Editing Trenton, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                     = Trenton, Florida
|official_name            = City of Trenton
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]
|motto                    = "A Community of Friends"<br>"Building Upon a Foundation of Integrity"<ref>{{cite web|url=  http://www.trentonflorida.org/ |title= City of Trenton Florida |publisher=www.trentonflorida.org |access-date= September 22, 2012}}</ref>
 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = Trenton City Hall.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Trenton City Hall
|image_flag               = 
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = 
|blank_emblem_type        = 
|blank_emblem_size        = 
|image_map                = Gilchrist_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Trenton_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|image_dot_map            = 
|pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|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|[[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist]]}}
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = <!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Council-Manager government|Commission-Manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Robbi Coarsey Avery 
|leader_title1            = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
|leader_name1             = Randy Rutter, Mary Davis,<br>Russel Williams, and<br>Craig Ruede
|leader_title2            = [[City Manager]]
|leader_name2             = Lyle Wilkerson
|leader_title3            = [[City Clerk]]
|leader_name3             = Brittany Mills
|leader_title4            = [[City Attorney]]
|leader_name4             = David Lang
|established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled]]
|established_date         = 1883<ref name=TreSet>{{Cite web|title=Our History|url=https://www.trentonflorida.org/our-history/|website=www.trentonflorida.org}}</ref>
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date3        = 1911<ref name=TreInc>{{Cite web|title=FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR|url=http://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/docs/default-source/CMRI/2016citiesbyincorporationb682b2c41a9e6c4e8be5ff0000e8da5f.pdf?sfvrsn=0|website=Florida League of Cities}}</ref>
|named_for                = [[Trenton, Tennessee]]<ref name=TreSet/>
|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=December 2, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 8.79
|area_land_km2            = 8.79
|area_water_km2           = 0.00
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.39
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.39
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_water_percent       = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_blank1_title        = 
|area_blank1_km2          = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi        = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 2015
|population_density_km2   = 229.32
|population_density_sq_mi = 593.87
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2     = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi   = 
|population_urban                 = 
|population_density_urban_km2     = 
|population_density_urban_sq_mi   = 
|population_blank1_title          = 
|population_blank1                = 
|population_density_blank1_km2    = 
|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|36|54|N|82|49|4|W|region:US-FL_type:city(1722)|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 16
|elevation_ft             = 52
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 32693
|area_code                = [[Area code 352|352]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-72350<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0292420<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|www.trentonflorida.org}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
}}
'''Trenton''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist County]], [[Florida]], United States. The population was 2,015 as of the 2020 census, up from 1,999 at the 2010 census.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> It is part of the [[Gainesville, Florida]] [[Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
===Prehistory===
The first [[Paleo-Indians]] reached the north-central Florida area near the end of the [[Last glacial period|last ice age]], as they followed big game south.<ref name="Ancient Native:The Ancient One">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ancientnative.org/tao.php 
 |title=Ancient Native 
 |access-date=2010-09-09 
 |publisher=HOTOA 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017085248/http://www.ancientnative.org/tao.php 
 |archive-date=2010-10-17 
}}</ref><ref name="Polk County History">{{cite web|url=http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/History.asp |title=Polk County History |access-date=2010-09-11 |publisher=Polk County Historical Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727182027/http://www.polkcountyhistory.org/History.asp |archive-date=July 27, 2011 }}</ref> As the ice melted and sea levels rose, these Native Americans ended up staying and thrived on the peninsula for thousands of years. By the time the first Spanish [[conquistador]]s arrived, there were over 250,000 Native Americans living on the peninsula. The [[Timucua]] were a historic tribe across the north central area of Florida, where Trenton later developed.

