Editing Fort White, Florida

{{Short description|  Town in the state of Florida, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| name               = Fort White, Florida
| official_name      = Town of Fort White
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[Town (Florida)|Town]]
| motto              = "Home of the Ichetucknee River"
<!-- images and maps  ----------->| image_skyline      = FortWhiteFLMon.png
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| image_caption      = Top, left to right: [[Florida State Road 47]] in Fort White, Fort White Train Depot, [[Fort White High School]], Town of Fort White [[Historical Marker]], [[Fort White Public School Historic District]], Fort White [[United Methodist Church]]
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| image_map          = Columbia_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Fort_White_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Columbia County, Florida|Columbia County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
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| pushpin_mapsize    = <!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Florida}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = {{noflag|[[Columbia County, Florida|Columbia]]}}
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-Council]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = George Jacob Thomas
| leader_title1      = [[City Council|Councilors]]
| leader_name1       = District 1 Kathryn Terry,<br>District 2 Lonnie Wayne Harrell,<br>District 3 Monica Merricks, and<br>District 4 William "Bill" Koon
| leader_title2      = [[City Clerk|Town Clerk]]
| leader_name2       = Carrie Schaper
| leader_title3      = [[City Attorney|Town Attorney]]
| leader_name3       = Michael Pope
| leader_title4      = 
| leader_name4       = 
| established_title  = [[Settler colonialism|Settled]]
| established_date   = 1836<ref name=FWhSet>{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.fortwhitefl.com/community/page/history|website=www.fortwhitefl.com}}</ref>
| established_title2 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date2  = 1884<ref name=FWhSet/><ref name=FtWInc/><ref name=FWInc>{{Cite web|title=MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY: Town of Fort White|url=https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research-resources/municipal-directory|website=www.floridaleagueofcities.com}}</ref>
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = <!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 6.25
| area_land_km2      = 6.25
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.41
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.41
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
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| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 618
| population_density_km2 = 98.86
| population_density_sq_mi = 256.01
| population_metro   = 
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| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone           = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|29|55|23|N|82|42|51|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 21
| elevation_ft       = 69
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 32038
| area_code          = [[Area code 386|386]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 12-24500<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0282713<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|http://fortwhitefl.com/}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Fort White''' is a town in [[Columbia County, Florida|Columbia County]], [[Florida]], United States, named after a [[military fort]] built in the 1830s. It is the closest town to [[Ichetucknee Springs State Park]]. [[Fort White High School]] and the [[Fort White Public School Historic District]] are located within the town's borders. The original school building was constructed in 1915. As of the 2020 census, the population of Fort White was 618, up from 567 at the 2010 census. It is part of the [[Lake City, Florida]] [[Columbia County, Florida|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[Image:FTWhiteSW.png|thumb|left|Excerpt from A Map of the Seat of War in Florida showing the fort location of Ft. White in 1839.]]
Fort White was originally constructed as a military fort during the [[Second Seminole War]] in 1836 to protect the Cow Creek settlement.<ref name=FWhSet/> Supplies were brought in by steamboat on the [[Santa Fe River (Florida)|Santa Fe River]] and distributed to other area forts. Due to sickness, flooding along the river and rumors of the railroad coming to the area, the settlement was moved {{convert|4|mi|0}} east to its present location.<ref name=FWhSet/>

A prominent [[Second Seminole War]] leader, ''[[Halpatter Tustenuggee]]'' (Alligator Warrior) or "Chief Alligator", of Alligator Town (known as ''Alpata Telophka'' or ''Halapata Telofa'' in its indigenous language), now known as [[Lake City, Florida|Lake City]], is buried at Tustenuggee Methodist Cemetery near Fort White. Before it was incorporated as Lake City, the white settlers called the community "''Alligator''", which was the partial English translation of the Native American community.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Alligator Town Marker|journal=George Lansing Taylor Collection Main Gallery|date=February 21, 2009|url=http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/historical_architecture_main/3320/|access-date=April 14, 2025|last1=Taylor|first1=George}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Mahon |first=John K. |title=History of the Second Seminole War 1835-1842 |publisher=University of Florida Press |year=1985 |isbn=0-8130-1097-7 |edition=Revised (paperback) |location=Gainesville, Florida |orig-year=1967 |page=10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Halpatter Tustenuggee|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11503266/halpatter-tustenuggee|website=www.findagrave.com}}</ref>

