High Springs, Florida Explained

Official Name:City of High Springs
High Springs, Florida
Settlement Type:City
Image Alt:A composite of pictures—downtown area, water tower, city hall, Priest Theatre, old railroad depot
Mapsize:250x200px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States of America
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Florida
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Alachua
Government Type:Commission–Manager
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Katherine Weitz
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Tristan Grunder
Leader Title2:Commissioners
Leader Name2:Wayne Bloodsworth,
Andrew Miller, and
Byran Williams
Leader Title3:City Manager
Leader Name3:Jeremy Marshall
Leader Title4:City Clerk
Leader Name4:Angela Stone
Established Title3:Incorporated
Established Date3:1892
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:56.89
Area Land Km2:56.69
Area Water Km2:0.20
Area Total Sq Mi:21.97
Area Land Sq Mi:21.89
Area Water Sq Mi:0.08
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:6215
Population Density Km2:109.63
Population Density Sq Mi:283.95
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:29.8167°N -118°W
Elevation M:20
Elevation Ft:66
Postal Code Type:ZIP codes
Postal Code:32643, 32655
Area Code:386
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:12-30525[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0307633[3]

High Springs is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. It is the fourth-largest city in Alachua County and seventh-largest in North Central Florida. The population was 6,215 at the 2020 census, up from 5,350 at the 2010 census.[4] It is part of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The present-day area of High Springs was first settled on a permanent basis by English-speaking people during the late 1830s. One of the earliest settlements in the vicinity was at Crockett Springs, located about three miles east of present-day High Springs. Settlers who were living there during the 1840s included Fernando Underwood and Marshal Blanton.

A discernible town began to develop in the early 1880s after the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway was constructed and several phosphate mines were established. A railroad station and a post office called Santaffey were established in 1884. The post office was renamed Santa Fe a few months later, then Orion the next year, and in 1888 it became High Springs, and the town was officially incorporated in 1892.[5] The town, now a city, had a population over 1,500 at the end of the 1890s and was the second largest by population in the county.[6]

Geography

High Springs is located at (29.8245, –82.5953).[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57.1km2, of which 56.9km2 is land and 0.2km2 (0.36%) is water.[8]

Climate

High Springs has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa).

Demographics

2010 and 2020 census

High Springs racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race!Pop 2010[9] !Pop 2020[10] !% 2010!% 2020
White (NH)4,1164,50376.93%72.45%
Black or African American (NH)73072813.64%11.71%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)23160.43%0.26%
Asian (NH)38440.71%0.71%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)600.11%0.00%
Some other race (NH)8350.15%0.56%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)762841.42%4.57%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)3536056.60%9.73%
Total5,3506,215

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 6,215 people, 1,829 households, and 1,424 families residing in the city.[11]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 5,350 people, 1,781 households, and 1,502 families residing in the city.[12]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,863 people, 1,539 households, and 1,063 families residing in the city. The population density was 209.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,668 housing units at an average density of 90.4/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 76.42% White, 21.18% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000, there were 1,539 households, out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.9% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% 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 2.98.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $34,354, and the median income for a family was $43,779. Males had a median income of $32,959 versus $22,109 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,919. About 9.5% of families and 12.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over. On many days during the week, hundreds of cars are lined up in the city's downtown for a free food distribution.

Education

The School Board of Alachua County operates a kindergarten through eighth grade school, the High Springs Community School, in High Springs. Ninth through twelfth grade students attend Santa Fe High School in the adjoining city of Alachua.[13]

Library

The Alachua County Library District operates a branch library on NW 1st Avenue in downtown, High Springs. The library is open 7 days a week, provides regular programming for all ages, and circulates print books, audiobooks, music CDs, and DVDs. Free computer and internet access is available to all patrons.[14]

In 1958, the North Florida Telephone Company offered the loan of its vacant building to the High Springs Parent-Teacher Association for the creation of the first Alachua County branch library located outside of Gainesville. The High Springs Library opened at this location the following year. After years of community fund raising, ground was broken in 1976 for a new 3,000 sq. ft. library building. The second and current library location opened its doors on January 3, 1977. Children from High Springs formed a block-long human chain to move the book collection from the old library to the new one.[15]

Notable People

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 31, 2021.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. 2008-01-31.
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. 2008-01-31. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25.
  4. Web site: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: High Springs city, Florida . 2022-12-11 . www.census.gov . en.
  5. Web site: History of High Springs . 2007-07-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927014838/http://growth-management.alachua.fl.us/historic/historic_commission/historictowns/highspringshist.htm . 2007-09-27 . dead .
  6. Book: Pickard, John B.. Historic Alachua County and old Gainesville : a tour guide to the past. 2001. Alachua Press. 0967278864. Gainesville, FL. 50765140.
  7. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  8. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): High Springs city, Florida . dead . https://archive.today/20200212174942/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1230525 . February 12, 2020 . May 6, 2013 . U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder.
  9. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - High Springs city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  10. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - High Springs city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  11. Web site: S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: High Springs city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  12. Web site: S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: High Springs city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  13. http://www.sbac.edu/schoolscenters.htm Alachua County Public Schools: Schools and Centers
  14. http://www.aclib.us/high-springs Alachua County Library District: High Springs
  15. Web site: Alachua County Library District - Florida Library History Project. 1 January 1990. 10 November 2015. University of South Florida Scholar Commons. Digital Collection - Florida Studies Center Publications.