Within 150 years, the majority of the [[pre-Columbian]] Native American peoples of Florida died of new infectious diseases or warfare, with their societies disrupted. Some were [[slavery|enslaved]] by the [[Spaniards]], and died because of harsh treatment.<ref name="Ancient Native:The Ancient One"/><ref name="The Ancient Ones">{{cite web
 |url=http://www.ancientnative.org/index.php 
 |title=The Ancient Ones 
 |access-date=2010-09-09 
 |publisher=HOTOA 
 |url-status=dead 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017085328/http://www.ancientnative.org/index.php 
 |archive-date=2010-10-17 
}}</ref><ref name="Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage">{{cite web |author=Weibel, B. |url=http://attractions.uptake.com/blog/florida-native-american-museums-7383.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091123121408/http://attractions.uptake.com/blog/florida-native-american-museums-7383.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-11-23 |title=Trail of Florida's Ancient Heritage |access-date=2010-09-09 |publisher=active.com }}</ref> Little is left of these first Native American cultures in Trenton except for scant archaeological records, including a few personal artifacts. By the early 19th century, the remnants of these tribes merged with the [[Muscogee]] (also known as Creek) who migrated from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] and [[Alabama]]. They created a new culture through [[ethnogenesis]] and became known as the [[Seminole|Seminole people]].<ref name="Polk County History"/><ref name="Trail of Florida's Indian Heritage"/> Most of the Seminole were removed from north-central Florida by the United States after wars from the 1830s to 1842, while some resisted by moving south into the [[Everglades]] and survived.

===Post-Reconstruction to present===
When the area was being settled in 1883, it was very briefly called "''Joppa''" before being named "''Trenton''" by a former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] [[Confederate States Army|soldier]] who resided in the community but was originally from [[Trenton, Tennessee]] (which in turn took their city's name from [[Trenton, New Jersey]], after [[William Trent (Trenton)|William Trent]]).<ref name=TreSet/> The municipality was officially incorporated as the '''City of Trenton''' in 1911.<ref name=TreInc/>

Western [[Alachua County]] was developed largely for farms and timber, which sometimes attracted itinerant workers. Trenton developed as a trading and market town for this area, with some professionals who worked here in the early 20th century.

On July 21, 1915, Dr. H.M. Owens was [[Lynching in the United States|lynched]] by a mob in Trenton after being told to leave town. He was at the house of Mrs. McGuire, which the mob set on fire after the doctor exchanged fire with the crowd. The doctor was shot to death as he fled the burning house. Dr. Owens's local Masonic Lodge was disbanded in the ensuing scandal and only reopened in the 1950s.<ref name="LynchingsDan">{{cite news|last1=Dan|first1=Nicole|title=At Least 21 Lynched In Alachua County, Historical Commission Confirms|url=https://www.wuft.org/news/2017/09/27/at-least-21-lynched-in-alachua-county-historical-commission-confirms/|publisher=WUFT-TV |access-date=9 January 2018|date=27 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="TrentonMob">{{cite news|title= Small Florida Town Scene Big Doings Recently |url=http://genealogytrails.com/fla/gilchrist/news_crime.html|publisher=Genealogy Trails History Group: Pensacola Journal |access-date=10 April 2018|date=23 July 1915}}</ref>

At the time, the city of Trenton was still located in Alachua County, which had the sixth highest number of [[lynching]]s of counties in Florida.<ref>[https://eji.org/sites/default/files/lynching-in-america-third-edition-supplement-by-county.pdf ''Lynching in America''/ Supplement: Lynchings by County, 3rd Edition, 2015, p.2]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Trenton is in a rural area, and is the hometown of country music singer [[Easton Corbin]] and MLB player, Wyatt Langford of the Texas Rangers.

