Havana, Florida

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Havana is a town in Gadsden County, Florida, United States, and a suburb of Tallahassee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 1,753 at the 2020 census,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> almost even from 1,754 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town was named after Havana, Cuba, located about Template:Convert to the south.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

The cultivation of shade tobacco began in Gadsden County, Florida around 1829. In 1902, following the completion of the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railroad, many settlers moved a mile east to the present site of Havana. A local teacher, James Mathewson, proposed the name "Havana". He believed the hand-rolled cigars made in this region of Florida were comparable to those from Havana, Cuba. On December 5, 1906, the Town of Havana was officially incorporated. The railway town was important to the export of farming and tobacco.<ref name=HavHis>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=HH>Template:Cite web</ref>

On March 16, 1916, Havana was destroyed by a fire and 26 business-owned buildings were burned leaving only two remaining stores.<ref name=HavHis/><ref name=HH/>

In recent times, much of the tobacco crop industry has declined and Havana is now known for its antiques, art galleries and specialty stores.

Geography

The approximate coordinates for the Town of Havana is located in northeastern Gadsden County on the Florida Panhandle at Template:Coord (30.624245, –84.414955).<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

U.S. Route 27 passes through the center of town, leading southeast Template:Convert to the center of Tallahassee and north Template:Convert to Bainbridge, Georgia. Florida State Road 12 intersects US 27 in Havana; it leads west Template:Convert to Quincy, the Gadsden County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Havana has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.57%, is water.

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 Havana has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

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Demographics

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2010 and 2020 census

**Havana, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	775	715	44.18%	40.79%
Black or African American alone (NH)	937	899	53.42%	51.28%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	2	0	0.11%	0.00%
Asian alone (NH)	8	4	0.46%	0.23%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Other race alone (NH)	0	2	0.00%	0.11%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	8	58	0.46%	3.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	24	75	1.37%	4.28%
Total	1,754	1,753	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,753 people, 970 households, and 708 families residing in the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,754 people, 703 households, and 411 families residing in the town.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,713 people, 700 households, and 471 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 762 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 41.86% White, 56.74% African American, 0.06% Asian, 0.82% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.

In 2000, there were 700 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 20.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $27,344, and the median income for a family was $38,487. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $19,958 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,481. About 11.1% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

File:Havana Magnet School, former Middle School.jpg

Havana Magnet School (former Havana Middle School)

The Gadsden County School District operates Havana Magnet School, which serves elementary and middle school grades. Gadsden County High School (formerly East Gadsden High School), outside of the city limits, is the only zoned high school in the county.

Previously the Havana area had three schools: Havana Elementary School, Havana Middle School, and Havana Northside High School.<ref name=Schools2001list>"Schools." Gadsden County School District. April 6, 2001. Retrieved on April 6, 2017.</ref> Havana Elementary began using the Accelerated School program in Spring 1995 in order to improve academic performance. In 2001, Havana Elementary, which occupied an Template:Convert area, had about 100 employees and 1,000 students; most of the students were low income, and 95% of the students were from African-American families.<ref>"HES Bio." Havana Elementary School. December 4, 2001. Retrieved on April 7, 2017.</ref> In 2003, Havana Northside High School and James A. Shanks High School in Quincy consolidated into East Gadsden High.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2017, the high school section of West Gadsden High School consolidated into East Gadsden High, leaving the latter as the only remaining zoned high school in the county.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Gadsden Connector bus stop, Municipal Building, Havana.jpg

Gadsden Connector bus stop at municipal building

Two private schools are in unincorporated areas and with Havana postal addresses: