Levy County, Florida
Encyclopedia
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 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 34,450. 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 is 37,998. 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 Bronson, Florida
Bronson, Florida
Bronson is a town in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 964 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Levy County.-Geography:Bronson is located at ....
. Levy is pronounced lee vee.
History
Levy County was created in 1845, in development that followed the end of the Seminole WarsSeminole Wars
The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three conflicts in Florida between the Seminole — the collective name given to the amalgamation of various groups of native Americans and Black people who settled in Florida in the early 18th century — and the United States Army...
. It was named for David Levy
David Levy Yulee
David Levy Yulee, born David Levy was an American politician and attorney from Florida, a territorial delegate to Congress, the first Jewish member of the United States Senate, and a member of the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War...
, a planter elected in 1841 as the state's territorial delegate to the US House of Representatives, and he served two terms. When Florida was admitted as a state, Levy was elected by the new state legislature as one of Florida's first two U.S. Senators; he served from 1845 to 1851, and again from 1855 to 1861. He was the first Jewish American elected to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
.
Levy provided for long-term development in the state by constructing the first railroad across Florida, linking the deep-water ports of Fernandina
Fernandina Beach, Florida
Fernandina Beach is a city in Nassau County in the state of Florida in the United States of America and on Amelia Island. It is a part of Greater Jacksonville and is among Florida's northernmost cities. The area was first inhabited by the Timucuan Indian tribe...
on the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
and Cedar Key
Cedar Key, Florida
Cedar Key is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 790 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 958. The Cedar Keys are a cluster of islands close to the mainland. Most of the developed area of the city has been on...
on the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. He developed a network of feeder railroads through central Florida as well.
The Rosewood Massacre occurred in Levy County, in the first week of January 1923. It was a race riot in which whites attacked and killed blacks. A film based on the incident
Rosewood (film)
Rosewood is a 1997 feature film, directed by John Singleton. While based on historic events of the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Florida, the film introduces fictional characters and changes from historic accounts. It stars Ving Rhames as a man who travels to the town and becomes a witness...
was made, but not shot in Levy County.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1412.32 square miles (3,657.9 km²), of which 1118.38 square miles (2,896.6 km²) (or 79.19%) is land and 293.94 square miles (761.3 km²) (or 20.81%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Dixie County, FloridaDixie County, FloridaDixie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,827. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,647 . Its county seat is Cross City, Florida.- History :...
— west - Gilchrist County, FloridaGilchrist County, FloridaGilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402. Gilchrist County has only one traffic light in the entire county and has no road with more than one lane of traffic...
— north - Alachua County, FloridaAlachua County, FloridaAlachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
— northeast - Marion County, FloridaMarion County, FloridaMarion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....
— east - Citrus County, FloridaCitrus County, FloridaCitrus County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 118,085. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 141,416 . Its county seat is Inverness, Florida...
— south
National protected areas
- Cedar Keys National Wildlife RefugeCedar Keys National Wildlife RefugeThe Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System, located near Cedar Key, at the western end of SR 24. The refuge was established in 1929....
- Lower Suwannee National Wildlife RefugeLower Suwannee National Wildlife RefugeThe Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System. It is located in southeastern Dixie and northwestern Levy counties on the western coast of Florida, approximately fifty miles southwest of the city of Gainesville.The wildlife refuge was...
(part)
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 34,450 people, 13,867 households, and 9,679 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 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 16,570 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.88% 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...
, 10.97% 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...
, 0.47% 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...
, 0.37% 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...
, 0.96% 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 1.32% from two or more races. 3.89% 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 13,867 households out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.40% 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, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.20% were non-families. 24.90% 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 2.88.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.60% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 25.00% from 25 to 44, 26.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,959, and the median income for a family was $30,899. Males had a median income of $26,029 versus $20,252 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 $14,746. About 15.00% of families and 18.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.80% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.
Utilities
On April 7, 2008, Progress Energy Florida, St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, announced it had authorized Shaw and Westinghouse to purchase long-lead-time materials for up to two AP1000 nuclear reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
s for a greenfield
Greenfield land
Greenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
plant in Levy County, producing about 1,100 MW each.
Progress expects to apply for a Combined Construction and Operating License
Combined Construction and Operating License
The Combined Construction and Operating License replaced the previous Draft Regulatory Guide 1145 as the licensing process for new nuclear power plants in the United States...
(COL) in the summer of 2008, according to a spokeswoman. Southern and SCE&G would not reveal cost estimates, but Progress has said its plant will cost $14 billion, with $3 billion more for transmission infrastructure.
Applying for a COL does not commit the utilities to construct the plant, but it is part of the licensing process, say officials of all the utilities. The application starts a 40-month review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is an independent agency of the United States government that was established by the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 from the United States Atomic Energy Commission, and was first opened January 19, 1975...