===2018 Shooting===
On Thursday, April 19, 2018, two Gilchrist County Sheriff's deputies were attacked and slain by a lone gunman while on duty, eating lunch at a local restaurant. The two deputies were identified by Sheriff Bobby Schultz as Sergeant Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey. The killer, identified as Gilchrist County resident John Hubert Highnote, was found outside the restaurant in his vehicle, where he had committed suicide. The investigation into any possible motive was inconclusive.<ref>"CBS News"[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gunman-shoots-kills-2-deputies-in-trenton-florida-restaurant/], April 20, 2018</ref>

==Geography==
The approximate coordinates for the City of Trenton is located near the southern border of Gilchrist County at {{coord|29|36|54|N|82|49|4|W|region:US-FL_type:city(1722)}} (29.615081, –82.817732).<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=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

[[U.S. Route 129]] is the city's Main Street; it leads north {{convert|28|mi}} to [[Branford, Florida|Branford]] and south {{convert|11|mi}} to [[Chiefland, Florida|Chiefland]]. [[Florida State Road 26]] (Wade Street) leads east {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Newberry, Florida|Newberry]] and {{convert|30|mi}} to [[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]], while to the west it leads {{convert|8|mi|0}} to [[Fanning Springs, Florida|Fanning Springs]]. [[Florida State Road 47]] (Trenton Boulevard) intersects [[US 129]] in the northern part of Trenton and leads northeast {{convert|42|mi}} to [[Lake City, Florida|Lake City]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city of Trenton has a total area of {{convert|8.8|km2|order=flip}}, all land.

The [[Florida Department of Corrections]]' nearby Lancaster Correctional Institution is {{nowrap|{{convert|3|mi|km|0}}}} from Trenton.

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

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 304
|1920= 400
|1930= 706
|1940= 773
|1950= 904
|1960= 941
|1970= 1074
|1980= 1131
|1990= 1287
|2000= 1617
|2010= 1999
|2020= 2015
|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"
|+'''Trenton 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) - Trenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Trenton+city;+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) - Trenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Trenton+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|1,424
|1,313
|71.24%
|65.16%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|350
|302
|17.51%
|14.99%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|7
|10
|0.35%
|0.50%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|11
|9
|0.55%
|0.45%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|1
|5
|0.05%
|0.25%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|49
|92
|2.45%
|4.57%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|157
|284
|7.85%
|14.09%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,999'''
|'''2,015'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 2,015 people, 656 households, and 445 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Trenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Trenton+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 1,999 people, 755 households, and 430 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Trenton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Trenton+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of 2000 U.S. Census, there were 1,617 people, 608 households, and 390 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|623.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 690 housing units at an average density of {{convert|266.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.67% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 20.16% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.25% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.30% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.67% of the population.

In 2000, there were 608 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.4% had a female widow with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-white. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.10.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 23.6% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,259, and the median income for a family was $29,773. Males had a median income of $24,000 versus $21,302 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $13,054.  About 18.9% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 30.2% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Trenton Elementary School serves Trenton area students in grades PreK–5.  The Principal is Ronda Adkins and the Assistant Principals are Wendy O'Steen and Scott Allen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trenton Elementary School |url=https://www.gilchristschools.org/o/tes |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.gilchristschools.org}}</ref>  Students in grades 6–12 attend Trenton Middle High School.  The Principal is Lindsay Legler and the Assistant Principal is Emily Andriaccio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directory- Trenton Middle / High School |url=https://www.gilchristschools.org/o/ths/staff |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=www.gilchristschools.org}}</ref>

== Schools ==
Trenton, Florida, is home to two schools - '''Trenton Elementary School''' and '''[[Trenton High School (Florida)|Trenton Middle High School]]'''.

==Historic buildings==
Historic buildings in Trenton include:

* [[Gilchrist County Courthouse]]
* [[Trenton Depot]]
* The [[Trenton Church of Christ]] on South Main Street

==Notable people==

* [[Easton Corbin]], country music singer
* [[Wyatt Langford]], professional [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] baseball player

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
* [http://www.trentonflorida.org/ City of Trenton official website]
* [http://www.gilchristcounty.net/ Trenton/Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212143114/http://www.gilchristcounty.net/ |date=2004-12-12 }}

{{Gilchrist County, Florida}}
{{Florida county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Gilchrist County, Florida]]
[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]