and Marion Counties. The Citrus County Library System was established on October 1, 1987.<ref>{{Cite web|last=vickyleon|title=History of the Citrus County Library System|url=https://www.citruslibraries.org/about-us/about-the-library/library-history/|access-date=September 29, 2021|website=Citrus Libraries|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Citrus County Library System offers a PAWS to Read program where elementary school-aged children can enhance their literacy skills by reading aloud to a certified therapy dog.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cclib.org/classes/early-childhood |title=Early Childhood |access-date=April 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313061305/http://cclib.org/classes/early-childhood |archive-date=March 13, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It also has several other children/teen programs and adult recreational classes.<ref>[http://www.cclib.org website] {{webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020913050833/http://www.cclib.org/ |date=September 13, 2002 }}</ref>

On October 24, 2019, the Citrus County Commissioners voted against the Library System's request for funding to give library users digital access to the ''New York Times''. Commissioner Scott Carnahan said, "I don't want the ''New York Times'' in this county. I don't agree with it, I don't like 'em, it's fake news and I'm voting no. They can take that money and do something else with it ... I support Donald Trump."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/05/florida-county-refuses-pay-new-york-times-libraries-fake-news|title = Florida county refuses to pay for New York Times in libraries: 'It's fake news'|website = [[TheGuardian.com]]|date = November 5, 2019}}</ref>

There are five branches of the Citrus County Library System:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citruslibraries.org/|title=Techedu – Home 3|website=Citrus Libraries}}</ref>
* '''Beverly Hills (Central Ridge)'''
The library in Beverly Hills began as a few shelves in the Beverly Hills recreational hall. A proper library was made possible by the local residents. In 1965, those that wished to expand the library visited homes asking for donations of $1 from each. The new library was built and its materials relocated to a building on Beverly Hills Boulevard. In 1969, the library moved slightly south to inhabit part of the Fire House. Nine years later, when the Fire House was moved, the library expanded to use the entire space. The Beverly Hills Library became the Central Ridge Branch on Roosevelt Boulevard during its dedication in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web|last=vickyleon|title=History of the Citrus County Library System|url=https://www.citruslibraries.org/about-us/about-the-library/library-history/|access-date=September 30, 2021|website=Citrus Libraries|language=en-US}}</ref>
* '''Crystal River (Coastal Region)'''
On April 8, 1959, the first public library opened in Crystal River at 639 Citrus Ave. Much of the funding for this building was donated by the Crystal River Women's Club. A year later, the library moved into the old post office space. After the libraries joined the Central Florida Regional Library System, the City of Crystal River donated two lots of land for the building of a new library. The building was later expanded in 1972, which remained until 1983 when the current library was built at 8619 W Crystal St. The library was then renamed to The Coastal Region Library.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Bash|first=Evelyn C.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/159920347|title=A history of Crystal River, Florida|date=2006|publisher=Crystal River Heritage Council|others=Marge K. Pritchett|isbn=1-59872-315-4|location=Crystal River, FL|oclc=159920347}}</ref>
* '''Floral City'''
The Floral City Public Library branch is located in the town center of Floral City. Oak trees<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/donations-help-historic-tree-project|title=Donations help historic tree project {{!}} ChronicleOnline.com|website=Chronicle Online|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426153043/http://www.chronicleonline.com/content/donations-help-historic-tree-project|archive-date=April 26, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> lead up to the library. Surrounding the library is the Floral City Heritage Museum and Country Store, the Floral City Masonic Lodge, and Community House. The library is managed by the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and receives governmental funding and donations to operate. The Lion's Club started the library in 1958 in a former gift shop.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0000153/00001/pdf|title=Citrus County Library|website=digital.lib.usf.edu|language=en|access-date=April 26, 2017|archive-date=April 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170415202655/http://digital.lib.usf.edu/SFS0000153/00001/pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
A new branch location was built and opened on May 1, 2009. The building was part of a $1.5 million town center and linear park on Orange Avenue and replaced the old facility. The branch offers adult literacy, early childhood literacy, family & youth, self enrichment, and technology education classes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citruslibraries.org/|title=Citrus Libraries – Citrus County Library System|website=www.citruslibraries.org|language=en-US|access-date=April 26, 2017}}</ref> The library has many craft class offerings for children, teens, adults, and seniors. Popular programs include adult coloring, tissue paper flowers, recycled book art, and card making. Close to holidays, the branch hosts themed activities and small parties for children. Staff of the Floral City branch create monthly book displays to entice patrons to new areas and titles. Every year the library hosts two book sales (spring and fall) to raise funds for more materials and programs. Staff participates in Heritage Days which is a weekend-long celebration of the founding of Floral City. Heritage days take place in early December and staff members dress up in garb from the late 1800s.
* '''Homosassa'''
* '''Inverness (Lakes Region)'''

