Gilchrist County, Florida

Gilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402. Gilchrist County has only one traffic light in the entire county and has no road with more than one lane of traffic moving in either direction. Its county seat is Trenton, Florida.

History
Gilchrist County was created in 1925 making it the youngest county in Florida. It was named for Albert W. Gilchrist, Governor of Florida from 1909 to 1913.

Historic buildings
Historic buildings in Gilchrist County include:
First Baptist Church, on East Wade Street
Gilchrist County Courthouse
Trenton Depot
The old Trenton Church of Christ on South Main Street.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 355 square miles, of which 349 square miles is land and 7 square miles (1.85%) is water.

Gilchrist County is part of the Gainesville Metropolitan Statistical Area, though it is a very rural county.

Adjacent counties
Columbia County, Florida - northeast
Alachua County, Florida - east
Levy County, Florida - south
Dixie County, Florida - southwest
Suwannee County, Florida - northwest
Lafayette County, Florida - northwest

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,437 people, 5,021 households, and 3,715 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16/km²). There were 5,906 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.52% White, 7.00% Black or African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. 2.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,021 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.00% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.40% under the age of 18, 14.20% from 18 to 24, 24.80% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 112.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 115.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,328, and the median income for a family was $34,485. Males had a median income of $27,359 versus $21,946 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,985. About 10.90% of families and 14.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.60% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns
Bell
Fanning Springs(shared with Levy County)
Trenton

Commerce
The Trenton State Farmer's Market is located on Florida State Road 47, north of Trenton.

Government/Constitutional offices
Gilchrist County Board of County Commissioners
Gilchrist County Supervisor of Elections
Gilchrist County Property Appraiser
Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office
Gilchrist County Tax Collector

Special districts:
Gilchrist County Public Schools
Suwanee River Water Management District

Judicial branch
Gilchrist 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