Bradford County, Florida - Wikipedia

County in Florida, United States County in Florida

Bradford County, Florida
County
Bradford County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Coordinates: 29°57′N 82°10′W / 29.95°N 82.17°W / 29.95; -82.17
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	December 31, 1858
Seat	Starke
Largest city	Starke
Area
• Total	300 sq mi (780 km2)
• Land	294 sq mi (760 km2)
• Water	6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  2.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	28,303
• Estimate (2023[1])	27,858
• Density	91/sq mi (35/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.bradfordcountyfl.gov

Bradford County is a county in the north central region of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,303.[2] Its county seat and largest city is Starke.[3] The Florida State Prison is located in an unincorporated part of the county.

History

[edit]

New River County, as it was known at the time, was created in 1858 from segments of Columbia and Alachua counties. It was renamed Bradford County in 1861 in honor of Confederate Captain Richard Bradford, who fought in the American Civil War and was killed in the Battle of Santa Rosa Island, becoming the first officer from Florida to die during the Civil War.[4][5]

During the county's early history, Lake Butler served as the county seat. However, the growth of Starke as an important city on the Fernandina to Cedar Key railroad led to an 1875 vote on the location of the county seat, with Starke winning by 46 votes. A successful legal challenge brought the county seat back to Lake Butler, and an 1885 referendum reaffirmed the move by 19 votes.[6]

Yet another referendum was held in 1887, and saw the courthouse and county seat moved back to Starke, where it would remain. The dispute brought on the attention of the Florida Legislature, and in 1921, the western portion of Bradford County and Lake Butler were separated to form Union County.[6]

The county was home to numerous citrus farms in its early days prior to the Great Freeze in the winter of 1894–1895. Even after the freeze, Starke and Lawtey continued to be major regional agricultural producers, with the primary exports being cotton, tobacco, and strawberries.[6]

Significant growth would come to the county during the World War II era, with the construction of U.S. Route 301 and nearby Camp Blanding.

Post-war, the county saw the construction of Florida State Prison on the Bradford-Union County line in Raiford, along with several moments in the national media spotlight. Ted Bundy was executed at the prison in 1989, while Starke and Bradford County faced a series lawsuits in the 2000s over a cross on the city's water tower and a Ten Commandments statue in front of the county courthouse.[citation needed]

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 300 square miles (780 km2), of which 294 square miles (760 km2) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km2) (2.2%) is water.[7] It is the third-smallest county in Florida by land area and second-smallest by total area.[citation needed]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

• Baker County, Florida - north
• Clay County, Florida - east
• Putnam County, Florida - southeast
• Alachua County, Florida - south
• Union County, Florida - west
• Duval County, Florida - northeast

National protected area

[edit]

• Osceola National Forest (part)

Transportation

[edit]

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

Bradford County does not have any interstate connections; the nearest connection is with I-75 to the west of the county.

• US 301
• SR 16
• SR 18
• SR 21
• SR 100
• SR 200
• SR 230
• SR 231
• SR 235

Bradford County's main railroad line is the CSX Wildwood Subdivision. Along this line within Starke, Wannee Junction serves as the northeastern terminus of the CSX Brooker Subdivision. One notable major rail trail is the Palatka-Lake Butler State Trail, which used to be the main line for the Georgia Southern and Florida Railway.

The county shares Keystone Heights Airport with neighboring Clay County. The nearest regional airport is Gainesville Regional Airport, and the nearest international airport is Jacksonville International Airport.

Demographics

[edit] Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	3,820	—
1870	3,671	−3.9%
1880	6,112	66.5%
1890	7,516	23.0%
1900	10,295	37.0%
1910	14,090	36.9%
1920	12,503	−11.3%
1930	9,405	−24.8%
1940	8,717	−7.3%
1950	11,457	31.4%
1960	12,446	8.6%
1970	14,625	17.5%
1980	20,023	36.9%
1990	22,515	12.4%
2000	26,088	15.9%
2010	28,520	9.3%
2020	28,303	−0.8%
2023 (est.)	27,858	[8]	−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]1990-2000[12] 2010-2015[2]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,303 and 5,882 families. The median age was 41.7 years, 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 126.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 132.7 males age 18 and over.[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 73.9% White, 19.4% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.7% from some other race, and 4.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 4.8% of the population.[14]

29.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.7% lived in rural areas.[15]

There were 9,462 households in the county, of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 46.1% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.6% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

There were 10,723 housing units, of which 11.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.5% were owner-occupied and 25.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.9%.[13]

