Levy County, Florida

Levy County
County
Levy County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°17′N82°47′W / 29.28°N 82.79°W / 29.28; -82.79
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	March 10, 1845
Named for	David Levy Yulee
Seat	Bronson
Largest city	Williston
Area
• Total	1,413 sq mi (3,660 km2)
• Land	1,118 sq mi (2,900 km2)
• Water	295 sq mi (760 km2)  20.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	42,915
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.levycounty.org

Levy County Courthouse, in Bronson

Levy County is a county located on the Gulf coast in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 42,915. ^[1] Its county seat is Bronson. ^[2]

History

Levy County was created in 1845, after the Seminole Wars, and became Florida's 27th county. It was named for David Levy Yulee, a slave owner elected in 1841 as the state's territorial delegate to the US House of Representatives, where he served two terms. ^[3]

Levy provided for long-term development in the state by constructing the first railroad across Florida, the Florida Railroad, linking the deep-water ports of Fernandina (Port of Fernandina) on the Atlantic Ocean and Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico.

The original county seat of Levy County was located in a neighborhood locally known as Sodom. This concerned the county commission so much that in April 1854 they changed the name to “Mount Pleasant”. The name was changed again in January 1856 to "Levyville". ^[4] An act of the State of Florida legislature ordered the county commissioners to let the county residents vote on the location of the county seat. In 1869, a vote was held to decide the location for the county seat. Bronson was selected by popular vote. County officials sited illegal votes cast in every precinct, so a new election was set to take place in 30 days. The Board of County Commissioners would later reverse their previous decision and let the vote stand. The process to build a new courthouse at Bronson began along with the removal of the courthouse at Levyville.

In 1874, the county seat was moved to Bronson, originally known as “Chunky Pond”, and was named after an early settler, Isaac Bronson. ^[5]

The Rosewood Massacre occurred in Levy County in the first week of January 1923. White citizens from the nearby town of Sumner, reacting to a what turned out to be a false accusation that a black man raped a white woman, burned the predominantly black town of Rosewood to the ground and brutally murdered several of Rosewood's black citizens. A film based on the incident was made in 1997, but was not filmed in Levy County. ^[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,413 square miles (3,660 km²), of which 1,118 square miles (2,900 km²) is land and 295 square miles (760 km²) (20.9%) is water. ^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Dixie County — west
• Gilchrist County — north
• Alachua County — northeast
• Marion County — east
• Citrus County — south

National protected areas

• Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
• Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	465		—
1860	1,781		283.0%
1870	2,018		13.3%
1880	5,767		185.8%
1890	6,586		14.2%
1900	8,603		30.6%
1910	10,361		20.4%
1920	9,921		−4.2%
1930	12,456		25.6%
1940	12,550		0.8%
1950	10,637		−15.2%
1960	10,364		−2.6%
1970	12,756		23.1%
1980	19,870		55.8%
1990	25,923		30.5%
2000	34,450		32.9%
2010	40,801		18.4%
2020	42,915		5.2%
2023 (est.)	46,545	[8]	8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11] 1990-2000 [12] 2010-2015 [1] 2019 [13]

Levy County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic) ^{[lower-alpha 1]}

Race	Pop 2010 [16]	Pop 2020 [17]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	32,958	32,874	80.78%	76.6%
Black or African American (NH)	3,756	3,597	9.21%	8.38%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	129	122	0.32%	0.28%
Asian (NH)	228	292	0.56%	0.68%
Pacific Islander (NH)	14	11	0.03%	0.03%
Some Other Race (NH)	48	170	0.12%	0.4%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	621	1,769	1.52%	4.12%
Hispanic or Latino	3,047	4,080	7.47%	9.51%
Total	40,801	42,915

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 42,915 people, 16,971 households, and 10,747 families residing in the county.

As of the census ^[18] of 2000, there were 34,450 people, 13,867 households, and 9,679 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12 people/km²). There were 16,570 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (5.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.88% White, 10.97% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.96% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. 3.89% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 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 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.

Proposed nuclear power plant

See also: Levy County Nuclear Power Plant

On April 7, 2008, Progress Energy Florida of St. Petersburg announced it had authorized Shaw and Westinghouse to purchase long-lead-time materials for up to two AP1000 nuclear reactors for its Levy County plant, a greenfield plant in Levy County, producing about 1,100 MW each.

Progress expects to apply for a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) in the summer of 2008, according to a spokeswoman. Southern Company and SCANA, of whom each own an interest in the plant, would not reveal cost estimates, but Progress has said its plant will cost $14 billion, ^[19] with an additional $3 billion required for transmission infrastructure. ^[20]

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, meaning that approval could come in August 2011.

In late July 2013 the company said it had scrapped its plan to build the plant. ^[21]

Politics

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans comprise a plurality of registered voters in Levy County.

Levy County Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of March 22, 2019 [22]
Political party		Total voters	Percentage
	Republican	13,293	47.5%
	Democratic	9,039	32.3%
	other party affiliation	5,626	20.1%
		Total		27,958	100%

United States presidential election results for Levy County, Florida ^[23]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	16,749	72.24%	6,205	26.76%	231	1.00%
2016	13,775	70.64%	5,101	26.16%	623	3.20%
2012	12,054	65.31%	6,119	33.15%	284	1.54%
2008	11,754	62.56%	6,711	35.72%	324	1.72%
2004	10,410	62.52%	6,074	36.48%	168	1.01%
2000	6,863	53.91%	5,398	42.40%	469	3.68%
1996	4,299	38.85%	4,938	44.63%	1,828	16.52%
1992	3,796	34.71%	4,330	39.59%	2,810	25.69%
1988	5,253	59.75%	3,434	39.06%	104	1.18%
1984	5,561	64.19%	3,103	35.81%	0	0.00%
1980	3,210	42.26%	4,170	54.90%	216	2.84%
1976	1,965	31.87%	4,025	65.28%	176	2.85%
1972	3,273	79.12%	862	20.84%	2	0.05%
1968	745	18.81%	767	19.36%	2,449	61.83%
1964	1,580	44.31%	1,986	55.69%	0	0.00%
1960	996	33.21%	2,003	66.79%	0	0.00%
1956	934	33.90%	1,821	66.10%	0	0.00%
1952	1,066	34.66%	2,010	65.34%	0	0.00%
1948	225	11.12%	1,128	55.76%	670	33.12%
1944	225	9.65%	2,107	90.35%	0	0.00%
1940	266	9.52%	2,527	90.48%	0	0.00%
1936	183	8.37%	2,003	91.63%	0	0.00%
1932	123	7.05%	1,621	92.95%	0	0.00%
1928	711	46.23%	797	51.82%	30	1.95%
1924	214	26.23%	524	64.22%	78	9.56%
1920	377	29.50%	882	69.01%	19	1.49%
1916	216	22.29%	712	73.48%	41	4.23%
1912	74	13.91%	375	70.49%	83	15.60%
1908	189	27.19%	411	59.14%	95	13.67%
1904	151	24.59%	426	69.38%	37	6.03%

Education

Public schools

School Board of Levy County operates public schools.

Public libraries

The current Levy County Library Director^{[ when? ]} is Jeanine Turner.

The Levy County Public Library System has five branches:

• Bronson Public Library

600 Gilbert Street Bronson, FL 32621 Phone: [phone]

• Cedar Key Public Library

460 Second Street Cedar Key, FL 32625 Phone: [phone]

• Luther Callaway Public Library

104 NE 3rd Street Chiefland, FL 32626 Phone: [phone]

• Williston Public Library

10 SE 1st Street Williston, FL 32696 Phone: (352) 528-2313

• A.F. Knotts Public Library

11 56th Street Yankeetown, FL 34498 Phone: [phone] ^[24]

Transportation

Airports

• George T. Lewis Airport
• Williston Municipal Airport
• Ames Field

Public transit

Levy County Transit has public buses but doesn't have routes available online. ^{[25] [26]}

Railroads

Levy County has only one railroad line running throughout the county, and only within eastern Levy along US 41. The line is a former Atlantic Coast Line Railroad line that is now used by the Florida Northern Railroad for freight to the Crystal River 3 Nuclear Power Plant in Red Level, Citrus County. Notable abandoned lines include a Seaboard Air Line Railroad line that is in proximity to the existing former ACL line, a Florida Railway and Navigation Company line running parallel to State Road 24, and a third in western and southern Levy County that spans from Fanning Springs towards the Dunnellon area running along US 19-98 until it reaches Lebanon Junction, where it runs along CR 336. The segment of that line between Fanning Springs and Chiefland is part of the Nature Coast State Trail.

