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Flagler County, Florida

Coordinates: 29°28′N 81°18′W / 29.47°N 81.30°W / 29.47; -81.30
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Flagler County
County
Flagler County Courthouse in Bunnell
Flagler County Courthouse in Bunnell
Map of Florida highlighting Flagler County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°28′N 81°18′W / 29.47°N 81.3°W / 29.47; -81.3
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedApril 28, 1917
Named forHenry Flagler
SeatBunnell
Largest cityPalm Coast
Area
 • Total
571 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Land485 sq mi (1,260 km2)
 • Water85 sq mi (220 km2)  15.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
115,378 Increase
 • Density238/sq mi (92/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.flaglercounty.org

Flagler County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 115,378.[1] Its county seat is Bunnell, and the largest city is Palm Coast.[2][3] Created in 1917 from portions of Saint Johns and Volusia Counties, it was named for Henry Flagler, who built the Florida East Coast Railway.

Flagler County is included in the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area, and is also included in the Orlando–Deltona–Daytona Beach, FL Combined Statistical Area.

History

In 1974, Marco Polo Park, a theme park off Interstate 95 opened. It was never profitable and closed soon after.

In 1998, when two brush fires threatened to become one huge brush fire in Flagler County, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for the entire county. This was the first and so far the only time a whole county was evacuated in Florida for a wildfire.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 571 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 485 square miles (1,260 km2) is land and 85 square miles (220 km2) (15.0%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

Parks and gardens

Rivers and waterways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19202,442—
19302,4661.0%
19403,00822.0%
19503,36711.9%
19604,56635.6%
19704,454−2.5%
198010,913145.0%
199028,701163.0%
200049,83273.6%
201095,69692.0%
2020115,37820.6%
2023 (est.)131,439[5]13.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1]
Flagler County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Pop 2010[12] Pop 2020[13] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 72,860 84,291 76.14% 73.06%
Black or African American (NH) 10,470 10,537 10.94% 9.13%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 223 291 0.23% 0.25%
Asian (NH) 2,020 2,450 2.11% 2.12%
Pacific Islander (NH) 47 59 0.05% 0.05%
Some Other Race (NH) 290 704 0.3% 0.61%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,535 4,747 1.6% 4.11%
Hispanic or Latino 8,251 12,299 8.62% 10.66%
Total 95,696 115,378 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 115,378 people, 44,040 households, and 31,591 families residing in the county.

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 95,696 people, 39,186 households, and 27,843 families residing in the county. The population density was 197.1 people per square mile. There were 48,595 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 82.3% White, 11.4% Black or African American. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,049, and the median income for a family was $58,327.

Flagler county was ranked the fastest-growing county in the nation by the US Census Bureau from 2000 to 2005, boasting a 53.3% change, with a July 1, 2005, population estimate at 76,410. As of 2016 the largest ancestry group in the county was English-American at 18.1% of the county, followed by German-American at 12.7% and Irish-American also at 12.7%.[15]

Transportation

Airports

  • Flagler County Airport is the primary airport within the county. It does not provide commercial air services but does serve private, student and business aviation.

Major roads

Other

  • The Florida East Coast Railway provides rail freight services in the county.
  • The Intracoastal Waterway runs just in from the coast in eastern Flagler County and provides for freight shipping and recreational boating.

Politics

Local elected leadership

Flagler County's foremost elected body is the Board of County Commissioners, a five-seat board elected in partisan races with four-year terms. The County Commission has the following members:[17]

  • District 1 - Andy Dance (Chair)
  • District 2 - Greg Hansen
  • District 3 - David Sullivan
  • District 4 - LeAnn Pennington (Vice Chair)
  • District 5 - Donald O'Brien

Commissioners O'Brien and Sullivan are set to leave office following the 2024 general election, having both opted not to seek another term. Pennington and Hansen are in office until 2026, having each been elected in 2022.[18] Dance's term expires in 2028, having been re-elected in the 2024 primary election.[19]

