Dixie County, Florida


Dixie County is a county located in the Big Bend region of the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,759. Its county seat is Cross City.

History

Dixie County was created in 1921 from the southern portion of Lafayette County and named for "Dixie", the common nickname for the southern United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Adjacent counties

Race / Ethnicity Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone 6,7749,52412,13214,22013,75087.40%89.98%87.74%86.59%82.05%
Black or African American alone 8859181,2311,3641,55111.42%8.67%8.90%8.31%9.25%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 17345963610.22%0.32%0.43%0.38%0.36%
Asian alone 4123448580.05%0.11%0.25%0.29%0.35%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone xx420xx0.03%0.01%0.00%
Other race alone 3124330.04%0.01%0.01%0.02%0.20%
Mixed race or Multiracial xx116209618xx0.84%1.27%3.69%
Hispanic or Latino 68962495126880.88%0.91%1.80%3.12%4.11%
Total7,75110,58513,82716,42216,759 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2020 Census

The 2020 United States census counted 16,759 people, 6,248 households, and 3,905 families in Dixie County, Florida. The population density was 23.8 per square mile. There were 9,276 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile. The racial makeup was 83.88% white or European American, 9.37% black or African-American, 0.36% Native American or Alaska Native, 0.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.28% from other races, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 4.11% of the population.
Of the 6,248 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18; 43.3% were married couples living together; 25.9% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 29.9% of households consisted of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 3.0. The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 7.2% of the population.
18.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.8 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 77.3 males.
The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $41,674. The median family income was $47,188. Males had a median income of $32,985 versus $21,214 for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $27,358. Approximately, 11.9% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.4% of those under the age of 18 and 9.7% of those ages 65 or over.

2000 Census

In 2000 there were an estimated 5,205 households and 3,659 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 7,362 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 88.80% White, 8.98% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.45% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 1.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. In terms of ancestry, 39.7% were English, 15.2% were Irish, 14.7% were American, and 5.2% were German.
There were 5,205 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.70% were non-families. 23.90% 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 2.87.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 26.60% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 113.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,082, and the median income for a family was $31,157. Males had a median income of $26,694 versus $17,863 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,559. About 14.50% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.90% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans constitute the majority of registered voters in Dixie County.
Dixie County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2022Dixie County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2022Dixie County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2022Dixie County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2022Dixie County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2022Dixie County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of December 31, 2022
Political PartyPolitical PartyTotal VotersPercentage--
Democratic2,51923.5%--
Republican6,30658.8%--
Independent1,77516.5%--
Third Parties1311.2%--
TotalTotal10,731100.00%--

Statewide elections

hold the majority of registered voters in the county. Democrats have not carried a majority of votes in a presidential election since 1980, nor have they carried a majority in a gubernatorial election since 1994. The county has rapidly and steadily shifted Republican since the 1990s; by 2016, the Republican candidate earned over 80% of the vote in the presidential election. In 2020, the Republican nominee gained over 82% of the vote.
YearRepublicanDemocraticThird parties
202287.30% 5,39411.90% 7350.81% 50
201880.38% 4,66317.38% 1,0082.23% 130
201462.41% 3,34530.91% 1,6576.68% 358
201053.64% 2,81039.28% 2,0587.08% 371
200652.69% 2,65141.92% 2,1095.39% 271
200256.03% 2,27342.45% 1,7221.53% 62
199860.44% 1,85539.39% 1,2090.16% 5
199449.66% 1,98150.21% 2,0030.13% 5

Points of interest

The Dixie County Library is part of the , which also serves Gilchrist, Lafayette, and Taylor counties. It is located at 16328 SE 19th Highway in Cross City, Florida. The branch is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. The current library director is Cindy Bellot.

Communities

Towns

Airports

  • Dixie County Airport

    Major highways

  • , are the main US highways throughout Dixie County, running southeast to northwest from the bridge over the Suwannee River at the Levy-Gilchrist county line to the bridge over the Steinhatchee River at the Taylor County line. US Routes 98 and 27 Alternate overlap US 19 throughout the county.
  • passes through a short sliver of Dixie County in western Taylor County between Taylor and Lafayette Counties, but has no major intersections.
  • runs south to north from US 19-98-Alt. 27 in Old Town along the eastern end of the county, eventually crossing the border into Lafayette County. A county extension runs south toward Yellow Jacket and Suwannee.