Hernando County, Florida

Hernando County, Florida

Hernando County Courthouse

Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Hernando County
Location in the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Founded February 24, 1843
Named for Hernando de Soto
Seat Brooksville
Largest community Spring Hill
Area
 • Total 589 sq mi (1,526 km2)
 • Land 473 sq mi (1,225 km2)
 • Water 116 sq mi (300 km2), 19.8%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 178,439
 • Density 366/sq mi (141/km²)
Congressional district 11th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.co.hernando.fl.us

Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 172,778.[1] Its county seat is Brooksville,[2] and its largest community is Spring Hill.

Hernando County is included in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2005, Hernando was the 35th fastest-growing county in the country.[3]

History

Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto

Around 1840, Fort DeSoto was established in present-day Hernando County in the northeast edge of present-day Brooksville to protect settlers in the area from Native Americans. Fort DeSoto became a small community center, trading post, and way station on the route to Tampa. When settlement by the fort began around 1845, it was alternatively known as Pierceville.

Then encompassing a significantly larger area of west central Florida than it does today, Hernando County was officially established on February 27, 1843, two years prior to Florida's admission into the Union. It was created from portions of Alachua, Hillsborough and Orange Counties and included all of present-day Citrus and Pasco Counties. Named for Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto,[4] whose name has also been honored in DeSoto County, Hernando County was briefly renamed Benton County in 1844 for Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton, a strong supporter of territorial expansion who aided in the county's creation. However, Benton fell out of favor with the county's residents later in the decade due to his decision to support the Missouri Compromise and the overall reversal of his stance on slavery, and the county's name reverted in 1850.

In December 1854, the legislature designated the small port town of Bayport the county seat. Residents living in the eastern section of the county instead desired a more central place for the county government, and by 1855, voters had selected an inland site within five miles (8 km) of the center of the county at the town of Melendez. In 1856, the citizens of Hernando County chose to rename the town, their new County Seat, Brooksville in honor of South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks, who in the same year beat fierce abolitionist Massachusetts Senator Charles Sumner with a cane in the Senate chambers, winning the Congressman great renown in the South.

In 1855, town founder Joseph Hale donated land for a county courthouse in the center of present-day Brooksville. Soon thereafter, the structure was completed.

During the Civil War, Hernando County primarily contributed foodstuffs, cotton, and lumber to the Confederacy. Although Union ships imposed a blockade on the port of Bayport, runners enjoyed a great deal of success—enough to lead the Union in June 1864 to order some 150–250 troops to destroy Confederate stockpiles in the county. In early July, the expedition marched northward from Anclote River to Brooksville, meeting some resistance from assembled Confederate troops hastily organized to protect the city. The Federal troops won this engagement (known locally as the Brooksville Raid[5] and marched to Bayport, where they and an auxiliary force landing from gunboats sacked Rebel operations. The skirmish between Union raiders and local Confederates is reenacted annually in the county.[6]

The county courthousewas destroyed by a fire on September 29, 1877. On June 2, 1887, the Florida State Legislature divided Hernando County into three independent counties: Pasco County to the south, Citrus County to the north, and Hernando County in the middle. Since then, Hernando County's borders have remained unchanged.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 589 square miles (1,530 km2), of which 473 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 116 square miles (300 km2) (19.8%) is water.[7] According to the World Atlas USA, Hernando County is the geographic center of Florida. Elevation in the county ranges from mean sea level along the Gulf coast to its highest natural point of 269 feet at Chinsegut Hill.[8]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

State protected areas

Weeki Wachee Springs

Withlacoochee State Forest

Other points of interest

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850926—
18601,20029.6%
18702,938144.8%
18804,24844.6%
18902,476−41.7%
19003,63846.9%
19104,99737.4%
19204,548−9.0%
19304,9488.8%
19405,64114.0%
19506,69318.6%
196011,20567.4%
197017,00451.8%
198044,469161.5%
1990101,115127.4%
2000130,80229.4%
2010172,77832.1%
Est. 2015178,439[9]3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 130,802 people, 55,425 households, and 40,016 families residing in the county. The population density was 106/sq mi (274/km²). There were 62,727 housing units at an average density of 51/sq mi (131/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.85% White, 4.07% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.98% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 5.04% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race. 91.1% spoke English, 4.5% Spanish, 1.1% German and 1.1% Italian as their first language.

