Jennings, Florida

Jennings, Florida
Town
Town of Jennings
Jennings United States Post Office
Motto:  "In God We Trust" [1]
Location in Hamilton County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 30°36′15″N83°05′53″W / 30.60417°N 83.09806°W / 30.60417; -83.09806
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Hamilton
Incorporated	1900 [2]
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
•  Mayor [3]	Charles Barrett
•  Vice Mayor	Antonette Crumedy
•  Councilors	Philip Jackson and Samantha Prueter
•  Town Manager	Jennifer Hightower
•  Town Attorney	Sheena Rickerson
Area [4]
• Total	2.91 sq mi (7.54 km2)
• Land	2.91 sq mi (7.54 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	141 ft (43 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	749
• Density	299.69/sq mi (115.73/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	32053
Area code	386
FIPS code	12-35525 [5]
GNIS feature ID	284753 [6]

Jennings is a town in Hamilton County, Florida, United States. The population was 749 at the 2020 census, down from 878 at the 2010 census.

Jennings city limit sign

Image of the entire surface water flow of the Alapaha River near Jennings, Florida going into a sinkhole leading to the Floridan Aquifer groundwater

Geography

The exact coordinates for Town of Jennings is located in northwestern Hamilton County at 30°36′15″N83°05′53″W / 30.60417°N 83.09806°W / 30.60417; -83.09806 (30.6041015, -83.0979184). ^[6]

U.S. Route 41 passes through the town as Plum Street, leading southeast 12 miles (19 km) to Jasper, the county seat, and northwest 8 miles (13 km) to Lake Park, Georgia. Interstate 75 runs along the southwest border of the town, with access from Exit 467 (Hamilton Avenue). I-75 leads southeast 32 miles (51 km) to Interstate 10 near Lake City, Florida, and northwest 20 miles (32 km) to Valdosta, Georgia.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Jennings has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²), all land.

Climate

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

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1910	480		—
1920	628		30.8%
1930	561		−10.7%
1940	499		−11.1%
1950	549		10.0%
1960	516		−6.0%
1970	582		12.8%
1980	749		28.7%
1990	712		−4.9%
2000	833		17.0%
2010	878		5.4%
2020	749		−14.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

2010 and 2020 census

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

Race	Pop 2010 [8]	Pop 2020 [9]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	201	182	22.89%	24.30%
Black or African American (NH)	269	213	30.64%	28.44%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	8	2	0.91%	0.27%
Asian (NH)	2	2	0.23%	0.27%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some other race (NH)	0	1	0.00%	0.13%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	5	23	0.57%	3.07%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	393	326	44.76%	43.52%
Total	878	749	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 749 people, 289 households, and 183 families residing in the town. ^[10]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 878 people, 275 households, and 213 families residing in the town. ^[11]

2000 census

As of the census ^[5] of 2000, there were 833 people, 282 households, and 205 families residing in the town. The population density was 461.3 inhabitants per square mile (178.1/km²). There were 321 housing units at an average density of 177.8 per square mile (68.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 43.70% White, 43.10% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 10.08% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.69% of the population.

In 2000, there were 282 households out of which 33.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.7% were married couples living together, 20.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.89 and the average family size was 3.34.

In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out with 30.6% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.3 males.

North Hamilton Elementary School (now closed)

Jennings Public Library

In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $25,714, and the median income for a family was $25,938. Males had a median income of $25,577 versus $15,982 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,195. About 23.8% of families and 30.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.9% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Hamilton County School District operates the public schools serving Jennings, Hamilton County Elementary School and Hamilton County High School in an unincorporated area of the county. Until August 2017, North Hamilton Elementary School in Jennings served the community. ^[12]

North Hamilton Elementary was consolidated into a new elementary school, Hamilton County Elementary School, ^[13] located in an unincorporated area south of Jasper. ^[14] Its opening was scheduled for August 2017. ^[15]

The Suwannee River Regional Library System operates the Jennings Public Library. ^[16]

Notable people

• Andrew Prine, actor
• Thomas Albert Jennings, businessman and politician

References

1. "Town of Jennings, FL". Facebook .
2. "FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO" (PDF). www.flcities.com.
3. "MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY: Town of Jennings". Florida League of Cities.
4. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
5. "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "Jennings". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. December 31, 1981.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
8. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Jennings town, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
9. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Jennings town, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
10. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Jennings town, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
11. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Jennings town, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
12. Home Archived March 24, 2017, at the Wayback Machine . North Hamilton Elementary School. Retrieved on April 8, 2017.
13. Taylor, Joyce Marie (June 12, 2014). "Hamilton: New site chosen for consolidated elementary school". Suwannee Democrat. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
14. "Hamilton County set to break ground on new elementary school". WCTV. June 27, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2017. "The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 5686 U.S. Hwy 129 South in Jasper."
15. "Hamilton: Culpepper/Gray selected to construct new elementary school". Suwannee Democrat. July 27, 2015. Archived from the original on May 23, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
16. Home page. Jennings Public Library. Retrieved on April 8, 2017.

External links

• Town of Jennings Official Website (on Facebook)
• Origin of the name