Bradford County, Florida

Bradford County
County
Bradford County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°57′N82°10′W / 29.95°N 82.17°W / 29.95; -82.17
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	December 31, 1858
Seat	Starke
Largest city	Starke
Area
• Total	300 sq mi (800 km2)
• Land	294 sq mi (760 km2)
• Water	6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  2.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,303
• Density	91/sq mi (35/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.bradfordcountyfl.gov

Bradford County Courthouse in Starke

American Atheists bench and Ten Commandments display at the courthouse

Bradford County is a county in the north central region of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,303. ^[1] Its county seat and largest city is Starke. ^[2]

History

New River County, as it was known at the time, was created in 1858 from segments of Columbia and Alachua counties. It was renamed Bradford County in 1861 in honor of Confederate Captain Richard Bradford, who fought in the American Civil War and was killed in the Battle of Santa Rosa Island, becoming the first officer from Florida to die during the Civil War. ^{[3] [4]}

During the county's early history, Lake Butler served as the county seat. However, the growth of Starke as an important city on the Fernandina to Cedar Key railroad led to an 1875 vote on the location of the county seat, with Starke winning by 46 votes. A successful legal challenge brought the county seat back to Lake Butler, and an 1885 referendum reaffirmed the move by 19 votes. ^[5]

Yet another referendum was held in 1887, and saw the courthouse and county seat moved back to Starke, where it would remain. The dispute brought on the attention of the Florida Legislature, and in 1921, the western portion of Bradford County and Lake Butler were separated to form Union County. ^[5]

The county was home to numerous citrus farms in its early days prior to the Great Freeze in the winter of 1894–1895. Even after the freeze, Starke and Lawtey continued to be major regional agricultural producers, with the primary exports being cotton, tobacco, and strawberries. ^[5]

Significant growth would come to the county during the World War II era, with the construction of U.S. Route 301 and nearby Camp Blanding.

Post-war, the county saw the construction of Florida State Prison on the Bradford-Union County line in Raiford, along with several moments in the national media spotlight. Ted Bundy was executed at the prison in 1989, while Starke and Bradford County faced a series lawsuits in the 2000s over a cross on the city's water tower and a Ten Commandments statue in front of the county courthouse.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 300 square miles (780 km²), of which 294 square miles (760 km²) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km²) (2.2%) is water. ^[6] It is the third-smallest county in Florida by land area and second-smallest by total area.

Adjacent counties

• Baker County, Florida - north
• Clay County, Florida - east
• Putnam County, Florida - southeast
• Alachua County, Florida - south
• Union County, Florida - west
• Duval County, Florida - northeast

National protected area

• Osceola National Forest (part)

Transportation

See also: List of county roads in Bradford County, Florida

Bradford County does not have any interstate connections; the nearest connection is with I-75 to the west of the county.

• US 301
• SR 16
• SR 18
• SR 21
• SR 100
• SR 200
• SR 230
• SR 231
• SR 235

The county shares Keystone Heights Airport with neighboring Clay County. The nearest regional airport is Gainesville Regional Airport, and the nearest international airport is Jacksonville International Airport.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	3,820		—
1870	3,671		−3.9%
1880	6,112		66.5%
1890	7,516		23.0%
1900	10,295		37.0%
1910	14,090		36.9%
1920	12,503		−11.3%
1930	9,405		−24.8%
1940	8,717		−7.3%
1950	11,457		31.4%
1960	12,446		8.6%
1970	14,625		17.5%
1980	20,023		36.9%
1990	22,515		12.4%
2000	26,088		15.9%
2010	28,520		9.3%
2020	28,303		−0.8%
2023 (est.)	27,858	[7]	−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2015 [1]

Bradford County, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010 [12]	Pop 2020 [13]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	21,066	20,320	73.86%	71.79%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,777	5,427	20.26%	19.17%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	85	58	0.30%	0.20%
Asian alone (NH)	149	135	0.52%	0.48%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	11	12	0.04%	0.04%
Other race alone (NH)	26	97	0.09%	0.34%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	386	904	1.35%	3.19%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,020	1,350	3.58%	4.77%
Total	28,520	28,303	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,303 people, 9,318 households, and 5,882 families residing in the county.

At the 2000 census there were 26,088 people, 8,497 households, and 6,194 families in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile (34 people/km²). There were 9,605 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.28% White, 20.79% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ^[14] Of the 8,497 households 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 22.90% of households were one person and 9.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 21.90% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 127.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.50 males.

The median household income was $33,140 and the median family income was $39,123. Males had a median income of $29,494 versus $20,745 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,226. About 11.10% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

The Florida Department of Corrections operates several correctional facilities in unincorporated areas. The facilities include Florida State Prison, ^[15] Florida State Prison – West Unit, ^[16] and New River Correctional Institution. ^[17] Florida State Prison houses one of Florida's two male death rows and the State of Florida execution chamber. ^[18]

Politics

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans account for a majority of registered voters in Bradford County.

