Bronson is a town and the
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
of
Levy County, Florida
Levy County ( ) is a County (United States), county located in the North central Florida part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 42,915. Its county seat is Bronson, Florida, Brons ...
, United States. The population was 1,140 at the 2020 census, up from 1,113 at the 2010 census. It is part of the
Gainesville metropolitan area, Florida
The Gainesville metropolitan area is the metropolitan area in North Central Florida that includes Alachua, Levy, and Gilchrist counties, with Gainesville, Florida the principal city. The metropolitan area had a population of 339,247 in 2020. ...
.
History
Bronson began as a settlement in 1839 and was named after a territorial judge from 1802,
Judge Isaac Bronson. Bronson was originally known as “Chunky Pond” after the Native American name, “''Chuckahaha''.”
[https://www.votelevy.com/Portals/Levy/documents/Florida%20and%20The%20Birth%20of%20Levy%20County.pdf ]
Despite being settled in the early 19th century, it didn't become officially incorporated as the Town of Bronson until the mid-20th century, in 1951.
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Geography
The approximate coordinates for the Town of Bronson is located at (29.448784, –82.636314).
According to the United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of , of which is land and , or 2.10%, 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 Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, the City of Bronson has a humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
zone (''Cfa'').
Demographics
2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,140 people, 450 households, and 278 families residing in the town.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,113 people, 507 households, and 356 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 964 people, 370 households, and 256 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 431 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 66.39% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 29.15% African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 1.45% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 2.07% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.09% of the population.
In 2000, there were 370 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 22.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.8% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.16.
In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 12.0% from 18 to 24, 24.3% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $26,944, and the median income for a family was $28,462. Males had a median income of $27,969 versus $20,385 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the town was $12,532. About 21.9% of families and 27.2% of the population were below the poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 36.5% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
School Board of Levy County operates public schools. Bronson has two public schools: Bronson Middle/High School and Bronson Elementary. The School Board of Levy County controls their operation and also supervises two charter school
A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of autono ...
s: Nature Coast Middle School and Whispering Winds. Other schools under the board's jurisdiction are in the city of Chiefland, the city of Williston, the city of Cedar Key, and the town of Yankeetown.
Library
Levy County provides Bronson with a local library branch. The Bronson Public Library was built by the Felburn Foundation founder; J. Phil Felburn. The Levy County Public Library System is a member of PAL (Putnam, Alachua and Levy County Public Library Cooperative).
References
External links
Official website for the Town of Bronson
{{authority control
County seats in Florida
Towns in Levy County, Florida
Towns in Florida