, meaning that approval could come in August 2011.
Progress Energy’s Levy County plant
Levy County Nuclear Power Plant
The Levy County Nuclear Power Plant is the umbrella term for a proposed nuclear power plant in Levy County, Florida. Proposed in 2006, Progress Energy Florida announced the selection of in southern Levy County for the potential construction of nuclear reactors...
would be one of the first greenfield nuclear plants to start construction in more than 30 years. The units on all three sites would enter commercial operation around 2016–17.
Incorporated
- Town of BronsonBronson, FloridaBronson is a town in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 964 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Levy County.-Geography:Bronson is located at ....
- City of Cedar KeyCedar Key, FloridaCedar Key is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 790 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 958. The Cedar Keys are a cluster of islands close to the mainland. Most of the developed area of the city has been on...
- City of ChieflandChiefland, FloridaChiefland is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,993 in the 2000 census. and was estimated at 2,095 in 2005. Chiefland calls itself the "Gem of the Suwannee Valley" and was incorporated in 1929.-History:...
- City of Fanning SpringsFanning Springs, FloridaFanning Springs is a city in Gilchrist and Levy counties in the U.S. state of Florida. The population was 737 at the 2000 census, with an estimated 2004 population of 800.-Geography:Fanning Springs is located at ....
- Town of InglisInglis, FloridaInglis is a town located in Levy County, Florida, United States. It is located on U.S. Highway 19 near the Cross Florida Greenway. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,491. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S...
- City of Otter CreekOtter Creek, FloridaOtter Creek is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 121 at the 2000 census. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 129.-Geography:Otter Creek is located at ....
- City of WillistonWilliston, FloridaWilliston is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,297 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 2,467.-Geography:Williston is located at ....
- City of YankeetownYankeetown, FloridaYankeetown is a town in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 629 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the town had a population of 672.-History:...
Unincorporated
- AndrewsAndrews, FloridaAndrews is a census-designated place in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 708 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Andrews is located at ....
- East BronsonEast Bronson, FloridaEast Bronson is a census-designated place in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,075 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Bronson is located at ....
- East WillistonEast Williston, FloridaEast Williston is a census-designated place in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 966 at the 2000 census.-Geography:East Williston is located at ....
- Ellzey
- Fowlers Bluff
- Gulf HammockGulf Hammock, FloridaGulf Hammock is an unincorporated community in Levy County, Florida, United States. It is located on US 19-98 and Levy County Road 326 about southeast of Otter Creek. The town is the name for the Gulf Hammock Wildlife Management Area....
- Lebanon Junction
- Manatee Road
- Raleigh
- RosewoodRosewood, FloridaThe Rosewood massacre was a violent, racially motivated conflict that took place during the first week of January 1923 in rural Levy County, Florida, United States. At least six blacks and two whites were killed, and the town of Rosewood was abandoned and destroyed in what contemporary news reports...
- Turkeytown
- Usher
- Williston HighlandsWilliston Highlands, FloridaWilliston Highlands is a census-designated place in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,386 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Williston Highlands is located at ....
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 | 62.6% | 35.7% | 1.7% |
| 2004 | 62.5% | 36.5% | 1.0% |
| 2000 | 53.9% | 42.4% | 3.7% |
Newspapers & Media
- HardisonInk.com Instant News for the Greater Levy County Area
- Levy County Journal
- Chiefland Citizen:News for ALL of Levy County
- Williston Pioneer:Place for hometown news
- LCJ archives maintained by University of Florida
- Cedar Key Beacon: News for Cedar Key & nearby communities
Government links/Constitutional offices
- Levy County Board of County Commissioners
- Levy County Supervisor of Elections
- Levy County Property Appraiser
- Levy County Sheriff's Office
- Levy County Tax Collector
Special districts
- Levy County School Board
- Suwanee River Water Management District
- Southwest Florida Water Management District
Judicial branch
- Levy County Clerk of Courts
- Office of the State Attorney, 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving AlachuaAlachua County, FloridaAlachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...
, BakerBaker County, FloridaBaker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 22,259. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 26,164 . Its county seat is Macclenny, Florida. While primarily rural, the county is included in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Area.-...
, BradfordBradford County, FloridaBradford County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 26,088. The 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate for the county was 28,118 . Its county seat is Starke, Florida. Bradford County is the home of the Florida State Prison as well as several other state...
, GilchristGilchrist County, FloridaGilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402. Gilchrist County has only one traffic light in the entire county and has no road with more than one lane of traffic...
, Levy, and UnionUnion County, FloridaUnion County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 14,916. The county seat is Lake Butler.- History :...
Counties - Circuit and County Court for the 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida