Sopchoppy, Florida

Sopchoppy, Florida
City
City of Sopchoppy
Old Sopchoppy High School Gymnasium
Location in Wakulla County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 30°3′36″N84°29′28″W / 30.06000°N 84.49111°W / 30.06000; -84.49111
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Wakulla
Settled	1894 [1]
Incorporated	1955 [2]
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
•  Mayor	Glenn Rudd
•  Vice Mayor	Roger McKenzie
•  Council Members	Lara Edwards, Fred McClendon, and Michele Harden
•  City Clerk	Ashley Schilling
•  City Attorney	Daniel Cox
Area [3]
• Total	1.68 sq mi (4.35 km2)
• Land	1.68 sq mi (4.35 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	30 ft (9 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	426
• Density	253.87/sq mi (98.01/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	32358
Area code(s)	448/850
FIPS code	12-66925 [4]
GNIS feature ID	0306416 [5]
Website	www.sopchoppy.org

Sopchoppy is a city in Wakulla County, Florida, United States. The City of Sopchoppy is located on the Florida Panhandle in North Florida, with Ochlockonee River State Park located nearby. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 426 at the 2020 census, down from 457 at the 2010 census.

Geography

The City of Sopchoppy is located at 30°3′36″N84°29′28″W / 30.06000°N 84.49111°W / 30.06000; -84.49111 (30.059994, –84.491084). ^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 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 City of Sopchoppy has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

History

Sopchoppy Depot

The city's name is a corruption of "Lockchoppe", derived from the Muskogee lokchapi ("lokcha" meaning "acorn", and "api" meaning "stem"), which was the old name of the nearby river. ^[7]

Mention of Sopchoppy can be found in 1850, in a runaway slave ad published by Henry Mash in the May 7, 1850 Florida Sentinel newspaper of Tallahassee. This is nearly 50 years earlier than the 1894 claim noted below.^{[ citation needed ]}

Sopchoppy came into existence in 1894 after the CT&G Railroad Company built a railway through the area. It platted the city on property it already owned in the area, across the river from Greenough. To encourage people to settle the area, the railroad engaged in an advertising campaign, exaggerating the quality of the soil and climate. ^[1]

The Sopchoppy Depot was built in 1891. Now a museum, it was built for the Carrabelle, Tallahassee & Georgia Railroad (G. F. & A.), and referred to colloquially as the "Gopher, Frog & Alligator, Company", which was absorbed by the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railroad. The line began in 1893 and closed in 1946. It transported lumber, turpentine and related products, honey, farm produce, soldiers, fish and oysters packed in barrels in ice as well as sturgeon caviar from the Sopchoppy River, frog legs, and catfish. ^[8]

Although Sopchoppy has existed as a settlement since at least 1894, the city was officially incorporated as a municipality in 1955. ^[2]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1960	450		—
1970	460		2.2%
1980	444		−3.5%
1990	367		−17.3%
2000	426		16.1%
2010	457		7.3%
2020	426		−6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [9]

2010 and 2020 census

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

Race	Pop 2010 [10]	Pop 2020 [11]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	318	314	69.58%	73.71%
Black or African American (NH)	113	76	24.73%	17.84%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	2	4	0.44%	0.94%
Asian (NH)	3	1	0.66%	0.23%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some other race (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	11	17	2.41%	3.99%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	10	14	2.19%	3.29%
Total	457	426

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 426 people, 220 households, and 119 families residing in the city. ^[12]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 457 people, 165 households, and 110 families residing in the city. ^[13]

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, ^[4] there were 426 people, 178 households, and 111 families residing in the city. The population density was 280.4 inhabitants per square mile (108.3/km²). There were 216 housing units at an average density of 142.2 per square mile (54.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.40% White, 18.08% African American, 1.17% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 1.17% from other races, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.99% of the population.

In 2000, there were 178 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.2% 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 3.09.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,583, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $30,833 versus $17,188 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,165. About 14.4% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 48.2% of those age 65 or over.

A historic Sopchoppy home, Towles House

Notable people

• B. K. Roberts, Florida Supreme Court Justice, was born in Sopchoppy ^[14]

Festivals

The city is home to the annual American Worm Gruntin' Festival, a city celebration named in honor of a worm grunting—also known as worm charming—a method for driving worms to the surface of the earth. Worm charmers hammer wooden stakes into the ground, then rub them with metal slabs. The resulting vibrations cause worms to surface, whereupon they are typically gathered and used or sold for fishing bait. ^[15]

Part of Tim Dorsey's 2017 novel Clownfish Blues is set in Sopchoppy and worm grunting is a plot element.

References

1. "The Sopchoppy River (Florida)". www.littletownmart.com.
2. "FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO" (PDF). www.flcities.com.
3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 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. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Name Origins of Florida Places @ Florida OCHP". www.flheritage.com.
8. "Historical & Educational".
9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sopchoppy city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sopchoppy city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
12. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Sopchoppy city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
13. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Sopchoppy city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
14. Basse, Craig (August 6, 1999). "Longtime Supreme Court Justice B.K. Roberts dies". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved August 10, 2020.
15. "In The Spotlight: Worm Gruntin Festival". www.wctv.tv. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014.

External links

• Official Website for the City of Sopchoppy