Racial and ethnic composition

[edit] Bradford County, Florida – Racial and ethnic compositionNote: 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 may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 1980[16]	Pop 1990[17]	Pop 2000[18]	Pop 2010[19]	Pop 2020[20]	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	15,621	17,406	19,559	21,066	20,320	78.02%	77.31%	74.97%	73.86%	71.79%
Black or African American alone (NH)	4,016	4,505	5,367	5,777	5,427	20.06%	20.01%	20.57%	20.26%	19.17%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	35	74	82	85	58	0.17%	0.33%	0.31%	0.30%	0.20%
Asian alone (NH)	59	98	154	149	135	0.29%	0.44%	0.59%	0.52%	0.48%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	x [21]	x [22]	21	11	12	x	x	0.08%	0.04%	0.04%
Other race alone (NH)	39	6	24	26	97	0.19%	0.03%	0.09%	0.09%	0.34%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	x [23]	x [24]	259	386	904	x	x	0.99%	1.35%	3.19%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	253	426	622	1,020	1,350	1.26%	1.89%	2.38%	3.58%	4.77%
Total	20,023	22,515	26,088	28,520	28,303	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census there were 26,088 people, 8,497 households, and 6,194 families in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile (34 people/km2). There were 9,605 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 76.28% White, 20.79% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[25]

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Of the 8,497 households 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 22.90% of households were one person and 9.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 21.90% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 127.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.50 males.

The median household income was $33,140 and the median family income was $39,123. Males had a median income of $29,494 versus $20,745 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,226. About 11.10% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government and infrastructure

[edit]

The Florida Department of Corrections operates several correctional facilities in unincorporated areas. The facilities include Florida State Prison,[26] Florida State Prison – West Unit,[27] and New River Correctional Institution.[28] Florida State Prison houses one of Florida's two male death rows and the State of Florida execution chamber.[29]

Politics

[edit]

Voter registration

[edit]

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans account for a majority of registered voters in Bradford County.

Bradford County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of 31 July 2022[update][30]
Political Party		Total Voters	Percentage
Democratic	4,985	27.91%
Republican	9,922	55.56%
Independent	2,769	15.50%
Third Parties	181	1.01%
Total		17,857	100%

State and Local elections

[edit]

For most of its history, Bradford County voted heavily Democratic at the local, state, and federal level. The county flipped at the Presidential level for the last time in 1984, and has voted heavily Republican in presidential and congressional races since. In 2015, Republicans overtook Democrats for the first time in registration advantage, and by 2018, nearly all county offices had flipped to the Republican Party.

United States presidential election results for Bradford County, Florida[31]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
1904	124	15.54%	633	79.32%	41	5.14%
1908	180	18.35%	729	74.31%	72	7.34%
1912	95	11.09%	656	76.55%	106	12.37%
1916	153	10.28%	1,302	87.44%	34	2.28%
1920	248	15.40%	1,269	78.82%	93	5.78%
1924	94	14.24%	539	81.67%	27	4.09%
1928	534	43.73%	679	55.61%	8	0.66%
1932	210	13.75%	1,317	86.25%	0	0.00%
1936	293	16.40%	1,494	83.60%	0	0.00%
1940	261	14.12%	1,588	85.88%	0	0.00%
1944	355	16.67%	1,775	83.33%	0	0.00%
1948	357	16.30%	1,228	56.07%	605	27.63%
1952	976	29.68%	2,312	70.32%	0	0.00%
1956	1,203	34.07%	2,328	65.93%	0	0.00%
1960	1,131	30.85%	2,535	69.15%	0	0.00%
1964	1,987	46.13%	2,320	53.87%	0	0.00%
1968	718	15.18%	1,173	24.79%	2,840	60.03%
1972	3,652	73.67%	1,217	24.55%	88	1.78%
1976	1,680	29.91%	3,868	68.86%	69	1.23%
1980	2,778	44.50%	3,347	53.61%	118	1.89%
1984	4,130	63.82%	2,341	36.18%	0	0.00%
1988	4,221	63.61%	2,386	35.96%	29	0.44%
1992	3,672	44.02%	3,041	36.46%	1,628	19.52%
1996	4,039	48.97%	3,356	40.69%	853	10.34%
2000	5,416	62.43%	3,075	35.45%	184	2.12%
2004	7,557	69.62%	3,244	29.88%	54	0.50%
2008	8,136	69.52%	3,430	29.31%	137	1.17%
2012	8,219	70.46%	3,325	28.51%	120	1.03%
2016	8,913	73.31%	2,924	24.05%	321	2.64%
2020	10,334	75.71%	3,160	23.15%	156	1.14%
2024	10,920	78.27%	2,946	21.12%	86	0.62%

Previous gubernatorial elections results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2022	81.29% 8,346	18.04% 1,852	0.67% 69
2018	73.28% 7,698	25.43% 2,671	1.29% 136
2014	64.67% 5,525	30.36% 2,594	4.97% 424
2010	60.06% 4,850	36.94% 2,983	3.00% 242
2006	62.59% 4,458	34.23% 2,438	3.18% 227
2002	58.79% 4,596	40.10% 3,135	1.12% 87
1998	67.29% 4,349	32.69% 2,113	0.02% 1
1994	62.85% 4,470	37.15% 2,642
1990	43.23% 2,468	56.77% 3,241
1986	58.92% 3,321	41.08% 2,315
1982	16.81% 730	83.19% 3,613
1978	36.43% 1,678	63.57% 2,928
1970	38.37% 1,546	61.63% 2,483
1966	52.75% 1,910	47.25% 1,711
1964	28.18% 1,087	71.83% 2,771
1960	9.79% 326	90.21% 3,003

Education

[edit]

Bradford County School District covers the entire county,[32] and operates public schools there. Bradford High School is the county's public high school.