There were 55,425 households, which 21.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.80% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.70.

In the county 18.90% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.40% was between the ages of 18 to 24, 20.40% between 25 to 44, 24.40% between 45 and 64, and 30.90% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 90.50 males. For every 100 females, age 18 and over, there were 87.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,572, and the median income for a family was $37,509. Males had a median income of $30,295 versus $21,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,321. About 7.10% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.90% of those under age 18 and 6.20% of those ages 65 or over.

Economy

Hernando County is home to the largest (truck-to-truck) Wal-Mart Distribution Center in the U.S. approximately 1,600,000 square feet (150,000 m2) in size and located in Ridge Manor. The industrial park Airport Industrial Park is a 155-acre (0.63 km2) located near the Hernando County Airport. Over one hundred aviation, manufacturing and distribution businesses are located in this area.

Transportation

Airports

Mass transit

Hernando THE Bus provides bus service in Brooksville and Spring Hill.

Railroads

CSX operates two rail lines within the county. Amtrak formerly provided passenger rail service along the old Atlantic Coast Line Railroad line east of US 301 in Ridge Manor, but had no stops in the county, and the service was terminated in late 2004.[15] The other line is the Brooksville Subdivision, which runs close to US 41, and was previously owned by the Seaboard Air Line.

Notable abandoned railroad lines include a former branch of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad spanning from southeast of Ridge Manor through Istachatta that became part of the Withlacoochee State Trail, and a spur of this line from Croom west into Brooksville, part of which is being replaced by a new rail trail called the Good Neighbor Trail. Though the Good Neighbor Trail only exists within Brooksville itself, the ultimate goal is to extend it to the Withlacoohee State Trail.

Major highways

Politics

Pasco County vote
by party in presidential elections[16]
Year Republican Democratic
2016 62.3% 58,970 33.6% 31,795
2012 53.5% 44,938 45.1% 37,830
2008 51.0% 45,021 47.5% 41,886
2004 52.9% 42,635 46.2% 37,187
2000 47.0% 30,658 50.1% 32,648
1996 38.0% 22,046 49.1% 28,524
1992 36.5% 17,902 39.1% 19,174
1988 57.5% 21,195 41.9% 15,437
1984 63.5% 21,279 36.4% 12,204
1980 55.0% 12,115 40.2% 8,858
1976 42.2% 5,793 56.2% 7,717
1972 74.9% 6,296 25.1% 2,110
1968 34.4% 2,053 25.6% 1,524
1964 50.2% 2,337 49.8% 2,320
1960 48.0% 1,809 52.0% 1,960

Hernando county has been trending towards the Republican party in the 21st century.

Emergency Management

Fire Departments

Law Enforcement Agencies

Hospitals

Brooksville Regional Hospital, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Spring Hill, Oak Hill Hospital, Spring Hill Regional Hospital, Springbrook Hospital

Library

Hernando County is served by the Hernando County Public Library System. There are 5 branches in the county.

238 Howell Ave Brooksville, FL 34601

6457 Windmere Road Brooksville, FL 34602

6335 Blackbird Avenue Brooksville, FL 34613

9220 Spring Hill Drive Spring Hill, FL 34608

16246 Lingle Road Brooksville, FL 34601

All branches can be reached by calling (352) 754-4043

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Christie, Les (March 15, 2006). "100 Fastest Growing Counties". CNN.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 155.
  5. ↑ Cannon, Jeff (December 11, 2009). "The Brooksville-Bayport Raid and The Civil War in Hernando County". Retrieved February 8, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Brooksville raid re-enactment to be held today". St. Petersburg Times. www.tampabay.com. January 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ↑ Chinsegut Hill, Florida (Mountain Peaks.net)
  9. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  14. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. ↑ "St. Petersburg Times". Loss of Amtrak service shouldn't derail Dade City. Retrieved 2004-10-29.
  16. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/
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Coordinates: 28°33′N 82°28′W / 28.55°N 82.47°W / 28.55; -82.47

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Gulf of Mexico Sumter County
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