Duval County, Florida

History

This area had been settled by varying cultures of indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European contact. Within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville, archeologists have excavated remains of some of the oldest pottery in the United States, dating to 2500 BCE. Prior to European contact, the area was inhabited by the Mocama, a Timucuan-speaking group who lived throughout the coastal areas of northern Florida. At the time Europeans arrived, much of what is now Duval County was controlled by the Saturiwa, one of the most powerful tribes in the region. The area that became Duval County was home to the 16th-century French colony of Fort Caroline, and saw increased European settlement in the 18th century with the establishment of Cowford, later renamed Jacksonville.

Duval County was created in 1822 from St. Johns County. It was named for William Pope Duval, Governor of Florida Territory from 1822 to 1834. When Duval County was created, it covered a massive area, from the Suwannee River on the west to the Atlantic Ocean on the east, north of a line from the mouth of the Suwannee River to Jacksonville on the St. Johns River. Alachua and Nassau counties were created out of parts of Duval County in 1824. Clay County was created from part of Duval County in 1858. Part of St. Johns County south and east of the lower reaches of the St. Johns River was transferred to Duval County in the 1840s.

Government

On October 1, 1968, the government of Duval County was consolidated with the government of the city of Jacksonville. The Duval County cities of Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, Jacksonville Beach, and Neptune Beach, are not included in the corporate limits of Jacksonville, and maintain their own municipal governments. All services that would normally be provided by a county government are provided by the city of Jacksonville.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 918 square miles (2,380 km²), of which 762 square miles (1,970 km²) is land and 156 square miles (400 km²) (17.0%) is water. The topography is coastal plain; however there are some rolling hills.

National protected areas

Adjacent counties

2010 Census

U.S. Census Bureau 2010 Ethnic/Race Demographics:

In 2010, 6.7% of the population considered themselves to be of only "American" ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity.)

There were 342,450 households out of which 28.68% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.92% were married couples living together, 16.74% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.27% were non-families. 24.85% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.05% (2.29% male and 5.76% female) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,463, and the median income for a family was $60,114. Males had a median income of $42,752 versus $34,512 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,854. About 10.4% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.3% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those aged 65 or over.

In 2010, 9.0% of the county's population was foreign born, with 49.5% being naturalized American citizens. Of foreign-born residents, 38.2% were born in Latin America, 35.6% born in Asia, 17.9% were born in Europe, 5.8% born in Africa, 2.0% in North America, and 0.5% were born in Oceania.

2000 Census

The racial makeup of the county is 65.80% White (63.6% were Non-Hispanic White,) 27.83% African American or Black, 0.33% Native American, 2.71% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from other races, and 1.96% from two or more races. 4.10% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 303,747 households out of which 33.30% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.50% were married couples living together, 15.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size is 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out with 26.30% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 32.40% from 25 to 44, 21.20% from 45 to 64, and 10.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,703, and the median income for a family was $47,689. Males had a median income of $32,954 versus $26,015 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,753. 11.90% of the population and 9.20% of families were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under the age of 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or older.

Languages

As of 2010, 87.36% of all residents spoke English as their first language, while 5.74% spoke Spanish, 1.18% Tagalog, 0.53% Arabic, 0.48% Serbo-Croatian, 0.47% Vietnamese, and 0.46% of the population spoke French Creole (mostly Haitian Creole,) as their mother language. In total, 12.64% of the population spoke languages other than English as their primary language.

Voter Registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Democrats comprise a plurality of registered voters in Duval County.

Statewide and National Elections

Unlike many of Florida's other large counties, Duval County has a conservative-leaning electorate, which has tended to support Republicans at both the State and National levels for many years.

Library

Duval County is served by the Jacksonville Public Library.

TV channel

Duval County has its own public-access television network, known as DCPS. It is primarily used to spread news about the county's school districts.

Communities

1. 842,583 - Jacksonville
2. 21,823 - Jacksonville Beach
3. 12,985 - Atlantic Beach
4. 7,124 - Neptune Beach
5. 1,430 - Baldwin

2013 estimate population

Major Highways

Airports