The main library serving Bradford County is the Bradford County Public Library in Starke. As of 2023[update] the library director is Robert E. Perone.[33]

• Bradford High School
• Bradford County Public Library

Communities

[edit]

Cities

[edit]

• Hampton
• Lawtey
• Starke

Town

[edit]

• Brooker

See also

[edit]

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

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]

1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts".
2. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. ^ Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 30.
5. ^ Captain Richard G. Bradford - Florida Historical Markers
6. ^ a b c "The Story of Starke" (PDF). The Bradford County Telegraph. Retrieved May 5, 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 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. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2025.
16. ^ "1980 U.S. Census - General Population Characteristics - Table 16 Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
17. ^ "1990 U.S. Census - Social and Economic Characteristics - Table 6. Race and Hispanic Origin: 1990" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 1980.
18. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Bradford County, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
19. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bradford County, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bradford County, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
21. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
22. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
23. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
24. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
26. ^ "Florida State Prison Archived 2007-10-08 at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
27. ^ "Florida State Prison – West Unit Archived August 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
28. ^ "New River Correctional Institution Archived September 10, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 31, 2010.
29. ^ "Death Row Fact Sheet Archived 2010-08-03 at the Wayback Machine." Florida Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 15, 2010.
30. ^ "Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Florida Division of Elections. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
31. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
32. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Bradford County, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2025. - Text list
33. ^ Bradford County Public Library

External links

[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bradford County, Florida.

• County website
• Bradford County Telegraph
• Bradford County Schools Archived January 15, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
• Bradford County Supervisor of Elections

Places adjacent to Bradford County, Florida
Baker County Union County Bradford County, Florida Clay County Alachua County Putnam County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Bradford County, Florida, United States
County seat: Starke
Cities	Hampton Lawtey Starke
Town	Brooker
Unincorporatedcommunities	Graham Melrose‡ Sampson City
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Florida portal United States portal

v t e Geography of Florida
Natural features	Beaches Caves Everglades (drainage and development) Islands Keys Lakes Lake Okeechobee Reef Rivers Sinkholes Springs Straits Swamps
Regions	Big Bend region coast Central Florida Emerald Coast Everglades First Coast Forgotten Coast Gold Coast Halifax area Heartland Keys Nature Coast North central Florida North Florida Panhandle South Florida Southwest Florida Space Coast Suncoast Tampa Bay Area Treasure Coast
Metro areas	Cape Coral–Fort Myers Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach Gainesville Homosassa Springs Jacksonville Lakeland–Winter Haven Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton Ocala Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville Panama City Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Port St. Lucie Punta Gorda Sebastian-Vero Beach Sebring Tallahassee Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater The Villages
Largest cities	Jacksonville Miami Tampa Orlando St. Petersburg Hialeah Port St. Lucie Tallahassee Cape Coral Fort Lauderdale Pembroke Pines Hollywood Gainesville Miramar Coral Springs Palm Bay West Palm Beach Clearwater Lakeland Pompano Beach Miami Gardens Davie
Counties	Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia DeSoto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Martin Miami‑Dade Monroe Mosquito (former county) Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole St. Johns St. Lucie Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton Washington
Other	State forests State parks Highest points Wakulla Volcano

v t e North Florida
Regions of Florida
Topics	Climate Geography Culture Economy Transportation Partition proposals Pork Chop Gang Laura Street	Map of North Florida
Counties	Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Calhoun Clay Columbia Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Gulf Hamilton Holmes Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Leon Levy Liberty Madison Marion Nassau Okaloosa Putnam Santa Rosa St. Johns Suwannee Taylor Union Wakulla Walton Washington
Major cities	Jacksonville Tallahassee Gainesville
Cities and towns50k–100k	Ocala Palm Coast Pensacola
Cities and towns10k–40k	Atlantic Beach Callaway Crestview Destin Fernandina Beach Fort Walton Beach Jacksonville Beach Lake City Lynn Haven Niceville Palatka Panama City Beach St. Augustine Panama City
Metro areas	Fort Walton Beach–Crestview–Destin Gainesville Jacksonville Ocala Palm Coast Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent Tallahassee
Regions	Big Bend Emerald Coast First Coast Florida panhandle Forgotten Coast Halifax area Nature Coast North Central Florida Northeast Florida

29°57′N 82°10′W / 29.95°N 82.17°W / 29.95; -82.17

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States Israel
Geographic	MusicBrainz area
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