Dixie County, Florida

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

Dixie County is a county located in the Big Bend region of the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,759.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Cross City.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

Dixie County was created in 1921 from the southern portion of Lafayette County and named for "Dixie", the common nickname for the southern United States.<ref>Template:Cite book</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 (18.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Taylor County – northwest
Lafayette County – north
Gilchrist County – east
Levy County – southeast

National protected area

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Template:US Census population

**Dixie County racial composition as of 2020**
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn
Race	Pop 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	Template:Partial
White (NH)	14,220	13,750	86.59%	82.05%
Black or African American (NH)	1,364	1,551	8.31%	9.25%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	63	61	0.38%	0.36%
Asian (NH)	48	58	0.29%	0.35%
Pacific Islander (NH)	2	0	0.01%	0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)	4	33	0.02%	0.2%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	209	618	1.27%	3.69%
Hispanic or Latino	512	688	3.12%	4.11%
Total	16,422	16,759	100%	100%

File:2023 Dixie County by Census tract.svg

A map of racial demographics in Dixie County, Florida by census tractTemplate:Collapsible list

2020 Census

The 2020 United States census counted 16,759 people, 6,248 households, and 3,905 families in Dixie County, Florida.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 23.8 per square mile (9.2/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 9,276 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile (5.1/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 83.88% (14,057) white or European American (82.05% non-Hispanic white), 9.37% (1,571) black or African-American, 0.36% (61) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.38% (64) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.28% (214) from other races, and 4.7% (788) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 4.11% (688) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 6,248 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18; 43.3% were married couples living together; 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.9% of households consisted of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 7.2% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

18.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.8 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 77.3 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $41,674 (with a margin of error of +/- $1,917). The median family income was $47,188 (+/- $8,669).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $32,985 (+/- $2,117) versus $21,214 (+/- $3,480) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $27,358 (+/- $5,285).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 11.9% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 Census

In 2000 there were an estimated 5,205 households and 3,659 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,362 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 88.80% White, 8.98% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were English, 15.2% were Irish, 14.7% were American, and 5.2% were German.

There were 5,205 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 113.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,082, and the median income for a family was $31,157. Males had a median income of $26,694 versus $17,863 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,559. About 14.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans constitute the majority of registered voters in Dixie County.

Dixie County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2022<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Political Party		Total Voters	Percentage
Template:Party color cell	Democratic	2,519	23.5%
Template:Party color cell	Republican	6,306	58.8%
Template:Party color cell	Independent	1,775	16.5%
Template:Party color cell	Third Parties	131	1.2%
Total		10,731	100.00%

Statewide elections

Republicans hold the majority of registered voters in the county. Democrats have not carried a majority of votes in a presidential election since 1980 (and last carried a plurality in 1996), nor have they carried a majority in a gubernatorial election since 1994. The county has rapidly and steadily shifted Republican since the 1990s; by 2016, the Republican candidate earned over 80% of the vote in the presidential election. In 2020, the Republican nominee gained over 82% of the vote.

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Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2022	87.30% 5,394	11.90% 735	0.81% 50
2018	80.38% 4,663	17.38% 1,008	2.23% 130
2014	62.41% 3,345	30.91% 1,657	6.68% 358
2010	53.64% 2,810	39.28% 2,058	7.08% 371
2006	52.69% 2,651	41.92% 2,109	5.39% 271
2002	56.03% 2,273	42.45% 1,722	1.53% 62
1998	60.44% 1,855	39.39% 1,209	0.16% 5
1994	49.66% 1,981	50.21% 2,003	0.13% 5

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Points of interest

City of Hawkinsville – sunken steamboat in the Suwannee River near Old Town, one of the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves.
Old Town Elementary School, now the Dixie County Cultural Center.
Old Town Methodist Church built in 1890 located behind the 1983 church building.
Putnam Lodge in Cross City, Florida built by the Putnam Lumber Company for its nearby lumber town of Shamrock

Library

The Dixie County Library is part of the Three Rivers Regional Library System, which also serves Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Taylor counties. It is located at 16328 SE 19th Highway in Cross City, Florida. The branch is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. The current library director is Cindy Bellot.

Communities

File:Shamrock FL Putnam Lodge01.jpg

Putnam Lodge, in Shamrock

Towns

Unincorporated communities

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Transportation

Airports

Dixie County Airport

Major highways

Template:See also

Template:Jct, are the main US highways throughout Dixie County, running southeast to northwest from the bridge over the Suwannee River at the Levy-Gilchrist county line to the bridge over the Steinhatchee River at the Taylor County line. US Routes 98 and 27 Alternate overlap US 19 throughout the county.
Template:Jct passes through a short sliver of Dixie County in western Taylor County between Taylor and Lafayette Counties, but has no major intersections.
Template:Jct runs south to north from US 19-98-Alt. 27 in Old Town along the eastern end of the county, eventually crossing the border into Lafayette County. A county extension runs south toward Yellow Jacket and Suwannee.

Notes

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References

External links

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HardisonInk.com, Online daily news website for Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties.
Dixie County Advocate, local newspaper available in full-text for free from the Florida Digital Newspaper Library
Dixie County Times, A recently started local newspaper managed by the former editor of the Dixie County Advocate.
WZCC-AM 1240, Cross City's Community Radio Station.