Leon County, Florida

Infobox U.S. County
county = Leon County
state = Florida




founded = December 29 1824
seat = Tallahassee
area_total_sq_mi =702
area_land_sq_mi =667
area_water_sq_mi =35
area percentage = 4.99%
census yr = 2000
pop = 239452
density_km2 =139
named for = Juan Ponce de León
web = www.leoncountyfl.gov|

Leon County is a county located in the state of Florida. In 2000, its population was 239,452. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 260,945. [http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls] The principal place in Leon County is Tallahassee, the county seat and state capital. The county is home to two of Florida's major public universities, Florida A&M University and Florida State University. Leon County residents hold the distinction as having the highest level of education of those in any of Florida's 67 counties with Alachua County as 2nd. [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/educLevel.php?locIndex=8672 2000 U.S. Census at EPodunk.com - An examination of all Florida counties] ]

The county forms the nucleus of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Originally part of Escambia and later Gadsden County, Leon County was created in 1824. It was named for Juan Ponce de León, the Spanish explorer who was the first European to reach Florida. During the 1850s - 1860s, Leon County was a "cotton kingdom" and ranked 5th out of all of Florida and Georgia counties in the production of cotton from the 20 major plantations.:"Also see Plantations of Leon County."

Geography

Physical

Unlike much of Florida, Leon County has rolling hills. The highest point is convert|280|ft|m located in the north part of the county. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 702 square miles (1,818 km²), of which, 667 square miles (1,727 km²) of it is land and 35 square miles (91 km²) of it (4.99%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Jefferson County, Florida - east
* Wakulla County, Florida - south
* Gadsden County, Florida - west
* Liberty County, Florida - west

Major highways

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* State Road 363

National protected area

* Apalachicola National Forest (part)

Demographics

Race

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 239,452 people, 96,521 households, and 54,341 families residing in the county. The population density was 359 people per square mile (139/km²). There were 103,974 housing units at an average density of 156 per square mile (60/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 66.36% White, 29.11% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.91% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 1.52% from two or more races. 3.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Age

There were 96,521 households out of which 27.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.80% were married couples living together, 13.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.70% were non-families. 29.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.30% under the age of 18, 21.40% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.90 males.

Education

The adult citizens of Leon County enjoy the highest level of education in the state of Florida followed by Alachua County with a total of 67.8%. The proponents of consolidation have stated that the new jurisdiction would attract business by its very size. Merging of governments would cut government waste, duplication of services, etc. However Professor Richard Feiock states that no discernible relationship exists between consolidation and the local economy. [http://www.fsu.edu/~localgov/publication_files/Feiock&Park&Kang_Consolidation_K3.pdf]

U.S. Congressional representatives

Allen Boyd (D) [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/fl02_109.gifmap] represents roughly 90% of Leon County while Ander Crenshaw (R) [http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/fl04_109.gifmap] represents about 10%.

tate Representatives

Rep. Loranne Ausley (D), District 9, represents the northern half of Leon County including most of Tallahassee. Rep. Marti Coley (R), District 7, represents the southern portion of the county. Rep. Curtis Richardson (D), District 8, also represents a west-central portion of the county.

Municipalities

Incorporated

*City of Tallahassee

Unincorporated

* Black Creek - Identified on USGS maps as a small enclave of 5 or 6 houses along Mahan Drive, just north of Black Creek, the waterway.
* Baum - Identified on USGS maps as the structures in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of Mahan Drive and Baum Road.
* Bloxham [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Bloxham,+Florida&ie=UTF8&ll=30.394644,-84.627514&spn=0.070036,0.105743&z=13&iwloc=addr]
*Bradfordville
*Capitola
*Centerville
*Chaires
* Chaires Crossroads - Identified on USGS maps as the structures in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of Chaires Cross Road and Apalachee Parkway. Historically a part of the Joseph Chaires Plantation.
* Gardner - Identified on USGS maps as the structures in the immediate vicinity of the intersection of Mahan Road and Crump Road, including Miles Johnson Road.
*Felkel
*Fort Braden
*Iamonia
*Ivan
*Lafayette
*Lutterloh
*Meridian
*Miccosukee
*Ochlockonee
*Rose - Identified on USGS maps as the intersection of several dirt roads and the Florida Gas Transmission pipeline just east of Old Plank Road, south of Tram Road, north of Natural Bridge Road. There are no structures or inhabitants in this area.
*Wadesboro
*Woodville

Public safety

The law enforcement agency charged with countywide policing is the Leon County Sheriff's Office. Fire and Emergency medical services provided by the Tallahassee Fire Department and Leon County Emergency Medical Services respectively.

chools

Public schools in Leon County are administered and under the operation of the [http://www.leon.k12.fl.us/ Leon County School District] . LCS is operated by a superintendent, 5 board members, and 1 Student Representative. There are:
*24 Elementary Schools
*8 Middle Schools
*6 High Schools
*8 Special / Alternative Schools
*2 Charter Schools

High Schools

Newsweek Magazine's Top 1000 Schools for 2006 lists 4 of Leon County's 5 public high schools in the top 200 in the United States out of over 10,000 schools.
* Amos P. Godby High School - [http://www.godby.leon.k12.fl.us website]
* Atlantis Academy
* Florida Agricultural And Mechanical University High School
* Florida State University High School

* James S. Rickards High School Newsweek ranking: # 128
* John Paul II Catholic High School - [http://www.jpiichs.org/ website]
* Lawton Chiles High School Newsweek ranking # 303
* Leon High School Newsweek ranking: # 351
* Lively Technical Center
* Lincoln High School Newsweek ranking: # 111
* Maclay School - [http://www.maclay.org/ website]
* North Florida Christian High School - [http://tbci.org/nfc.htm website]
* SAIL High School - [http://www.sail.leon.k12.fl.us/ website]

Points of Interest

*Bradley's Country Store Complex
*Leon County's 5 canopy roads
*Leon County Fairgrounds
*Tall Timbers Research Station
*Birdsong Nature Center
*The Tallahassee Museum
*The Tallahassee Antique Car Museum
*The Florida Vietnam War Memorial
*The Apalachicola National Forest
*Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park
*The Tallahassee/St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail
*The Museum of Florida History

Geology

Leon County has 3 defining geologic periods. They are Neogene Period and Paleogene Period of the Cenozoic era and the Quaternary sub-era which includes the Pleistocene epoch and Holocene epoch.

Geologic formations

*Red Hills Region
*Cody Scarp

Bodies of water

*Black Creek
*Lake Bradford
*Lake Ella
*Lake Hall
*Lake Iamonia
*Lake Jackson
*Lake Lafayette
*Lake Talquin
*Ochlockonee River

References

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

* [http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/ Leon County Government / Board of County Commissioners]
* [http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/propappr/ Leon County Property Appraiser]
* [http://lcso.leonfl.org/ Leon County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/elect Leon County Supervisor of Elections]
* [http://www.leontaxcollector.net/ Leon County Tax Collector]

pecial districts

* [http://www.leon.k12.fl.us/ Leon County Public Schools]
* [http://www.localconservationboard.org The Ochlockonee River Soil and Water Conservation District]
* [http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/nwfwmd/ Northwest Florida Water Management District]

Judicial branch

* [http://www.clerk.leon.fl.us/ Leon County Clerk of Courts]
* [http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/PD/index.asp Public Defender, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida] serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties
* [http://www.sao2fl.org/ Office of the State Attorney, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida]
* [http://www.2ndcircuit.leon.fl.us/ Circuit and County Court, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida]

Tourism links

* [http://www.seetallahassee.com/ Tallahassee Area Convention and Visitors Bureau]