Major roads

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

• US 19  / US 98 ( SR 55 ) is the main local road through western Levy County, running south to north.
• US 27 runs northwest to southeast from Marion County and joins US 41 in Williston on its way to High Springs.
• 
  US 27 Alt. ( SR 500 ) is a bannered alternate of US 27 that runs northwest and southeast from US 27/US 41/SR 121 in Williston to US 19/US 98 in Chiefland, which it joins on its way to Perry.
• US 41 ( SR 45 ) is the main local road through eastern Levy County, running south to north. Until the north end of the concurrency with SR 121 in Williston, the road is also shared by the DeSoto Trail.
• US 129 ( SR 49 ) is an auxiliary route of US 29 that runs northeast from Chiefland, and then turns north in Trenton on its way through Jasper before heading north into Georgia.
• SR 24 is an east to west highway through the central part of the county from Cedar Key into Alachua County. A county-suffixed alternate route can be found in Bronson.
• SR 121 is a south to north road that runs southwest to northeast from Lebanon Junction through Williston, and then into Alachua County and beyond, as it takes a long journey through Georgia and South Carolina as a tri-state de facto auxiliary route from U.S. Route 21 in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
• SR 320 is an east–west route connecting Manatee Springs State Park with US 19/98/Alternate US 27 in Chiefland. A county extension of the road exists north of the eastern terminus with US 19/98/ALT 27 leading to CR 339 in Newton.
• SR 345  / CR 345 is a combined county and state road spanning from Rosewood to Chiefland.
• CR 40 runs mostly east and west through southern Levy County. It spans from the Gulf of Mexico in Yankeetown winding along the Withlacoochee River, on the way to Dunnellon and Rainbow Lakes Estates in Marion County, where it eventually becomes State Road 40. The segment between the Gulf of Mexico and US 19-98 is officially named Follow That Dream Boulevard, after the 1962 Elvis Presley movie.
• CR 326 runs mostly east and west through southeastern Levy County as a bi-county extension of State Road 326. It spans from a dead end at the Waccasassa River in Gulf Hammock winding northeast through US 19-98 until it reaches CR 343 where it turns east. After running through Goethe State Forest it intersects CR 337 in Morris Junction, and then SR 121. By the time it reaches eastern Levy County it has a brief multiplex with southbound US 41 where both serve as the southern terminus of CR 323, only for CR 326 to turn east again as it eventually crosses the Levy-Marion County line, on the way to Ocala and Silver Springs. The segment between I-75 (Exit 358) and SR 40 becomes a state road.
• CR 336 is a bi-county road that runs mostly southeast and northwest through southwestern Levy County in two segments. It spans from CR 347 southwest of Chiefland, along various local streets, and even overlaps CR 345, then runs southeast toward SR 24 at Otter Creek. From there it is hidden along local streets that merge with US 19–98, which completely overshadows it until the at-grade interchange with SR 121 in Lebanon Junction, where it is exposed again running through the southern segment of Goethe State Forest, and later crosses the Levy-Marion County line, where it overlaps CR 40 all the way to Dunnellon.
• CR 337 is a tri-county road that runs south and north through central Levy County, as well as southwestern Alachua and eastern Gilchrist counties. It spans from CR 336 in Goethe State Forest and runs primarily along the eastern outskirts of the forest occasionally entering some forest land. North of the forest area, it enters the city of Bronson, where it intersects US Alternate 27, SR 24 and CR 32. Further north of the city limits it crosses the Levy-Alachua County line.

Communities

#	Incorporated Community	Designation	Population
1	Williston	City	2,710
2	Chiefland	City	2,180
3	Inglis	Town	1,320
4	Bronson	Town	1,119
5	Fanning Springs#	City	1,009
6	Cedar Key	City	610
7	Yankeetown	City	495
8	Otter Creek	City	131

(#) Partially in Gilchrist County

#	Census-designated places	Population
1	Williston Highlands	2,275
2	Manatee Road	2,244
3	East Bronson	1,945
4	Andrews	798
5	East Williston	695
6	Raleigh	373
7	Morriston	164

Other unincorporated communities

• Ellzey
• Fowlers Bluff
• Gulf Hammock
• Lebanon Station
• Rosewood
• Sumner
• Turkeytown
• Usher
• Wakahoota

Ghost communities

• Ablion
• Butler
• Double sink
• Elmwood
• Eve
• Janney
• Judson
• Levyville
• Lontine
• Merdiths
• Moody
• Montbrook

See also

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

Notes

1. 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 can be of any race. ^{[14] [15]}

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 32.
4. "Search for yesterday".
5. https://www.votelevy.com/Portals/Levy/documents/Florida%20and%20The%20Birth%20of%20Levy%20County.pdf
6. Jay Boyar (February 19, 1997). "The Making of Rosewood". Orlando Sentinel . Retrieved May 16, 2022.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
13. "QuickFacts. Florida counties" . Retrieved May 20, 2020.
14. https://www.census.gov/ ^{[ not specific enough to verify ]}
15. "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
17. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
19. reuters.com
20. [https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Florida+PSC+Approves+Progress+Energy%27s+Plans+for+New+Nuclear+Power...-a0181424366 Florida PSC Approves Progress Energy's Plans for New Nuclear Power Units units/?printmode=1
21. Florida Power & Light asks to continue to collect for Turkey Point expansion, by Mary Ellen Klas and Herald Times, August 6, 2013
22. "Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
23. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
24. "Levy County Library System" . Retrieved October 21, 2016.
25. "Rural Transit Agencies". FDOT. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
26. "Welcome to Levy County, FL". www.levycounty.org. Retrieved December 6, 2023.

External links

Newspapers and media

• "HardisonInk.com" Daily online news website for Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties.
• Levy County Journal No longer in business. Publisher died.
• LCJ archives maintained by University of Florida
• Cedar Key Beacon
• Chiefland Citizen
• Williston Pioneer

Government links/Constitutional offices

• Levy County official website
• Levy County Supervisor of Elections
• Levy County Property Appraiser
• Levy County Sheriff's Office
• Levy County Tax Collector

Special districts

• Levy County School Board
• Suwannee 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 Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union counties
• Circuit and County Court for the 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida

Tourism links/Chambers of Commerce

• Levy County Visitors Bureau
• Withlacoochee/Gulf Area Chamber of Commerce
• Cedar Key Chamber of Commerce
• Greater Chiefland Chamber of Commerce
• Fanning Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Cedar Key Scrub State Preserve
• Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
• Goethe State Forest
• Manatee Springs State Park

29°17′N82°47′W / 29.28°N 82.79°W / 29.28; -82.79