| Chattahoochee, Florida | |
| Official Name: | City of Chattahoochee |
| Other Name: | The Hooch |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Motto: | "A Great Place to Live and Retire" |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Government Type: | Council–Manager |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Christopher Moultry |
| Leader Title1: | Mayor Pro Tem |
| Leader Name1: | Ann Williams |
| Leader Title2: | Council Members |
| Leader Name2: | Ken Kimrey, Amy Glass, and Ann Richardson |
| Leader Title3: | City Manager |
| Leader Name3: | Robert Presnell |
| Leader Name4: | Katy Joyner |
| Established Title: | Settled |
| Established Date: | 1820s |
| Established Title3: | Incorporated |
| Established Date3: | 1834[1] |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 15.01 |
| Area Land Km2: | 14.51 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.50 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 5.79 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 5.60 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.19 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 2955 |
| Population Density Km2: | 203.71 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 527.58 |
| Timezone: | Eastern (EST) |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Coordinates: | 30.7°N -134°W |
| Elevation M: | 72 |
| Elevation Ft: | 236 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 32324 |
| Area Code: | 850 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 12-11800[3] |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0280346[4] |
Chattahoochee is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. Its history dates to the Spanish era.[5] [6] It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,955 as of the 2020 census, down from 3,652 at the 2010 census.
Chattahoochee sits on the banks of the Apalachicola River, and is separated by the Apalachicola and Victory bridges from neighboring Sneads, Florida, which is in Jackson County. Chattahoochee has its own police force with over ten sworn officers and a police chief. Chattahoochee is a name derived from the Creek language meaning "marked rocks".
The area was inhabited by indigenous peoples who built mounds in the area (Chattahoochee Landing Mounds). Chattahoochee was established as Mount Vernon in the 1820s. A British Fort, Nicolls' Outpost was built in the area. The Scott Massacre of 1817 took place. A ferry was established.[7]
Chattahoochee is located in the northwest corner of Gadsden County at 30.7°N -134°W (30.703, –84.847).[8] It is bordered to the west by the Apalachicola River, formed by the juncture of the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers within Lake Seminole just north of the city. The northern border of Chattahoochee follows the Florida–Georgia state line, and the Apalachicola River forms the Gadsden–Jackson county line.
U.S. Route 90 passes through the middle of Chattahoochee as Washington Street; it leads southeast to Quincy, the Gadsden County seat, and west 5miles to Sneads and to Marianna. Tallahassee, the state capital, is to the southeast. Main Street (Little Sycamore Road outside the city limits) leads south 6miles via Flat Creek Road to Interstate 10 at Exit 166.
The southern part of the city includes the community of River Junction at 30°41′N 84°50′W (30.686, –84.841). In the mid-1880s, River Junction was established as a railroad connection point between the Florida Central & Western, later the Seaboard Air Line, and the Pensacola & Atlantic. The connecting track survives.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Chattahoochee has a total area of 14.7km2, of which 14.2km2 is land and 0.5km2, or 3.30%, is water.
The climate for the City of Chattahoochee is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chattahoochee has a humid subtropical climate zone, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
| White (NH) | 1,557 | 1,208 | 42.63% | 40.88% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1,873 | 1,491 | 51.29% | 50.46% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 8 | 5 | 0.22% | 0.17% |
| Asian (NH) | 38 | 22 | 1.04% | 0.74% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 2 | 0.00% | 0.07% |
| Some other race (NH) | 3 | 4 | 0.08% | 0.14% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 38 | 80 | 1.04% | 2.71% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 135 | 143 | 3.70% | 4.84% |
| Total | 3,652 | 2,955 | ||
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,955 people, 998 households, and 646 families residing in the city.[11]
In 2020, the median household income was $40,000. 9.4% of the population over 25 years old had a Bachelor's degree or higher. There was an employment rate of 28.1%. 29.5% of the population lived without healthcare coverage.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 3,652 people, 1,072 households, and 577 families residing in the city.[12]
On January 6, 1861, 4 days before Florida delegates formally seceded from the Union as part of the American Civil War, state troops seized the federal Arsenal located in the town.[13] The former arsenal and current Administration Building of Florida State Hospital is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Building - #73000578).[14] Florida State Hospital, the hospital involved in the famous United States Supreme Court decision O'Connor v. Donaldson, is located within the City. The hospital was featured in a 1989 movie, Chattahoochee, starring Gary Oldman and Dennis Hopper, in which a war hero, Chris Calhoun, is involuntarily committed to Florida State Hospital where he sees doctors at the hospital humiliating patients and experiences filth and abuse.[15]
The U.S. Postal Service operates the Chattahoochee Post Office.[16]
The Chattahoochee Volunteer Fire Department operates one fire station.[17]
The Gadsden Connector, a bus route operated by Big Bend Transit, has a stop in Chattahoochee.[18]
Gadsden County School District operates public schools.
The community is served by Chattahoochee Elementary School. In Fall 2018 it will become a Pre-K to Kindergarten early learning center. Students in grades 1–3 will move to Greensboro Primary School and students in grades 4–5 will move to West Gadsden Middle School.[19] The sole public high school of the county is Gadsden County High School (formerly East Gadsden High School).
Until 2004 Chattahoochee High School served as the community middle and high school. That year it consolidated into West Gadsden High School.[20] As of 2017 East Gadsden became the only remaining zoned high school in the county due to the consolidation of West Gadsden High's high school section into East Gadsden High School.[21]
The 1989 film "Chattahoochee" is based on the Florida State Hospital and allegations of abuse on residents. The movie, which starred Gary Oldman and Dennis Hopper, was not shot in Chattahoochee, however.