# Liberty County, Florida

Liberty County is a county located in the state of Florida, part of the Big Bend region. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,974, making it the least populous county in Florida. Its county seat is Bristol. Torreya State Park and the Apalachicola National Forest are located within the county. The Apalachicola River runs through the county as well. Liberty County is the only dry county in Florida as Lafayette County prohibits bars, but not retail sale of beer.

## History

Liberty County was created in 1855 and is named after the American ideal of liberty.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 843 square miles (2,180 km$^2$), of which 836 square miles (2,170 km$^2$) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km$^2$) (0.9%) is water. The county is bordered on the west by the Apalachicola River.

### Adjacent counties

* Gadsden County - northeast
* Wakulla County - east
* Leon County - east
* Franklin County - south
* Gulf County - southwest
* Calhoun County - west
* Jackson County - northwest

### National protected area

* Apalachicola National Forest (part)

## Demographics

Liberty County racial composition as of 2020 (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White (NH) | 6,159 | 5,729 | 73.63% | 71.85% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,472 | 1,353 | 17.6% | 16.97% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 77 | 52 | 0.92% | 0.65% |
| Asian (NH) | 16 | 18 | 0.19% | 0.23% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 0.01% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 8 | 26 | 0.1% | 0.33% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 115 | 233 | 1.37% | 2.92% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 518 | 562 | 6.19% | 7.05% |
| Total | 8,365 | 7,974 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,974 people, 2,513 households, and 1,602 families residing in the county.
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,021 people, 2,222 households, and 1,553 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km$^2$). There were 3,156 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 76.41% White, 18.43% Black or African American, 1.81% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 4.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. More than 10% of the population are Mormons.
There were 2,222 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% 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 3.00.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 37.70% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 144.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 159.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,840, and the median income for a family was $34,244. Males had a median income of $22,078 versus $22,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,225. About 16.80% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 24.30% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

Liberty County has shifted rapidly towards the Republican Party in the 21st century. As of 2024, Republicans maintain an advantage in voter registration, which is the case in all but four counties in the Panhandle. As recently as 2016, Liberty County had 3,399 registered Democrats and just 722 registered Republicans, although it has consistently voted for Republican candidates, last supporting a Democrat with Jimmy Carter.
United States presidential election results for Liberty County, Florida :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,898 | 82.89% | 566 | 16.19% | 32 | 0.92% |
| 2020 | 2,846 | 79.83% | 694 | 19.47% | 25 | 0.70% |
| 2016 | 2,543 | 76.78% | 651 | 19.66% | 118 | 3.56% |
| 2012 | 2,301 | 69.96% | 942 | 28.64% | 46 | 1.40% |
| 2008 | 2,339 | 71.18% | 895 | 27.24% | 52 | 1.58% |
| 2004 | 1,927 | 63.79% | 1,070 | 35.42% | 24 | 0.79% |
| 2000 | 1,317 | 54.65% | 1,017 | 42.20% | 76 | 3.15% |
| 1996 | 913 | 42.19% | 868 | 40.11% | 383 | 17.70% |
| 1992 | 1,126 | 43.71% | 820 | 31.83% | 630 | 24.46% |
| 1988 | 1,421 | 65.27% | 709 | 32.57% | 47 | 2.16% |
| 1984 | 1,410 | 68.45% | 650 | 31.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 899 | 43.81% | 1,114 | 54.29% | 39 | 1.90% |
| 1976 | 620 | 34.91% | 1,137 | 64.02% | 19 | 1.07% |
| 1972 | 1,199 | 84.38% | 222 | 15.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 154 | 8.96% | 242 | 14.09% | 1,322 | 76.95% |
| 1964 | 910 | 70.71% | 377 | 29.29% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 243 | 21.99% | 862 | 78.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 238 | 21.48% | 870 | 78.52% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 237 | 18.60% | 1,037 | 81.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 30 | 3.53% | 737 | 86.81% | 82 | 9.66% |
| 1944 | 38 | 5.72% | 626 | 94.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 119 | 11.16% | 947 | 88.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 64 | 7.41% | 800 | 92.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 31 | 4.35% | 682 | 95.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 147 | 39.20% | 226 | 60.27% | 2 | 0.53% |
| 1924 | 18 | 8.04% | 193 | 86.16% | 13 | 5.80% |
| 1920 | 5 | 1.10% | 416 | 91.63% | 33 | 7.27% |
| 1916 | 57 | 14.65% | 280 | 71.98% | 52 | 13.37% |
| 1912 | 32 | 12.08% | 206 | 77.74% | 27 | 10.19% |
| 1908 | 69 | 25.27% | 176 | 64.47% | 28 | 10.26% |
| 1904 | 50 | 24.88% | 143 | 71.14% | 8 | 3.98% |
| Political Party | Political Party | Number of registered voters (January 31, 2025) | % |
| | Republican | 2,743 | 59.14% |
| | Democratic | 1,420 | 30.62% |
| | Independent | 456 | 9.83% |
| | Other | 19 | 0.41% |
| Total | Total | 4,638 | 100.00% |
Liberty County is run by a board of five county commissioners, each elected at-large. Terms for these offices begin on the second Tuesday following the general election. The following is a list of the commissioners with the number representative of his/her district:
* Dewayne Branch (R)
* Hannah Causseaux (R)
* Jim Johnson (R)
* Doyle Brown (R)
* Derrick Arnold (D)
The school board is run by five members, each also elected at-large in non-partisan elections. Terms for these offices begin on the second Tuesday following the general election. The following is a list of the school board with the number representative of his/her district:
* Mason Kever
* Jodi Bailey
* Darrel Hayes
* Jason Singletary
* Charles Morris
The remaining elected officials are the constitutional officers. Terms for these offices begin on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following the general election except for the role of Superintendent of Schools which begins on the second Tuesday following the general election, in coordination with elected school board members.
* County Judge: Christopher D. Bufano
* Clerk of Court: Jace Ford (R)
* Sheriff: Dusty Arnold (R)
* Property Appraiser: Chris Rudd (R)
* Tax Collector: Marie Goodman (R)
* Supervisor of Elections: Grant Conyers (R)
* Superintendent of Schools: Kyle Peddie (R)

## Library

Liberty County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System, which serves Gulf and Bay counties as well.

## Communities
### Town

* Bristol

### Census-designated places

* Hosford
* Lake Mystic
* Sumatra

### Unincorporated communities

* Estiffanulga
* Orange
* Rock Bluff
* Telogia
* White Springs
* Wilma
* Woods

## Transportation

Much like Calhoun County, Liberty County has no Interstates or U.S. Highways, just state roads.
* FL State Road 20 is the main west-to-east route that runs east from the Apalachicola River at the Calhoun/Liberty County line to the Ochlockonee River at the Liberty/Leon County line, passing through Bristol and Hosford.
* FL State Road 65 is the main south-to-north route running from the Franklin/Liberty County line at Sumatra to the Liberty/Gadsden County line north of Hosford.
* FL State Road 12 is a southwest-to-southeast route running from Liberty County in the southwest to Havana in the northeast. It also contains a county extension into Levy County.
* FL State Road 267 briefly runs alongside state road 20 until it splits away shortly after crossing the Leon/Liberty county line and heads north towards Quincy.