Gadsden County, Florida


Gadsden County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,826. Its county seat is Quincy. Gadsden County is included in the Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. As part of the broader Black Belt region within the Deep South, Gadsden County is the only majority African-American county in Florida.

History

Gadsden County was created in 1823. It was named for James Gadsden of South Carolina, who served as Andrew Jackson's aide-de-camp in Florida in 1818. Gadsden County is historically known for its tobacco crop which is obsolete today.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Gadsden County is part of the Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gadsden County is in the Eastern Time Zone. Its western border with Jackson County forms the boundary in this area between the Eastern and Central Time Zones.

Adjacent counties

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 43,826, 16,806 households, and 11,239 families. The median age was 43.4 years, with 21.0% of residents under the age of 18 and 20.0% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.7 males age 18 and over.
The population density was 84.9 per square mile, and there were 18,929 housing units at an average density of 36.7 per square mile.
The racial makeup of the county was 34.1% White, 53.5% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.5% from some other race, and 5.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.6% of the population.
19.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 80.5% lived in rural areas.
There were 16,806 households in the county, of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 38.8% were married-couple households, 18.8% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 36.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
Of those housing units, 11.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.6% were owner-occupied and 27.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.

Racial and ethnic composition

Gadsden County is unique in Florida in that it is the state's only county with an African American majority population.

[American Community Survey] (2016–2020) estimates

The 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates show that the average household size was 2.4, the average family size was 3.0, and 13.8% of the population had a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates show that the median household income was $41,135. The median family income was $50,020. Males had a median income of $32,760 versus $27,905 for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $29,793.
Approximately, 15.2% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.7% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those ages 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 46,389 people living in the county. 56.0% were Black or African American, 35.9% White, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 5.9% of some other race and 1.3% of two or more races. 9.5% were Hispanic or Latino.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 45,087 people, 15,867 households, and 11,424 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 17,703 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 57.14% Black or African American, 38.70% White, 0.23% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.76% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 6.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,867 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.50% were married couples living together, 22.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.00% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,248, and the median income for a family was $36,238. Males had a median income of $27,159 versus $21,721 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,499. About 16.40% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.50% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Rosenwald schools were established in Gadsden County.
The Gadsden County School District, the only school district, operates public schools.
Gadsden County is home to one public high school, Gadsden County High School, formed in 2017 by the merger of East Gadsden High and the high school portion of West Gadsden High School; the West Gadsden High building was converted to West Gadsden Middle. West Gadsden was formed by the merger of the former Chattahoochee High and Greensboro High and was located on the western outskirts of Quincy near Greensboro. East Gadsden, formed by the merger of James A. Shanks High and Havana Northside High, was located on Hwy. 90 east of Quincy.
Robert F. Munroe Day School and Tallavanna Christian School are private schools in the county that were founded as segregation academies.

Libraries

The Gadsden County Public Library System has 3 branches.
  • William A. McGill Library
  • Havana Branch
  • Chattahoochee Branch

    Politics

Gadsden is the strongest Democratic county in Florida, giving Democrats higher margins than even in highly populated urban counties like Broward, despite having a population of 43,826. No Democratic gubernatorial or presidential candidate has received less than 60% of the vote in the county since 1992, even for those who lost in landslides statewide.
In the 2022 gubernatorial election, it was one of only five counties in the state to vote for Democratic nominee Charlie Crist over incumbent Republican governor Ron DeSantis, and it was the only one to give Crist more than 60% of the vote. Crist lost statewide by 19.4%. Similarly, in the 2024 presidential election it was the only county to give Kamala Harris over 60% of the vote, and one of only six counties won by Harris. Harris lost statewide by 13%.
According to the secretary of state's office, Democrats maintain a massive majority of registered voters in Gadsden County. As of May 23, 2022, the county has the highest percentage of registered Democrats of all counties in Florida. The last Republican to win a majority in the county was Richard Nixon in his landslide 1972 victory. As a measure of how strongly Democratic the county is, Gadsden was the solitary Florida county to vote against Reagan in 1984 and George Bush in 1988, even as both won in statewide landslides.
Gadsden County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024Gadsden County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024Gadsden County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024Gadsden County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024Gadsden County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024Gadsden County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of September 30, 2024
Political PartyPolitical PartyTotal VotersPercentage--
Democratic18,30069.05%--
Republican5,64121.29%--
Independent2,82510.66%--
Third Parties4131.56%--
TotalTotal26,501100.00%--

Statewide elections

YearRepublicanDemocraticThird parties
202237.36% 6,51162.00% 10,8050.64% 110
201830.91% 6,20068.36% 13,7120.72% 146
201427.27% 4,79870.62% 12,4252.11% 371
201025.90% 4,32472.27% 12,0671.83% 307
200632.45% 4,55766.25% 9,3031.29% 182
200225.83% 3,94873.46% 11,2280.71% 109
199835.66% 4,02864.34% 7,269
199430.63% 3,42269.37% 7,751

County commissioners
  • Eric Hinson
  • Anthony Viegbesie, PhD
  • Kimblin NeSmith, J.D.
  • Brenda Holt
  • Ronterious Green
Local elected officials
  • Sheriff: Morris A. Young
  • Supervisor of Elections: Shirley Green Knight
  • Tax Collector: W. Dale Summerford
  • Property Appraiser: Reginald Cunningham
  • Superintendent of Schools: Elijah Key