# 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 864 square miles (2,240 km$^2$), of which 705 square miles (1,830 km$^2$) is land and 159 square miles (410 km$^2$) (18.4%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Taylor County – northwest
* Lafayette County – north
* Gilchrist County – east
* Levy County – southeast

### National protected area

* Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Demographics

Dixie County racial composition as of 2020 (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White (NH) | 14,220 | 13,750 | 86.59% | 82.05% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,364 | 1,551 | 8.31% | 9.25% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 63 | 61 | 0.38% | 0.36% |
| Asian (NH) | 48 | 58 | 0.29% | 0.35% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 2 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.0% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 4 | 33 | 0.02% | 0.2% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 209 | 618 | 1.27% | 3.69% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 512 | 688 | 3.12% | 4.11% |
| Total | 16,422 | 16,759 | | |

### 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 (9.2/km$^2$). There were 9,276 housing units at an average density of 13.2 per square mile (5.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup was 83.88% (14,057) white or European American (82.05% non-Hispanic white), 9.37% (1,571) black or African-American, 0.36% (61) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.38% (64) Asian, 0.02% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.28% (214) from other races, and 4.7% (788) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race was 4.11% (688) 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 (with a margin of error of +/- $1,917). The median family income was $47,188 (+/- $8,669). Males had a median income of $32,985 (+/- $2,117) versus $21,214 (+/- $3,480) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $27,358 (+/- $5,285). 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 20 people per square mile (7.7 people/km$^2$). There were 7,362 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (3.9/km$^2$). 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, 2022 :
| Political Party | Political Party | Total Voters | Percentage |
| | Democratic | 2,519 | 23.5% |
| | Republican | 6,306 | 58.8% |
| | Independent | 1,775 | 16.5% |
| | Third Parties | 131 | 1.2% |
| Total | Total | 10,731 | 100.00% |

### Statewide elections

Republicans hold the majority of registered voters in the county. Democrats have not carried a majority of votes in a presidential election since 1980 (and last carried a plurality in 1996), 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.
United States presidential election results for Dixie County, Florida :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 6,920 | 84.77% | 1,183 | 14.49% | 60 | 0.74% |
| 2020 | 6,759 | 82.70% | 1,365 | 16.70% | 49 | 0.60% |
| 2016 | 5,822 | 80.35% | 1,270 | 17.53% | 154 | 2.13% |
| 2012 | 5,052 | 72.60% | 1,798 | 25.84% | 109 | 1.57% |
| 2008 | 5,194 | 71.22% | 1,925 | 26.40% | 174 | 2.39% |
| 2004 | 4,434 | 68.83% | 1,960 | 30.43% | 48 | 0.75% |
| 2000 | 2,697 | 57.79% | 1,827 | 39.15% | 143 | 3.06% |
| 1996 | 1,399 | 36.82% | 1,734 | 45.63% | 667 | 17.55% |
| 1992 | 1,401 | 32.04% | 1,855 | 42.42% | 1,117 | 25.54% |
| 1988 | 2,031 | 59.79% | 1,366 | 40.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1984 | 2,204 | 64.29% | 1,224 | 35.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 1,101 | 34.70% | 2,010 | 63.35% | 62 | 1.95% |
| 1976 | 558 | 20.28% | 2,169 | 78.82% | 25 | 0.91% |
| 1972 | 1,628 | 81.52% | 367 | 18.38% | 2 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 217 | 10.39% | 325 | 15.57% | 1,546 | 74.04% |
| 1964 | 908 | 49.59% | 923 | 50.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 392 | 28.65% | 976 | 71.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 370 | 29.04% | 904 | 70.96% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 440 | 34.81% | 824 | 65.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 111 | 8.73% | 862 | 67.82% | 298 | 23.45% |
| 1944 | 84 | 7.07% | 1,104 | 92.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 84 | 5.59% | 1,420 | 94.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 64 | 5.19% | 1,170 | 94.81% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 55 | 4.78% | 1,096 | 95.22% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 463 | 57.52% | 342 | 42.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 14 | 5.13% | 257 | 94.14% | 2 | 0.73% |
Previous gubernatorial elections results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
| 2022 | 87.30% 5,394 | 11.90% 735 | 0.81% 50 |
| 2018 | 80.38% 4,663 | 17.38% 1,008 | 2.23% 130 |
| 2014 | 62.41% 3,345 | 30.91% 1,657 | 6.68% 358 |
| 2010 | 53.64% 2,810 | 39.28% 2,058 | 7.08% 371 |
| 2006 | 52.69% 2,651 | 41.92% 2,109 | 5.39% 271 |
| 2002 | 56.03% 2,273 | 42.45% 1,722 | 1.53% 62 |
| 1998 | 60.44% 1,855 | 39.39% 1,209 | 0.16% 5 |
| 1994 | 49.66% 1,981 | 50.21% 2,003 | 0.13% 5 |

## Points of interest

* City of Hawkinsville – sunken steamboat in the Suwannee River near Old Town, one of the Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserves.
* Old Town Elementary School, now the Dixie County Cultural Center.
* Old Town Methodist Church built in 1890 located behind the 1983 church building.
* Putnam Lodge in Cross City, Florida built by the Putnam Lumber Company for its nearby lumber town of Shamrock

## Library

The Dixie County Library is part of the Three Rivers Regional Library System, 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

* Cross City
* Horseshoe Beach
* Old Town

### Unincorporated communities

* Clara (partly in Taylor County)
* Eugene
* Hines
* Jena
* Jonesboro
* Old Town
* Shamrock
* Shired Island
* Suwannee
* Yellow Jacket

## Transportation
### Airports

* Dixie County Airport

### Major highways

* US 19
* US 98
* US 27 Alt.
* SR 51
* SR 349