Dixie County is a county located in the Big Bend region of the

northern Northern may refer to the following: Geography * North, a point in direction * Northern Europe, the northern part or region of Europe * Northern Highland, a region of Wisconsin, United States * Northern Province, Sri Lanka * Northern Range, a ra ...

part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,759. Its county seat is Cross City.

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.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (18.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Taylor County - northwest * Lafayette County - north *

Gilchrist County Gilchrist County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Florida. Organized in 1925 from the western part of Alachua, it is the last county to be formed in the state. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,86 ...

- east * Levy County - southeast

National protected area

* Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 16,759 people, 6,233 households, and 4,320 families residing in the county. As of the census of 2008, there were 14,957 people. In 2000 there were an estimated 5,205 households and 3,659 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 7,362 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.80% White, 8.98% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.25%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 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 Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were English, 15.2% were Irish, 14.7% were

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, and 5.2% were

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

. 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 Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

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, Democrats maintain a plurality among registered voters in Dixie County.

Statewide elections

Democrats hold a plurality of registered voters in the county, but have not carried a majority of votes in a Presidential election since before 1992 (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.

Points of interest

* '' City of Hawkinsville'' - sunken steamboat in the

Suwannee River The Suwannee River (also spelled Suwanee River) is a river that runs through south Georgia southward into Florida in the southern United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about long.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset hig ...

near

Old Town In a city or town, the old town is its historic or original core. Although the city is usually larger in its present form, many cities have redesignated this part of the city to commemorate its origins after thorough renovations. There are ma ...

, one of the

Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves The Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves are a system of underwater parks in the state of Florida, USA. They consist of shipwrecks of historic interest, both off the coast and inland, and are open all year round, free of charge. Similar prog ...

. * 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 th
Three Rivers Regional Library System
which also serves Gilchrist, Lafayette, and

Taylor Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to: People * Taylor (surname) **List of people with surname Taylor * Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah * Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron * Justice Taylor (disambiguation) Plac ...

counties. It is located at 16328 SE 19th Highway in

Cross City, Florida Cross City is a town in and the county seat of Dixie County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,728 at the 2010 census. Geography Cross City is located at (29.6806, –83.0897). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town ...

. The branch is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. The current library director is Cindy Bellot.

Communities

Towns

* Cross City * Horseshoe Beach *

Unincorporated communities

* Clara (partly in Taylor County) *

Eugene Eugene may refer to: People and fictional characters * Eugene (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters with the given name * Eugene (actress) (born 1981), Kim Yoo-jin, South Korean actress and former member of the sin ...

Hines Hines may refer to: Places in the United States *Hines, Florida, an unincorporated community in Dixie County *Hines, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Hines, Minnesota, an unincorporated community * Hines Township, Beltrami County, Minnesot ...

* Jena * Jonesboro *

Shamrock A shamrock is a young sprig, used as a symbol of Ireland. Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, is said to have used it as a metaphor for the Christian Holy Trinity. The name ''shamrock'' comes from Irish (), which is the diminutive of ...

* Shired Island * Suwannee * Yellow Jacket

Transportation

Airports

Dixie County Airport Dixie, also known as Dixieland or Dixie's Land, is a nickname for all or part of the Southern United States. While there is no official definition of this region (and the included areas shift over the years), or the extent of the area it cover ...

Notes

References

External links

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.

Government links/Constitutional offices

Dixie County Board of County Commissioners

Dixie County Supervisor of Elections

Dixie County Property Appraiser

Dixie County Sheriff's Office

Dixie County Tax Collector

Special districts

Dixie County Schools

Suwannee River Water Management District

Judicial branch

Dixie County Clerk of Courts

Public Defender, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida
serving

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

, Dixie,

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: People * Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname ** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland ** Lord Hamilt ...

, Lafayette,

Madison Madison may refer to: People * Madison (name), a given name and a surname * James Madison (1751–1836), fourth president of the United States Place names * Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital of Wisconsin and the largest city known by this ...

, Suwannee, and

Counties
Office of the State Attorney, 3rd Judicial Circuit of Florida

Tourism links

Dixie County Tourist Development Council

Dixie County Chamber of Commerce
{{authority control 1921 establishments in Florida Populated places established in 1921 Florida counties North Florida