Calhoun County, Florida

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Calhoun County is a rural county located in the northern panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,648,<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> making it the fifth-least populous county in Florida. Its county seat is Blountstown.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

File:Map of Calhoun County, Florida in 1842.jpg

Map of Calhoun County, Florida, in 1842

Calhoun County was created in 1838. It was named for John C. Calhoun, member of the United States Senate from South Carolina and the seventh U.S. vice president, serving under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The county was originally located between St. Joseph Bay and the Apalachicola River, with the county seat at St. Joseph (which was abandoned by 1844 due to a yellow fever epidemic and hurricanes).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the late 1850s, there was a violent feud between the local Durden family and another anti-Durden group. This feud escalated and there was a breakdown of the law, with roaming gangs and a "pitched battle" at the courthouse square in Blountstown. The violence got so bad that the county judge had to call in aid from the Fifth Florida Militia Regiment, which deployed 150 militiamen to breakup the outlaw bands.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The relative lawlessness continued during the American Civil War when armed gangs gathered in the country side and avoided conscription by the Confederacy. These groups were in contact with and armed by the Federal blockade and even concocted a plan to kidnap the Confederate Governor Milton. Milton caught word of the plot and avoided capture.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The county was later expanded to the north with territory from Jackson and Washington counties. In 1913, part of Calhoun County was transferred to the new Bay County. In 1925, the southern part of Calhoun County was separated as the new Gulf County, which included the territory that had formed the original Calhoun County.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 1930, a federal employee shot the County Sheriff over a dispute of unknown origin.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.2%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The county is bounded on the east by the Apalachicola River and is bisected by the Chipola River, site of Look and Tremble.

Unincorporated areas

Among the unincorporated settlements are Broad Branch, Chipola, Clarksville, Chason, Durham, Fisher Corner, Flowers Still, Henderson Mill, Kinard, Leonards, New Hope, Rollins Corner, Selman, Sharptown, Summerville, and Willis. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Jackson County, Florida – north
Gadsden County, Florida – northeast (EST)
Liberty County, Florida – east (EST)
Gulf County, Florida – south (southern part of the county is in the EST)
Bay County, Florida – west

Demographics

Template:US Census population

**Calhoun County racial composition as of 2020**
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn
Race	Pop 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	11,357	10,490	77.65%	76.86%
Black or African American (NH)	1,991	1,668	13.61%	12.22%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	144	93	0.98%	0.68%
Asian (NH)	71	46	0.49%	0.34%
Pacific Islander (NH)	8	0	0.05%	0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)	6	10	0.04%	0.07%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	293	719	2.0%	5.27%
Hispanic or Latino	755	622	5.16%	4.56%
Total	14,625	13,648	100.00%	100.00%

File:2023 Racial Demographics in Calhoun County by Census Tract.svg

A map of the racial demographics in Calhoun County, Florida by Census tractTemplate:Collapsible list

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,648 people, 4,510 households, and 2,753 families residing in the county.

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 13,017 people, 4,468 households, and 3,132 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,250 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 79.87% White, 15.79% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 3.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,468 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 117.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,575, and the median income for a family was $32,848. Males had a median income of $26,681 versus $21,176 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,379. About 14.80% of families and 20.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major roads

File:Calhoun County FL sign on SR20.jpg

The sign for Calhoun County on FL 20

Calhoun County is not served by any Interstate or U.S. Highways; the nearest access to the Interstate Highway System is Interstate 10 in Sneads in neighboring Jackson County and to the U.S. Highway System is U.S. Route 231 in northeastern Bay County. Template:See also

File:Florida 20.svg FL 20 is major east–west state highway linking Niceville to the state capital Tallahassee.
File:Florida 69.svg FL 69 begins at FL 71 in Blountstown.
File:Florida 71.svg FL 71 is major north–south state highway linking Port St. Joe to Alabama.
File:Florida 73.svg FL 73 begins at FL 71 in southern Calhoun County.

Airport

Calhoun County Airport (Florida)

Politics

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans hold a narrow majority among registered voters in Calhoun County as of 2022. However, Democrats held a sizable majority of registered voters as recently as 2017.

Calhoun County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of March 31, 2022<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Political Party		Total Voters	Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Republican	3,655	44.79%
Template:Party color cell	Democratic	3,500	42.89%
Template:Party color cell	Independent	955	11.70%
Template:Party color cell	Third Parties	50	0.61%
Total		8,160	100%

Statewide elections

Like most of the Florida Panhandle, Calhoun County votes heavily Republican in presidential and congressional races yet still occasionally supports conservative Democrats in local and state contests.

**Previous gubernatorial elections results**
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2018	77.59% 3,576	20.03% 923	2.39% 110
2014	63.91% 2,676	28.71% 1,202	7.38% 309
2010	51.23% 2,201	43.18% 1,855	5.59% 240
2006	50.79% 1,737	45.70% 1,563	3.51% 120
2002	45.10% 1,917	53.49% 2,274	1.41% 60
1998	60.13% 1,796	39.87% 1,191
1994	49.50% 1,775	50.50% 1,811

Template:Clear

County commissioners

Ben Hall (District 1)
Aaron Carter (District 2)
Darryl O'Bryan (District 3)
Scott Monlyn (District 4)
Gene Bailey (District 5)

Local elected officials

Clerk of Court: Carla Hand
County Sherriff: Glenn Kimbrel
Supervisor of Elections: Sharon Chason
Property Appraiser: Carla Peacock
Tax Collector: Becky Smith<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Calhoun County School District operates public schools. Its two senior high schools are Blountstown High School and Altha Public School.

Library

Along with the six branches within the Calhoun County Public Library System, Calhoun County is also a part of the Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System. PPLCS also includes Holmes and Jackson counties. Branches are located in the following communities and offer public computers with internet access, free wi-fi, programming for all ages, downloadable e-books and e-audiobooks, and numerous online databases and resources.