Blountstown, Florida

Blountstown, Florida
City
City of Blountstown
Blountstown City Hall
Motto(s):  "A River Town" "The Kingdom Of Opportunity"
Location in Calhoun County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 30°26′35″N85°2′43″W / 30.44306°N 85.04528°W / 30.44306; -85.04528
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Calhoun
Settled	c.  1820 [1]
Incorporated	1903 [2]
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
•  Mayor	Tony Shoemake
•  Councilors	Clifford Jackson, Martha "Mert" Stephens, William "Bill" Gaskin, and Sheila Blackburn
•  City Manager	Traci S. Hall
•  City Attorney	Jeff Carter
Area [3]
• Total	3.20 sq mi (8.28 km2)
• Land	3.19 sq mi (8.25 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	62 ft (19 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,266
• Density	711.01/sq mi (274.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	32424
Area code	850
FIPS code	12-06925 [4]
GNIS feature ID	0279006 [5]
Website	blountstownfl.govoffice3.com

Blountstown is a city and the county seat of Calhoun County, Florida, United States. ^[6] As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 2,266.

Name

Blountstown is named for John Blount, a Creek Indian ^[7] chief who served as a guide for General Andrew Jackson during his invasion of Spanish Florida in 1818. This invasion was not directed at Spain, per se, but at Seminoles who would attack settlements north of Florida, then retreat to relative safety below the border of Spanish Florida. Also, Spain did not return escaped slaves to the U.S. In any case, this invasion caused Spain to sell Florida to the United States, since it was apparent that Spain would have a hard time defending against invasion. Thus, this territory became a part of the U.S. in 1821. ^[8] The city was officially incorporated in 1903. ^[2]

History

Blountstown was originally named for a Native American man, Chief (John Blount), who had been awarded land in the vicinity by Andrew Jackson for aiding Jackson in his battles against the Native Americans. However, he was forced to move from Florida to Texas in the 1830s. He died soon after being relocated. ^[9] However the current city started to be permanently settled by non-indigenous people around the 1820s. ^[1]

In the late 1850s, there was an open and violent feud between two rival factions which included the local Durden family. At one point, the Durdens and their rivals had a "pitched battle" at the courthouse square in Blountstown. ^[10]

On October 10, 2018, Blountstown was nearly annihilated when Category 5 Hurricane Michael struck the town. ^[11] The city was without power for almost three weeks and over 80% of homes and businesses were heavily damaged or destroyed. Blountstown High School suffered heavy damage, but Blountstown Elementary School was completely destroyed. In addition, the local timber and farming industries, which are Calhoun County's largest industries, were completely destroyed, costing millions of dollars in economic loss. ^[12]

Geography

The approximate coordinates for the City of Blountstown is located in east central Calhoun County at 30°26′35″N85°02′43″W / 30.442957°N 85.045402°W / 30.442957; -85.045402 . ^[13]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), of which 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²) is land and 0.31% is water.

Directly to the east lies Bristol in Liberty County. Blountstown and Calhoun County uses the Central Time Zone, as opposed to Liberty County which is in the Eastern Time Zone.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Blountstown has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	546		—
1920	863		58.1%
1930	1,270		47.2%
1940	1,931		52.0%
1950	2,118		9.7%
1960	2,375		12.1%
1970	2,384		0.4%
1980	2,632		10.4%
1990	2,404		−8.7%
2000	2,444		1.7%
2010	2,514		2.9%
2020	2,266		−9.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [14]

2010 and 2020 census

Blountstown racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Pop 2010 [15]	Pop 2020 [16]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	1,667	1,439	66.31%	63.50%
Black or African American (NH)	698	539	27.76%	23.79%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	21	16	0.84%	0.71%
Asian (NH)	10	9	0.40%	0.40%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	2	0	0.08%	0.00%
Some other race (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	46	153	1.83%	6.75%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	70	110	2.78%	4.85%
Total	2,514	2,266	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,266 people, 1,149 households, and 647 families residing in the city. ^[17]

In 2020, there was a 47.0% employment rate and a median household income of $37,083. 28.6% of the population lived below the poverty threshold. The median age in the city was 38.0 years old. ^[18]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,514 people, 968 households, and 610 families residing in the city. ^[19]

2000 census

As of the census ^[4] of 2000, there were 2,444 people, 913 households, and 595 families residing in the city. The population density was 767.2 inhabitants per square mile (296.2/km²). There were 1,046 housing units at an average density of 328.4 units per square mile (126.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 65.18% White, 31.79% African American, 1.27% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

In 2000, there were 913 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 21.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.99.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.8 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $23,271, and the median income for a family was $30,880. Males had a median income of $23,313 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,498. About 18.5% of families and 24.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Modern Calhoun County Courthouse

The old Calhoun County courthouse was located in Blountstown and is currently listed as a historic Florida landmark. ^[20]

The city is home of the Calhoun Correctional Institution.

Education

Calhoun County School District operates public schools.

There are three schools located within the city:

• Blountstown Elementary School for kindergarten through fifth grades ^[21]

• Blountstown Middle School for sixth through eighth ^[22]

• Blountstown High School for ninth through twelfth ^[23]

Notable people

• Patricia Dane, Hollywood actress of 1940s and early 1950s; starred in films Grand Central Murder , Johnny Eager and Life Begins for Andy Hardy ; wife of bandleader Tommy Dorsey; died in Blountstown in 1995
• Corn Griffin, Heavyweight boxer born in Blountstown, whose memorable 1934 TKO loss to James J. Braddock was recreated for the 2005 film Cinderella Man
• Carey Loftin, Hollywood stuntman and actor, born in Blountstown
• Elam Stoltzfus, Suncoast Emmy award-winning American environmental documentary filmmaker
• Fuller Warren, 30th governor of Florida

Images

• 
  Sign for Blountstown
• 
  Old Calhoun County Courthouse
• 
  Lake Hilda

References

1. "About Panhandle Pioneer Settlement Foundation". panhandlepioneer.org.
2. "FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR" (PDF). Florida League of Cities.
3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
7. "John Blount History -". www.apalachicolabandofcreeks.com. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
8. History of Blountstown, Florida: The Story of Chief Blount & the City of Blountstown. Calhoun County Chamber Of Commerce. 2010-05-24. URL:http://www.calhounco.org/history-blountstown.cfm. Accessed: 2010-05-24. (Archived by WebCite at)
9. Covington, James W. (October 1963). "Federal Relations with the Apalachicola Indians: 1823-1838". The Florida Historical Quarterly. 42 (2): 136. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
10. Bittle, George C. (October 1972). "Florida Prepares for War, 1860-1861". The Florida Historical Quarterly. 51 (2): 143. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
11. Etters, Karl (October 13, 2018). "'Heartbreaking': Communications cut off in ravaged Liberty, Calhoun after Hurricane Michael". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
12. Wagner, Hannah. "A Storm Like No Other Came and Went. A Community of Timber Farmers Persisted". stateforesters.org/. National Association of State Foresters. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
13. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
15. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Blountstown city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
16. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Blountstown city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
17. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Blountstown city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
18. "Blountstown city, Florida". data.census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
19. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Blountstown city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
20. A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture, 1989, Gainesville: University of Florida Press, p. 23, ISBN   0-8130-0941-3
21. blountstownelementary.org
22. blountstownmiddle.org
23. blountstownhigh.org

External links

• City of Blountstown, Florida - official website
• The County Record newspaper that serves Blountstown, Florida is available in full-text with images in Florida Digital Newspaper Library