Named after the military fort, in 1884, the '''Town of Fort White''' was officially incorporated and grew steadily, following the arrival of the railroad in 1888.<ref name=FWhSet/><ref name=FtWInc>{{Cite web|title=FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO|url=https://www.flcities.com/docs/default-source/research-institute-reports/2020citiesbyincorporationwithinfo.pdf?sfvrsn=5009d6d5_0|website=www.flcities.com}}</ref><ref name=FWInc/> [[Phosphate]] mining, turpentine and agriculture (cotton and oranges) were the foundation of the economy, and the population grew to nearly 2,000. The boom turned to bust as severe freezes in the winters of 1896 and 1897 destroyed the local citrus industry.<ref name=FWhSet/> By 1910, the largest phosphate deposits were depleted and mining ceased. The [[boll weevil]] ended cotton farming before [[World War I]], and the population shrank to a few hundred people, primarily farmers, ranchers and foresters.<ref name=FWhSet/> The town's population in 1979 was 365.

==Geography==
[[file:FTWhiteR27.jpg|thumb|left|[[U.S. Route 27]] in Fort White.]]
The approximate coordinates for the Town of Fort White is located in southern Columbia County at {{Coord|29|55|23|N|82|42|51|W|type:city}} (29.923001, –82.714299),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 27]] and [[Florida State Road 47]]. SR 47 leads north {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Lake City, Florida|Lake City]], the Columbia County seat, and south {{convert|23|mi}} to [[Trenton, Florida|Trenton]]. US 27 leads southeast {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Alachua, Florida|Alachua]] and [[Interstate 75]], and west {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Branford, Florida|Branford]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Fort White has a total area of {{convert|6.2|km2|disp=flip}}, all land.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1224500| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212181421/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1224500| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Fort White town, Florida| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref> Most of the land surrounding the town is family farms and/or forests.

===The Ichetucknee River===
The locals have always known of and enjoyed the crystal clear [[Ichetucknee River]] and springs, located {{convert|4|mi|0}} northwest of the town. However, before 1970, the existence and location of this natural wonder were not widely known. The road to the spring was not paved, nor was it marked, because the spring was on private property. In 1970, the state of Florida purchased the Ichetucknee spring and river property from the Loncala Phosphate Corporation. Columbia County built a paved road, number 238, providing easier access to the springs. In 1972, the head spring of the river was declared a [[National Natural Landmark]] by the [[United States Department of the Interior|U.S. Department of the Interior]]. The main tributary from Ichetucknee Springs became one of the most popular tubing destinations in the world, attracting up to 5,000 visitors each day during the summer. Others came to the river to swim, picnic, snorkel, scuba dive, and explore the nearby forests.<ref>[http://www.floridasprings.org/protection/success/ichetucknee/ "Ichetucknee"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824162858/http://www.floridasprings.org/protection/success/ichetucknee/ |date=August 24, 2007 }} Florida Springs website</ref>

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the Town of Fort White has a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''Cfa'').

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890= 376
|1900= 600
|1910= 329
|1920= 360
|1930= 272
|1940= 317
|1950= 329
|1960= 425
|1970= 365
|1980= 386
|1990= 268
|2000= 409
|2010= 567
|2020= 618
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Fort White racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fort White town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+White+town;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Fort White town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+White+town;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|334
|406
|58.91%
|65.70%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|171
|149
|30.16%
|24.11%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|4
|2
|0.71%
|0.32%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|3
|5
|0.53%
|0.81%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|0
|1
|0.00%
|0.16%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|1
|2
|0.18%
|0.32%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|12
|12
|2.12%
|1.94%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|42
|41
|7.41%
|6.63%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''567'''
|'''618'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 618 people, 214 households, and 164 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Fort White town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+White+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 567 people, 311 households, and 169 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Fort White town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Fort+White+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 409 people, 151 households, and 104 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|176.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 184 housing units at an average density of {{convert|79.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 50.61% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 46.70% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.49% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.24% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], and 1.71% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.42% of the population.

In 2000, there were 151 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.35.

In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 76.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $26,250, and the median income for a family was $28,000. Males had a median income of $26,477 versus $26,667 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $10,578. About 24.1% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.0% of those under age 18 and 42.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Government services==
The town elects a mayor and four town council members who meet once each month. Water is provided through the city, but all residents utilize a [[septic tank]] system for sewerage. Law enforcement is provided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office who utilize a sub-station within the city limits. Fire protection is provided by the Columbia County Fire Department. Garbage collection is subcontracted to a private company. The Fort White Branch of the [https://ccpl.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/default Columbia County Public Library system], which was previously located next to town hall, is across from Fort White High School. The county health clinic has a satellite office in Fort White which is open one day each week, but the nearest hospital facility is in Lake City.<ref name=INFO>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100418182326/http://townoffortwhitefl.com/generalinfo.html "Fort White General Information"]}} Town of Fort White website</ref>

The Fort White Sports Complex was constructed in 2005 on {{convert|25|acre}} abutting the high school. Facilities include six baseball fields, two basketball courts and two tennis courts. A [[Community centre|community center]] was built on the site in 2008. A [[senior citizen]] meal program operates at the center on weekdays.<ref name=INFO />

==Schools==
[[Image:FortWhiteHighSchool17.jpg|thumb|[[Fort White High School]]]]
The public schools located within the Town of Fort White are served by the [[Columbia County School District]].

*Fort White Elementary School
*Fort White Middle School
*[[Fort White High School]]

The original Fort White High School was constructed during 1915, and an auditorium was added in 1936. Separate elementary school classrooms were completed in 1938.<ref>[http://www.flheritage.com/facts/reports/places/index.cfm?fuseaction=ListAreas&county=columbia "Columbia County"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100227072613/http://www.flheritage.com/facts/reports/places/index.cfm?fuseaction=ListAreas&county=Columbia |date=February 27, 2010 }} Florida Division of Historical Resources, Florida's History Through Its Places</ref>

The last high school class to graduate was in 1969, about the same time [[Desegregation in the United States|desegregation]] and [[Racial integration|integration]] forced the closing of the black schools in the area. At that time, there weren't enough children to justify a high school in Fort White; students in grades 9–12 were bused {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Columbia High School (Lake City, Florida)|Columbia High School]] in [[Lake City, Florida|Lake City]] for over 30 years. After [[Ichetucknee Springs State Park]] opened in 1971, the population in the south end of the county steadily grew to the point where the need for a local facility was substantiated.

A $25 million high school was completed in December 2000 for grades 6–12, having opened in August 2000, in temporary buildings because of construction delays. The school had been scheduled for completion in August 2000. Fort White High School graduated the first class in a generation in 2001. A new Fort White Middle School for grade 6 was completed prior to the 2008–2009 school year. The rest of the middle school (for grades 7 and 8) has recently been finished and is in use, though the middle and high school are still joined.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://fortwhitefl.com/ Official Website for the Town of Fort White]

{{Columbia County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Columbia County, Florida]]
[[Category:Forts in Florida|White]]
[[Category:Seminole Wars|White]]
[[Category:Pre-statehood history of Florida]]
[[Category:Towns in Florida]]
[[Category:1836 establishments in Florida Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1836]]