Bradford County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of 31 July 2022 [update] [19]
Political Party		Total Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	4,985	27.91%
	Republican	9,922	55.56%
	Independent	2,769	15.50%
	Third Parties	181	1.01%
Total		17,857	100%

State and Local elections

For most of its history, Bradford County voted heavily Democratic at the local, state, and federal level. The county flipped at the Presidential level for the last time in 1984, and has voted heavily Republican in presidential and congressional races since. In 2015, Republicans overtook Democrats for the first time in registration advantage, and by 2018, nearly all county offices had flipped to the Republican Party.

United States presidential election results for Bradford County, Florida ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,920	78.27%	2,946	21.12%	86	0.62%
2020	10,334	75.71%	3,160	23.15%	156	1.14%
2016	8,913	73.31%	2,924	24.05%	321	2.64%
2012	8,219	70.46%	3,325	28.51%	120	1.03%
2008	8,136	69.52%	3,430	29.31%	137	1.17%
2004	7,557	69.62%	3,244	29.88%	54	0.50%
2000	5,416	62.43%	3,075	35.45%	184	2.12%
1996	4,039	48.97%	3,356	40.69%	853	10.34%
1992	3,672	44.02%	3,041	36.46%	1,628	19.52%
1988	4,221	63.61%	2,386	35.96%	29	0.44%
1984	4,130	63.82%	2,341	36.18%	0	0.00%
1980	2,778	44.50%	3,347	53.61%	118	1.89%
1976	1,680	29.91%	3,868	68.86%	69	1.23%
1972	3,652	73.67%	1,217	24.55%	88	1.78%
1968	718	15.18%	1,173	24.79%	2,840	60.03%
1964	1,987	46.13%	2,320	53.87%	0	0.00%
1960	1,131	30.85%	2,535	69.15%	0	0.00%
1956	1,203	34.07%	2,328	65.93%	0	0.00%
1952	976	29.68%	2,312	70.32%	0	0.00%
1948	357	16.30%	1,228	56.07%	605	27.63%
1944	355	16.67%	1,775	83.33%	0	0.00%
1940	261	14.12%	1,588	85.88%	0	0.00%
1936	293	16.40%	1,494	83.60%	0	0.00%
1932	210	13.75%	1,317	86.25%	0	0.00%
1928	534	43.73%	679	55.61%	8	0.66%
1924	94	14.24%	539	81.67%	27	4.09%
1920	248	15.40%	1,269	78.82%	93	5.78%
1916	153	10.28%	1,302	87.44%	34	2.28%
1912	95	11.09%	656	76.55%	106	12.37%
1908	180	18.35%	729	74.31%	72	7.34%
1904	124	15.54%	633	79.32%	41	5.14%

Previous gubernatorial elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2022	81.29%8,346	18.04% 1,852	0.67% 69
2018	73.28%7,698	25.43% 2,671	1.29% 136
2014	64.67%5,525	30.36% 2,594	4.97% 424
2010	60.06%4,850	36.94% 2,983	3.00% 242
2006	62.59%4,458	34.23% 2,438	3.18% 227
2002	58.79%4,596	40.10% 3,135	1.12% 87
1998	67.29%4,349	32.69% 2,113	0.02% 1
1994	62.85%4,470	37.15% 2,642
1990	43.23% 2,468	56.77%3,241
1986	58.92%3,321	41.08% 2,315
1982	16.81% 730	83.19%3,613
1978	36.43% 1,678	63.57%2,928
1970	38.37% 1,546	61.63%2,483
1966	52.75%1,910	47.25% 1,711
1964	28.18% 1,087	71.83%2,771
1960	9.79% 326	90.21%3,003

Education

Bradford County School District operates public schools. Bradford High School is the county's public high school.

The main library serving Bradford County is the Bradford County Public Library in Starke. As of 2023 ^[update] the library director is Robert E. Perone. ^[21]

• 
  Bradford High School
• 
  Bradford County Public Library

Communities

Cities

• Hampton
• Lawtey
• Starke

Town

• Brooker

See also

• Florida portal

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bradford County, Florida

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 30.
4. Captain Richard G. Bradford - Florida Historical Markers
5. "The Story of Starke" (PDF). The Bradford County Telegraph. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Aguilares CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
13. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Aguilares CDP, Texas". United States Census Bureau .
14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
15. "Florida State Prison Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
16. "Florida State Prison – West Unit Archived August 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
17. "New River Correctional Institution Archived September 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
18. "Death Row Fact Sheet Archived 2010-08-03 at the Wayback Machine ." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
19. "Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Florida Division of Elections. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
21. Bradford County Public Library

External links

• County website
• Bradford County Telegraph
• Bradford County Schools Archived January 15, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
• Bradford County Supervisor of Elections

29°57′N82°10′W / 29.95°N 82.17°W / 29.95; -82.17