Calhoun County, Florida
History
Calhoun County was created in 1838. It was named for John C. Calhoun, member of the United States Senate from South Carolina and the seventh U.S. vice president, serving under John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson. The county was originally located between St. Joseph Bay and the Apalachicola River, with the county seat at St. Joseph (which was abandoned by 1844 due to a yellow fever epidemic and hurricanes).
In the late 1850s, there was a violent feud between the local Durden family and another anti-Durden group. This feud escalated and there was a breakdown of the law, with roaming gangs and a "pitched battle" at the courthouse square in Blountstown. The violence got so bad that the county judge had to call in aid from the Fifth Florida Militia Regiment, which deployed 150 militiamen to breakup the outlaw bands.
The relative lawlessness continued during the American Civil War when armed gangs gathered in the country side and avoided conscription by the Confederacy. These groups were in contact with and armed by the Federal blockade and even concocted a plan to kidnap the Confederate Governor Milton. Milton caught word of the plot and avoided capture.
The county was later expanded to the north with territory from Jackson and Washington counties. In 1913, part of Calhoun County was transferred to the new Bay County. In 1925, the southern part of Calhoun County was separated as the new Gulf County, which included the territory that had formed the original Calhoun County.
In 1930, a federal employee shot the County Sheriff over a dispute of unknown origin.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km), of which 567 square miles (1,470 km) is land and 7.0 square miles (18 km) (1.2%) is water. The county is bounded on the east by the Apalachicola River and is bisected by the Chipola River, site of Look and Tremble.
Unincorporated areas
Among the unincorporated settlements are Broad Branch, Chipola, Clarksville, Chason, Durham, Fisher Corner, Flowers Still, Henderson Mill, Kinard, Leonards, New Hope, Rollins Corner, Selman, Sharptown, Summerville, and Willis.
Adjacent counties
- Jackson County, Florida – north
- Gadsden County, Florida – northeast (EST)
- Liberty County, Florida – east (EST)
- Gulf County, Florida – south (southern part of the county is in the EST)
- Bay County, Florida – west
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 1,142 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,377 | 20.6% | |
| 1860 | 1,446 | 5.0% | |
| 1870 | 998 | −31.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,580 | 58.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,681 | 6.4% | |
| 1900 | 5,132 | 205.3% | |
| 1910 | 7,465 | 45.5% | |
| 1920 | 8,775 | 17.5% | |
| 1930 | 7,298 | −16.8% | |
| 1940 | 8,218 | 12.6% | |
| 1950 | 7,922 | −3.6% | |
| 1960 | 7,422 | −6.3% | |
| 1970 | 7,624 | 2.7% | |
| 1980 | 9,294 | 21.9% | |
| 1990 | 11,011 | 18.5% | |
| 2000 | 13,017 | 18.2% | |
| 2010 | 14,625 | 12.4% | |
| 2020 | 13,648 | −6.7% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 13,470 | −1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2015 2020 | |||
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 11,357 | 10,490 | 77.65% | 76.86% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,991 | 1,668 | 13.61% | 12.22% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 144 | 93 | 0.98% | 0.68% |
| Asian (NH) | 71 | 46 | 0.49% | 0.34% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 8 | 0 | 0.05% | 0.0% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 6 | 10 | 0.04% | 0.07% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 293 | 719 | 2.0% | 5.27% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 755 | 622 | 5.16% | 4.56% |
| Total | 14,625 | 13,648 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,648 people, 4,510 households, and 2,753 families residing in the county.
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,017 people, 4,468 households, and 3,132 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km). There were 5,250 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3.5/km). The racial makeup of the county was 79.87% White, 15.79% Black or African American, 1.26% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.04% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. 3.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 4,468 households, out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 117.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 120.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,575, and the median income for a family was $32,848. Males had a median income of $26,681 versus $21,176 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,379. About 14.80% of families and 20.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 20.40% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Major roads
Calhoun County is not served by any Interstate or U.S. Highways; the nearest access to the Interstate Highway System is Interstate 10 in Sneads in neighboring Jackson County and to the U.S. Highway System is U.S. Route 231 in northeastern Bay County.
FL 20 is major east–west state highway linking Niceville to the state capital Tallahassee.
FL 69 begins at FL 71 in Blountstown.
FL 71 is major north–south state highway linking Port St. Joe to Alabama.
FL 73 begins at FL 71 in southern Calhoun County.
