# Penney Farms, Florida

Penney Farms is a town in central Clay County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Jacksonville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 821 at the 2020 census, up from 749 at the 2010 census.

## History

In 1922, JCPenney department store pioneer J. C. Penney founded the community of Penney Farms (briefly known as Long Branch City), where he platted an experimental, suburban farming village. The state of Florida officially incorporated the Town of Penney Farms in 1927.
The real estate decline and stock market crash caused Penney to scale back his ambitions to a community for retired Christian ministers, in honor of his father, who was a Baptist preacher. Today, the Penney Retirement Community is a 192-acre (0.78 km$^2$) home to Christian laypeople as well as clergy and missionaries.

## Geography

The approximate coordinates for the Town of Penney Farms is located near the geographic center of Clay County at 29°58′52″N 81°48′36″W﻿ / ﻿29.981070°N 81.809948°W﻿ / 29.981070; -81.809948. Florida State Road 16 leads east 8 miles (13 km) to Green Cove Springs, the county seat, and west 20 miles (32 km) to Starke.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km$^2$), all land.

## Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the Town of Penney Farms has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

## Demographics
### 2010 and 2020 census

Penney Farms racial composition (Hispanics excluded from racial categories) (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White (NH) | 675 | 742 | 90.12% | 90.38% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 49 | 43 | 6.54% | 5.24% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Asian (NH) | 7 | 3 | 0.93% | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some other race (NH) | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.24% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 10 | 17 | 1.34% | 2.07% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8 | 14 | 1.07% | 1.71% |
| Total | 749 | 821 | | |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 821 people, 286 households, and 163 families residing in the town.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 749 people, 232 households, and 148 families residing in the town.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 580 people, 266 households, and 171 families residing in the town. The population density was 414.7 inhabitants per square mile (160.1/km$^2$). There were 290 housing units at an average density of 207.4 per square mile (80.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 90.86% White, 8.28% African American, 0.17% Asian, and 0.69% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.
In 2000, there were 266 households, out of which 6.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 28.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.83 and the average family size was 2.23.
In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 5.7% under the age of 18, 1.9% from 18 to 24, 6.4% from 25 to 44, 10.2% from 45 to 64, and 75.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 76 years. For every 100 females, there were 64.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 61.4 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $37,344, and the median income for a family was $46,875. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,929. About 8.1% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.7% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable people

* Meinhardt Raabe, actor
* E. Urner Goodman, Boy Scouts of America