Baker County, Florida

Baker County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 27,115.[1] Its county seat is Macclenny.[2] The county was founded in 1861 and is named for James McNair Baker, a judge and Confederate Senator.

Not to be confused with Baker, Florida.
Baker County
County
Baker County Courthouse in Macclenny
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°19′N 82°16′W
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedFebruary 8, 1861
Named forJames McNair Baker
SeatMacclenny
Largest cityMacclenny
Area
 • Total589 sq mi (1,530 km2)
 • Land585 sq mi (1,520 km2)
 • Water3.7 sq mi (10 km2)  0.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
29,210
 • Density48.5/sq mi (18.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.bakercountyfl.org

Baker County is included in the Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In 1864 the Battle of Olustee, which was the only major American Civil War battle in Florida, was fought near Lake City in Baker County.

History

Baker County was founded in 1861. It was named for James McNair Baker, a judge and Confederate senator.[3] In 1864 the Battle of Olustee was fought near Lake City in Baker County. This was the only major American Civil War battle in Florida.[4]

Much of the area was originally covered with pine flatwoods and cypress swamps, as was Columbia County to the west. Parts of both counties are included in Osceola National Forest. A timber industry developed here, with sawmills constructed along rivers and waterways, where lumber was brought out by water. Turpentine was also produced. These industries employed many African-American laborers.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 589 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 585 square miles (1,520 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (0.6%) is water.[5] The extreme northern part of the county lies within the Okefenokee Swamp and its federally protected areas.

The St. Mary's River passes through Baker and numerous other counties. The St. Marys River is a remote blackwater river, rising in southeastern Georgia and flowing into northeastern Florida, where it forms the easternmost border between the two states.[6][7]

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18701,325—
18802,30373.8%
18903,33344.7%
19004,51635.5%
19104,8056.4%
19205,62217.0%
19306,27311.6%
19406,5103.8%
19506,313−3.0%
19607,36316.6%
19709,24225.5%
198015,28965.4%
199018,48620.9%
200022,25920.4%
201027,11521.8%
2019 (est.)29,210[8]7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2015[1] 2018[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 22,259 people, 7,043 households, and 5,599 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km2). There were 7,592 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.04% White, 13.92% Black or African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.5% were of American, 9.9% Irish, 8.6% English and 6.6% German ancestry according to Census 2000. Those claiming "American" ancestry are of predominantly English ancestry but most people in Baker County who are Anglo-European tend to identify simply as American.[15][16][17][18] 97.2% spoke English and 2.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 7,043 households, out of which 41.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.70% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.50% were non-families. 17.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.20.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 30.70% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 119.79 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,035, and the median income for a family was $43,503. Males had a median income of $30,240 versus $21,279 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,164. About 11.40% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.20% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Baker County School District serves public school students in the county.

The main library serving Baker County is the Emily Taber Public Library. The building used to be the Old Baker County Courthouse, built in 1908. The library director is April Teel.[19]

Politics

Voter registration

As of September 1, 2020, Baker County has a Republican majority, with a Democratic minority.[20]

Name Number of voters %
Democratic 4,446 27.2%
Republican 9,910 60.7%
Others 1,963 12.1%
Total 16,319

Statewide elections
Presidential elections results
Previous presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 84.58% 11,911 14.47% 2,037 0.95% 134
2016 81.02% 10,294 16.62% 2,112 2.35% 299
2012 78.80% 8,975 20.29% 2,311 0.91% 104
2008 78.22% 8,672 20.99% 2,327 0.79% 88
2004 77.73% 7,738 21.90% 2,180 0.37% 37
2000 68.80% 5,611 29.33% 2,392 1.86% 152
1996 55.54% 3,686 34.25% 2,273 10.22% 678
1992 50.59% 3,418 29.25% 1,976 20.16% 1,362
1988 71.49% 3,418 28.34% 1,355 0.17% 8
1984 71.62% 3,485 28.38% 1,381
1980 45.88% 2,283 52.47% 2,611 1.65% 82
1976 25.22% 1,058 71.16% 2,985 3.62% 152
1972 83.64% 1,943 16.32% 379 0.04% 1
1968 10.72% 294 17.75% 487 71.53% 1,962
1964 49.65% 1,121 50.35% 1,137
1960 21.32% 398 78.68% 1,469
1956 20.23% 366 79.77% 1,443
1952 22.04% 419 77.96% 1,482
1948 9.52% 112 72.19% 849 18.28% 215
1944 10.05% 127 89.95% 1,137
1940 7.78% 114 92.22% 1,352
1936 6.94% 116 93.06% 1,555
1932 6.37% 87 93.63% 1,278
1928 72.38% 676 25.91% 242 1.71% 16
1924 32.72% 124 56.73% 215 10.56% 40
1920 22.64% 115 68.11% 346 9.25% 47
1916 9.25% 52 78.11% 439 12.63% 71
1912 11.18% 37 50.76% 168 38.07% 126
1908 30.95% 104 45.24% 152 23.81% 80
1904 35.40% 120 61.06% 207 3.54% 12
Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2018 82.37% 8,687 16.69% 1,760 0.94% 99
2014 70.54% 5,956 24.87% 2,100 4.59% 388
2010 62.34% 4,940 34.46% 2,731 3.20% 253
2006 69.39% 4,335 27.82% 1,738 2.79% 174
2002 69.22% 4,515 30.06% 1,961 0.72% 47
1998 71.14% 3,268 28.86% 1,326
1994 68.52% 3,600 31.48% 1,654

Communities

City

Town

Unincorporated communities

[22]

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 24, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 30.
  4. "American Battlefield Protection Program Battle Summary". National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-02-18.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Florida's Water". floridaswater.com. Archived from the original on 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
  7. "Baker County Geography". stmaryriverbaker.weebly.com. Thomas. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  13. "QuickFacts. BkaerCounty, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. Sharing the Dream: White Males in a Multicultural America By Dominic J. Pulera.
  16. Reynolds Farley, 'The New Census Question about Ancestry: What Did It Tell Us?', Demography, Vol. 28, No. 3 (August 1991), pp. 414, 421.
  17. Stanley Lieberson and Lawrence Santi, 'The Use of Nativity Data to Estimate Ethnic Characteristics and Patterns', Social Science Research, Vol. 14, No. 1 (1985), pp. 44-6.
  18. Stanley Lieberson and Mary C. Waters, 'Ethnic Groups in Flux: The Changing Ethnic Responses of American Whites', Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 487, No. 79 (September 1986), pp. 82-86.
  19. "Emily Taber Public Library (Baker County) | New River Public Library Cooperative". 2016-03-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  20. https://www.bakerelections.com/Voter-Information/Statistic-Reports
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  22. "Google Maps". Google Maps.

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

Community Web Pages

Federal

Museum and Library Resources

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