Airport
Politics
Voter registration
According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans hold a narrow majority among registered voters in Calhoun County as of 2022. However, Democrats held a sizable majority of registered voters as recently as 2017.
| Calhoun County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of March 31, 2022 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Party | Total Voters | Percentage | |||
| Republican | 3,655 | 44.79% | |||
| Democratic | 3,500 | 42.89% | |||
| Independent | 955 | 11.70% | |||
| Third Parties | 50 | 0.61% | |||
| Total | 8,160 | 100% | |||
Statewide elections
Like most of the Florida Panhandle, Calhoun County votes heavily Republican in presidential and congressional races yet still occasionally supports conservative Democrats in local and state contests.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 5,274 | 80.68% | 1,209 | 18.49% | 54 | 0.83% |
| 2016 | 4,655 | 75.96% | 1,241 | 20.25% | 232 | 3.79% |
| 2012 | 4,366 | 70.61% | 1,664 | 26.91% | 153 | 2.47% |
| 2008 | 4,345 | 69.36% | 1,821 | 29.07% | 98 | 1.56% |
| 2004 | 3,782 | 63.42% | 2,116 | 35.49% | 65 | 1.09% |
| 2000 | 2,873 | 55.52% | 2,156 | 41.66% | 146 | 2.82% |
| 1996 | 1,717 | 41.29% | 1,794 | 43.15% | 647 | 15.56% |
| 1992 | 1,721 | 37.58% | 1,665 | 36.36% | 1,193 | 26.05% |
| 1988 | 2,422 | 64.01% | 1,329 | 35.12% | 33 | 0.87% |
| 1984 | 2,493 | 65.48% | 1,312 | 34.46% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1980 | 1,504 | 38.72% | 2,300 | 59.22% | 80 | 2.06% |
| 1976 | 1,153 | 31.26% | 2,487 | 67.42% | 49 | 1.33% |
| 1972 | 2,069 | 81.68% | 461 | 18.20% | 3 | 0.12% |
| 1968 | 356 | 11.38% | 398 | 12.72% | 2,375 | 75.90% |
| 1964 | 1,793 | 64.66% | 980 | 35.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 634 | 28.46% | 1,594 | 71.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 554 | 24.57% | 1,701 | 75.43% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 590 | 24.41% | 1,827 | 75.59% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 128 | 7.13% | 1,404 | 78.26% | 262 | 14.60% |
| 1944 | 207 | 12.10% | 1,504 | 87.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 171 | 9.03% | 1,722 | 90.97% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 181 | 14.79% | 1,043 | 85.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 129 | 8.84% | 1,331 | 91.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1928 | 409 | 35.02% | 727 | 62.24% | 32 | 2.74% |
| 1924 | 56 | 10.79% | 406 | 78.23% | 57 | 10.98% |
| 1920 | 99 | 9.02% | 861 | 78.42% | 138 | 12.57% |
| 1916 | 209 | 24.85% | 539 | 64.09% | 93 | 11.06% |
| 1912 | 67 | 10.15% | 332 | 50.30% | 261 | 39.55% |
| 1908 | 339 | 49.56% | 241 | 35.23% | 104 | 15.20% |
| 1904 | 160 | 40.30% | 162 | 40.81% | 75 | 18.89% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 77.59% 3,576 | 20.03% 923 | 2.39% 110 |
| 2014 | 63.91% 2,676 | 28.71% 1,202 | 7.38% 309 |
| 2010 | 51.23% 2,201 | 43.18% 1,855 | 5.59% 240 |
| 2006 | 50.79% 1,737 | 45.70% 1,563 | 3.51% 120 |
| 2002 | 45.10% 1,917 | 53.49% 2,274 | 1.41% 60 |
| 1998 | 60.13% 1,796 | 39.87% 1,191 | |
| 1994 | 49.50% 1,775 | 50.50% 1,811 |
County commissioners
- Lee Lee Brown (District 1)
- Aaron Carter (District 2)
- Darryl O'Bryan (District 3)
- Scott Monlyn (District 4)
- Gene Bailey (District 5)
Local elected officials
- Clerk of Court: Carla Hand
- County Sherriff: Glenn Kimbrel
- Supervisor of Elections: Sharon Chason
- Property Appraiser: Carla Peacock
- Tax Collector: Becky Smith
Education
Primary and secondary schools
Calhoun County School District operates public schools. Its two senior high schools are Blountstown High School and Altha Public School.
Library
Along with the six branches within the Calhoun County Public Library System, Calhoun County is also a part of the Panhandle Public Library Cooperative System. PPLCS also includes Holmes and Jackson counties. Branches are located in the following communities and offer public computers with internet access, free wi-fi, programming for all ages, downloadable e-books and e-audiobooks, and numerous online databases and resources.
- Blountstown Public Library
- Altha Public Library
- Hugh Creek Public Library
- Kinard Public Library
- Mossy Pond Public Library
- Shelton Public Library