Duval County, Florida


Duval County, officially the City of Jacksonville and Duval County, is a county in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, its population was 995,567, making it the sixth-most populous county in Florida. Its county seat is Jacksonville, with which the Duval County government has been consolidated since 1968. Duval County was established in 1822 and is named for William Pope Duval, Governor of Florida Territory from 1822 to 1834. Duval County is the central county of the Jacksonville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The area was settled by varying cultures of indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European contact. Within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville, archeologists excavated remains of some of the oldest pottery in the United States, dating to 2500 BCE. Prior to European contact, the area was inhabited by the Mocama, a Timucuan-speaking group who lived throughout the coastal areas of northern Florida. At the time Europeans arrived, much of what is now Duval County was controlled by the Saturiwa, one of the region's most powerful tribes. The area that became Duval County was home to the 16th-century French colony of Fort Caroline and saw increased European settlement in the 18th century with the establishment of Cowford, later renamed Jacksonville.
Duval County was created in 1822 from St. Johns County. It was named for William Pope Duval, Governor of Florida Territory from 1822 to 1834. When Duval County was created, it covered a massive area, from the Suwannee River on the west to the Atlantic Ocean on the east, north of a line from the mouth of the Suwannee River to Jacksonville on the St. Johns River. Alachua and Nassau counties were created out of parts of Duval County in 1824. Clay County was created from part of Duval County in 1858. Part of St. Johns County south and east of the lower reaches of the St. Johns River was transferred to Duval County in the 1840s.

Government

On October 1, 1968, the government of Duval County was consolidated with the government of the city of Jacksonville. The Duval County cities of Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Neptune Beach, and the town of Baldwin are not included in the corporate limits of Jacksonville and maintain their own municipal governments. The city of Jacksonville provides all services that a county government would normally provide. The Mayor of Jacksonville serves as the chief administrator over all of Duval County.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. The topography is coastal plain; however there are some rolling hills.

National protected areas

As of the first quarter of 2024, the median home value in Duval County was $367,550.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s July 2024 estimates, Duval County had a population of approximately 1,055,159.
As of the 2023 American Community Survey, there are 428,020 estimated households in Duval County with an average of 2.36 persons per household. The county has a median household income of $69,436. Approximately 14.6% of the county's population lives at or below the poverty line. Duval County has an estimated 63.3% employment rate, with 34.3% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 91.6% holding a high school diploma.

Racial and ethnic composition

Race / ethnicity Pop. 1980Pop. 1990Pop. 2000Pop. 2010
White alone 413,897
478,981
494,747
488,826
492,039
Black or African American alone 139,039
162,420
214,473
250,063
286,344
Native American or Alaska Native alone 1,259
1,779
2,375
2,816
2,306
Asian alone 5,921
12,123
20,871
35,381
48,652
Pacific Islander alone ——431
688
960
Other race alone 405
335
1,407
2,006
0.23		6,837
Mixed race or multiracial ——12,629
19,085
45,740
Hispanic or Latino 10,482
17,333
31,946
65,398
112,689
Total571,003
672,971
778,879
864,263
995,567

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 995,567, with 399,759 households and 249,480 families residing in the county. The population density was. The median age was 37.7 years, 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18, and 15.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.9 males age 18 and over.
The racial makeup of the county was 51.7% White, 29.4% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.0% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 4.5% from some other race, and 9.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 11.3% of the population.
97.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.7% lived in rural areas.
Of the 399,759 households in the county, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 39.9% were married-couple households, 20.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.0% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 435,033 housing units at an average density of, of which 8.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 56.5% were owner-occupied and 43.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.0%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 864,263 people, 342,450 households, and 218,254 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 388,486 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 60.87% White, 29.51% African American, 0.39% Native American, 4.15% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 2.13% from some other races and 2.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 7.57% of the population.
Ancestries:
  • White
  • Black
  • Native
  • Asian
  • Other Races
  • Multiracial
  • Hispanic/Latino
In 2010, 6.7% of the population considered themselves to be of only "American" ancestry.
Of the 342,450 households 28.68% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.92% were married couples living together, 16.74% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.27% were non-families. 24.85% of households were one person and 8.05% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.04.
The age distribution was 23.5% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% 65 or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median household income was $49,463 and the median family income was $60,114. Males had a median income of $42,752 versus $34,512 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,854. About 10.4% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those aged 65 or over.
In 2010, 9.0% of the county's population was foreign born, with 49.5% being naturalized American citizens. Of foreign-born residents, 38.2% were born in Latin America, 35.6% born in Asia, 17.9% were born in Europe, 5.8% born in Africa, 2.0% in North America, and 0.5% were born in Oceania.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 778,879 people, 303,747 households, and 201,688 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 329,778 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 65.80% White, 27.83% African American, 0.33% Native American, 2.71% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from some other races and 1.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.10% of the population.
There were 303,747 households out of which 33.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the county the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 32.40% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,703, and the median income for a family was $47,689. Males had a median income of $32,954 versus $26,015 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,753. About 9.20% of families and 11.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.