The county is also served by the Flagler School Board, who are elected in non-partisan races to four-year terms in office. The seat has only had four of five seats occupied since member Sally Hunt resigned in September 2024.[20] The members are as follows:[21]

  • District 1 - Vacant
  • District 2 - Will Furry (Chair)
  • District 3 - Colleen Conklin
  • District 4 - Christy Chong (Vice Chair)
  • District 5 - Cheryl Massaro

Furry and Chong are in office until 2026, having both been elected in 2022.[22] Conklin and Massaro are leaving office in 2024, having both opted not to seek additional terms. The county elected Janie Ruddy to the District 3 seat and Lauren Ramirez to the District 5 seat, respectively.[23] The District 1 seat will remain vacant until an appointment is made by the Governor of Florida.

The county is also served by five elected constitutional officers: Sheriff Rick Staly, Property Appraiser Jay Gardner, Clerk of Courts Tom Bexley, Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston, and Elections Supervisor Kaiti Lenhart.[24]

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in Flagler County.

Flagler County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of July 31, 2022[25]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Republican 42,471 45.00%
Democratic 26,332 27.89%
No party affiliation 24,052 25.48%
Minor parties 1,538 1.63%
Total 94,393 100.00%

Statewide elections

United States presidential election results for Flagler County, Florida[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 51,014 63.59% 28,431 35.44% 772 0.96%
2020 43,043 59.90% 28,161 39.19% 659 0.92%
2016 33,850 58.38% 22,026 37.98% 2,111 3.64%
2012 26,969 53.19% 23,207 45.77% 531 1.05%
2008 23,951 48.66% 24,726 50.24% 540 1.10%
2004 19,633 51.02% 18,578 48.28% 269 0.70%
2000 12,618 46.53% 13,897 51.25% 601 2.22%
1996 8,234 41.01% 9,585 47.74% 2,260 11.26%
1992 6,246 38.19% 6,693 40.92% 3,416 20.89%
1988 6,504 60.32% 4,244 39.36% 34 0.32%
1984 4,913 62.08% 3,000 37.91% 1 0.01%
1980 2,895 51.70% 2,503 44.70% 202 3.61%
1976 1,262 37.41% 2,086 61.84% 25 0.74%
1972 1,409 74.08% 493 25.92% 0 0.00%
1968 360 20.25% 601 33.80% 817 45.95%
1964 718 43.31% 940 56.69% 0 0.00%
1960 426 31.35% 933 68.65% 0 0.00%
1956 498 41.92% 690 58.08% 0 0.00%
1952 512 51.30% 486 48.70% 0 0.00%
1948 154 23.77% 153 23.61% 341 52.62%
1944 114 22.14% 401 77.86% 0 0.00%
1940 136 19.74% 553 80.26% 0 0.00%
1936 106 17.29% 507 82.71% 0 0.00%
1932 94 16.52% 475 83.48% 0 0.00%
1928 325 58.14% 219 39.18% 15 2.68%
1924 75 20.16% 202 54.30% 95 25.54%
1920 74 19.79% 206 55.08% 94 25.13%
Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2022 66.76% 39,183 32.67% 19,177 0.57% 336
2018 58.60% 30,951 40.11% 21,183 1.29% 682
2014 52.82% 19,996 42.25% 15,994 4.93% 1,868
2010 52.91% 17,711 43.11% 14,430 3.98% 1,335
2006 51.81% 15,376 45.79% 13,589 2.40% 714
2002 55.97% 14,407 43.25% 11,133 0.77% 199
1998 54.01% 9,779 45.99% 8,326
1994 47.37% 7,160 52.63% 7,954

Education

Flagler County Public Schools enroll approximately 13,000 students.[27] The system includes two public high schools, Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas High School. The county also has five elementary schools and two middle schools. All elementary schools will be Pre-K to 5th grade and middle schools 6th and 8th. Flagler County schools are:

  • Belle Terre Elementary K–5th
  • Bunnell Elementary K–5th
  • Rymfire Elementary K–5th
  • Old Kings Elementary K–5th
  • Wadsworth Elementary K–5th
  • St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School Pre-K–8th
  • Buddy Taylor Middle School 6th–8th
  • Indian Trails Middle School 6th–8th
  • Matanzas High School 9th–12th
  • Flagler Palm Coast High School 9th–12th
  • Pathways Academy (alternative school)
  • iFlagler Virtual School K–12th
  • Imagine School at Town Center (charter)
  • Academies of Excellence's Heritage Academy (charter) (closed after the 2011–2012 school year)

In addition, Daytona State College maintains a branch campus in Palm Coast.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando operates area Catholic schools. Father Lopez Catholic High School, a private high school, is in nearby Daytona Beach.[28]

Libraries

Flagler County Library System consists of two branches with over 57,000 borrowers.[29] The Main Branch is located at 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast and the Bunnell Branch is located at 103 E Moody Blvd, Bunnell. The Flagler County Library system currently employees eighteen staff, with fourteen full-time employees and four part-time employees with an annual operating budget of $1 million.[30]

The Flagler County Public Library was created by the County Commission in 1987, but as early as 1937, a room of the County Courthouse in Bunnell was set aside for a small library, which was sponsored by the Colony Club. The current library director is Holly Albanese.

The Flagler County Library System offers a wide variety of services beyond traditional library services. They have an e-book collection through Overdrive and Axis360. The library system will assist patrons in filing taxes, and applying for some government programs, as well as with passport applications. Both libraries offer fax services, and the Main Branch also offers scanning services.[31]

In 2001, the Flagler County Library System began a local oral history project called the "Flagler County Memories Project". This project is currently being recorded and then preserved on compact discs. The project mission states, "This collection of oral life histories seeks to sample the common themes and unique stories of selected local residents."[32]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Flagler County, Florida". Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  10. ^ http://www.census.gov [not specific enough to verify]
  11. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  14. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  15. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  16. ^ "Florida Department of Transportation, Division of Survey and Mapping, Road Map of Flagler County (PDF)" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 10, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
  17. ^ "Flagler County Board of County Commissioners".
  18. ^ Gollon, Chris (November 23, 2022). "Mullins Out, Pennington in on County Commission; Hansen and Dance Get Leadership Slots". AskFlagler.
  19. ^ Gollon, Chris (August 21, 2024). "Andy Dance Wins Re-Election, Besting Fernando Melendez". AskFlagler.
  20. ^ Gollon, Chris (September 20, 2024). "Flagler School Board Member Sally Hunt Resigns Her Seat". AskFlagler.
  21. ^ "Board Members".
  22. ^ Gollon, Chris (November 22, 2022). "New School Board Members Sworn In; Massaro and Conklin Get Chair and Vice Chair". AskFlagler.
  23. ^ Gollon, Chris (August 23, 2024). "Lauren Ramirez, Janie Ruddy Win School Board Races". AskFlagler.
  24. ^ "Elected Constitutional Officers".
  25. ^ "Official Flagler County Supervisor of Elections - Elections Office". www.dos.myflorida.com. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
  27. ^ "Schools | Flagler County Public Schools". Archived from the original on March 3, 2016.
  28. ^ Trimble, Linda (July 10, 2012). "Father Lopez High School gets new president". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, Florida. Retrieved March 27, 2024. [...]Father Lopez, the only Catholic high school in Volusia and Flagler counties.
  29. ^ "Flagler County, FL - Library System". www.flaglercounty.org. Archived from the original on April 26, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  30. ^ "Flagler County Public Library System". Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  31. ^ "Flagler County, FL". www.flaglercounty.org. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  32. ^ "Local History". Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
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Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

29°28′N 81°18′W / 29.47°N 81.30°W / 29.47; -81.30

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