Holmes County, Florida
Encyclopedia
Holmes County is a county
located in the U.S. state
of Florida
. As of 2000, the population was 18,564. The U.S. Census Bureau
2005 estimate for the county was 19,264 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls. Its county seat
is Bonifay, Florida
.
of 2000, there were 18,564 people, 6,921 households, and 4,893 families residing in the county. The population density
was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 7,998 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.79% White
, 6.51% Black
or African American
, 1.01% Native American
, 0.39% Asian
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
, 0.79% from other races
, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.93% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 6,921 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples
living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 26.10% 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 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 112.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,923, and the median income for a family was $34,286. Males had a median income of $25,982 versus $19,991 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,135. About 15.40% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.70% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
", a number of related mixed-race (white, black, and Euchee Indian
) families, lived for decades after the Civil War and well into the twentieth century in a rural area near Ponce de Leon, with a separate church and segregated public elementary school. Although considered a separate ethnicity from both whites and blacks, many Dominickers married into local white families, so that group boundaries blurred; some descendants still live in the area. The 1950 federal census identified 60 members of this group living in Holmes County at that time. Few facts are known about their origins, and little has been published about them.
Freedom Communications that owns the Holmes County Advertiser has filed for bankruptcy.
NOTE: Holmes County no longer has a locally owned print newspaper in publication
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. As of 2000, the population was 18,564. The U.S. Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
2005 estimate for the county was 19,264 http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Bonifay, Florida
Bonifay, Florida
Bonifay is a city in Holmes County, Florida, United States. Bonifay was given its name from a prominent family that had a brick making factory in Pensacola, FL. Frank Bonifay, the man behind the town's name, bought a stake in the L%N, now CSX, Railroad. As W. D...
.
History
Holmes County was named after an Indian Chief that lived in the area when the land was settled. Holmes County has had three county seats in its history, the first being Cerro Gordo, then Westville, and finally Bonifay. Bonifay has been the county seat since 1905.Historic places
Historic places in the county include:- Keith CabinKeith CabinThe Keith Cabin is a historic site in Pittman, Holmes County, Florida, located at 1320 FL 179, northwest of Bonifay. On November 2, 2000, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-References:* at * ** **...
in Pittman - Waits MansionWaits MansionThe Waits Mansion is an historic two-story Mediterranean Revival style house located at 209 West Kansas Avenue at the southwest corner of Hamlin Street in Bonifay, Holmes County, Florida. It was built by lumber company owner George Orkney Waits for his own use. It features recessed porches on...
, Bonifay
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 488.71 square miles (1,265.8 km²), of which 482.45 square miles (1,249.5 km²) (or 98.72%) is land and 6.26 square miles (16.2 km²) (or 1.28%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Geneva County, AlabamaGeneva County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.3% White*9.5% Black*0.8% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*3.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
- north - Jackson County, FloridaJackson County, FloridaJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The population as of the 2000 census was 46,755. As of 2005, the population was estimated to be 48,985 . Its county seat is Marianna, Florida.- History :...
- east - Washington County, FloridaWashington County, FloridaWashington County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 20,973. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 22,299. Its county seat is Chipley, Florida...
- south - Walton County, FloridaWalton County, FloridaWalton County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 40,601. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 50,324. Its county seat is DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The county is home to the highest natural point in Florida: Britton Hill, at .- History...
- west
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 18,564 people, 6,921 households, and 4,893 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 7,998 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.79% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 6.51% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.01% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.39% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.79% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.48% from two or more races. 1.93% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 6,921 households out of which 30.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 26.10% 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 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 112.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 113.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,923, and the median income for a family was $34,286. Males had a median income of $25,982 versus $19,991 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $14,135. About 15.40% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.70% of those under age 18 and 17.90% of those age 65 or over.
Triracial people
The so-called "DominickersDominickers
The Dominickers were a small biracial or triracial ethnic group that was once centered in the Florida Panhandle county of Holmes, in a corner of the southern part of the county west of the Choctawhatchee River, near the town of Ponce de Leon...
", a number of related mixed-race (white, black, and Euchee Indian
Yuchi
For the Chinese surname 尉迟, see Yuchi.The Yuchi, also spelled Euchee and Uchee, are a Native American Indian tribe who traditionally lived in the eastern Tennessee River valley in Tennessee in the 16th century. During the 17th century, they moved south to Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina...
) families, lived for decades after the Civil War and well into the twentieth century in a rural area near Ponce de Leon, with a separate church and segregated public elementary school. Although considered a separate ethnicity from both whites and blacks, many Dominickers married into local white families, so that group boundaries blurred; some descendants still live in the area. The 1950 federal census identified 60 members of this group living in Holmes County at that time. Few facts are known about their origins, and little has been published about them.
Incorporated
- City of BonifayBonifay, FloridaBonifay is a city in Holmes County, Florida, United States. Bonifay was given its name from a prominent family that had a brick making factory in Pensacola, FL. Frank Bonifay, the man behind the town's name, bought a stake in the L%N, now CSX, Railroad. As W. D...
- Town of EstoEsto, FloridaEsto is a town in Holmes County, Florida, United States. The population was 356 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
- Town of NomaNoma, FloridaNoma is a town in Holmes County, Florida, United States. The population was 213 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
- Town of Ponce de LeonPonce de Leon, FloridaPonce de Leon is a town in Holmes County, Florida, United States. The population was 457 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 462 .According to Ponce de Leon town Census 2010 results, the population of the area was approximately 598 people...
- Town of WestvilleWestville, FloridaWestville is a town in Holmes County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 221. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the town had a population of 225.According to Westville town Census 2010 results, the population of the area was...
Politics
| Year | Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
Other Third party (United States) The term third party is used in the United States for any and all political parties in the United States other than one of the two major parties . The term can also refer to independent politicians not affiliated with any party at all and to write-in candidates.The United States has had a... |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 81.6% | 16.8% | 1.6% |
| 2004 | 77.3% | 21.8% | 0.9% |
| 2000 | 67.8% | 29.4% | 2.8% |
Newspaper
Freedom Communications that owns the Holmes County Advertiser has filed for bankruptcy.
NOTE: Holmes County no longer has a locally owned print newspaper in publication
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Holmes County, FloridaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Holmes County, FloridaThis is a detailed table of the National Register of Historic Places listing in Holmes County, Florida.This is intended to be a detailed table of the property on the National Register of Historic Places in Holmes County, Florida, United States...
- USS Holmes County (LST-836)USS Holmes County (LST-836)USS Holmes County was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named after counties in Florida, Mississippi, and Ohio, she was the only U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name....
Government links/Constitutional offices
- Holmes County Board of County Commissioners
- Holmes County Supervisor of Elections
- Holmes County Property Appraiser
- Holmes County Sheriff's Office
- Holmes County Tax Collector
Special districts
Judicial branch
- Holmes County Clerk of Courts
- Circuit and County Court for the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving BayBay County, FloridaBay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
, CalhounCalhoun County, FloridaCalhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,017. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 13,410 . Its county seat is Blountstown, Florida.- History :...
, GulfGulf County, FloridaGulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,332. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 13,975 . Its county seat is Port St. Joe.- History :...
, Holmes, JacksonJackson County, FloridaJackson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The population as of the 2000 census was 46,755. As of 2005, the population was estimated to be 48,985 . Its county seat is Marianna, Florida.- History :...
and WashingtonWashington County, FloridaWashington County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 20,973. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 22,299. Its county seat is Chipley, Florida...
counties