===Elections===
====Voter registration====
According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans comprise a majority of registered voters in Citrus County.
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Citrus County Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of November 6, 2021<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.votecitrus.com|access-date=November 6, 2021|website=www.votecitrus.com}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Political party
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 60,821
| align = center | 51.73%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 27,112
| align = center | 23.06%
|-
|
| other party affiliation
| align = center | 29,634
| align = center | 25.21%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 117,564
! align = center | 100.00%
|}

====Federal and state offices====
Citrus County has voted Republican in national elections since 2000 and has voted Republican in state and local races before the 21st century. As of 2015, Republicans held the federal representative, state senator, and state representative seats serving the county, occupied all seats on the Citrus County Commission, and held nearly all other separately elected offices in the county. In 2016 the county broke heavily for [[Donald Trump]], giving him 67% of the vote, the largest of any candidate since [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] in 1972. Trump broke his own record in both subsequent elections (2020 and 2024).

The county has been trending heavily Republican for the past few decades, with Democratic registration declining for at least the past 15 years.

{{PresHead|place=Citrus County, Florida|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/ |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |access-date=December 17, 2016 |archive-date=April 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414004543/http://uselectionatlas.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|71,356|26,276|908|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|65,352|27,092|944|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|54,456|22,789|3,167|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|44,662|28,460|1,047|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|43,706|31,460|1,343|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|39,500|29,277|690|Florida}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|29,801|25,531|1,916|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|20,125|22,044|7,431|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|16,412|15,937|12,397|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|21,072|12,184|218|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|20,764|10,468|4|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|14,286|9,162|982|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|7,973|9,438|296|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|8,848|2,607|3|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,767|1,775|2,606|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,329|2,521|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,861|1,730|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,570|1,527|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,249|1,361|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|461|940|251|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|264|1,328|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|194|1,561|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|159|1,366|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|147|1,209|0|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|505|816|16|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|30|423|52|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|94|651|43|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|46|601|48|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|11|417|75|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|33|371|40|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|21|369|27|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|16|413|19|Florida}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|35|347|28|Florida}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|0|316|75|Florida}}

<!-- {| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Previous Gubernatorial Elections Results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2014|2014]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''53.68%''' ''31,305''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.45% ''22,424''
|align="center" |7.87% ''4,591''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2010|2010]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''54.60%''' ''29,925''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.40% ''21,596''
|align="center" |6.00% ''3,287''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2006|2006]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''56.24%''' ''29,038''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|38.55% ''19,905''
|align="center" |5.21% ''2,691''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 2002|2002]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''61.45%''' ''32,400''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|37.51% ''19,777''
|align="center" |1.04% ''549''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 1998|1998]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''56.80%''' ''23,347''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|43.18% ''17,750''
|align="center" |0.02% ''9
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Florida gubernatorial election, 1994|1994]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''50.66%''' ''20,633''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|49.33% ''20,094''
|align="center" |0.01% ''5
|} -->