ARROW logo

People: County Profiles: Liberty County

In This Section:
Population Facts and Figures | County Information | Community Information

Population Facts and Figures

Total population:
1950: 3,182
2000: 7,021

County size: 836 square miles

Population density, 2000: 8.4 people per square mile (Liberty County), 296.4 people per square mile (Florida)

Population growth rate, 1990-2000: 26.1% (Liberty County), 23.5% (Florida)

Average household size: 2.5 people
Average family size: 3.0 people
Total number of households: 2,222

Females, percent of population: 40.8% (Liberty County), 51% (Florida)

Racial composition

Liberty CountyFlorida
White 76.478
Black/African-American 18.414.6
Other 5.27.4



Total number of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools (pre-k through 12) in 2001: 1,321

Racial composition of schoolchildren,
Liberty County, elementary and secondary schools (2001)

Group Percentage
White 80.7
Black/African-American 14.6
Other 5.2
Source: Florida Department of Education



Poverty (percent of residents living below poverty level, 1999)

Liberty CountyFlorida
Individuals19.912.5
Families headed by women with children under 5 57.744.6



Education (percent of residents age 25 and older, 2000)

Liberty CountyFlorida
High school diploma or higher65.679.9
Bachelor's degree or higher7.422.3



Income (1999)

Liberty CountyFlorida
Per person $17,225$21,557
Household $28,840$38,819



Major Local Employment Sectors

Highway construction was the primary local employment sector for Liberty County in 2002. Other top employment sectors for the county include electricity, forestry, wood products, education and medical industries.

The unemployment rate was 2.7% in the 2000 census, down from 3.8% in 1990. (Source: Haas Center; U.S. Census)

County Information

County Seat: Bristol
Liberty County Courthouse
Highway 20, P.O. Box 399, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-5404
Liberty County Website: www.freenet.tlh.fl.us/Liberty_County/
Liberty County Community Website: www.mylibertycounty.us

Emergency Services: Liberty County Emergency Management
Post Office Box 877, Bristol Florida 32321
(850) 643-2339 // Fax (850) 643-3499
In an emergency, call 911

Liberty County Sheriff's Office
Pogo Street, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2235

Liberty County Cooperative Extension Service
P.O. Box 369, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2229

Health Services

Calhoun-Liberty Hospital
424 Burns Avenue, Blountstown, FL 32424
(850) 674-5411

Liberty County Health Department
P.O. Box 489, 247 North Central Street, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2415

Community Information

Apalachee Regional Planning Council
20776 Central Avenue East, Suite 1, Blountstown, FL 32424
Phone: (850) 674-4571 // Fax (850) 674-4574
www.thearpc.com

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission--Northwest Region
Lt. Col. Louie Roberson, Regional Director
3911 Hwy. 2321, Panama City, FL 32409-1658
(850) 265-3676
24-hour Law Enforcement: (850) 233-5150

Municipalities

Bristol (population in 2000: 845)
Bristol City Clerk
113 N. Church Street, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2261

Public Schools

Liberty County School Board
12926 NW CR 12, P.O. Box 429, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2275 // Fax (850) 643-2533
www.firn.edu/schools/liberty/liberty/

School District Data:
www.firn.edu/doe/eias/flmove/county.htm

School Grades:
schoolgrades.fldoe.org/

Hosford Elementary and Junior High School (PK-8)
Highway 65 South, Hosford, FL 32334
(850) 379-8480

Liberty Early Learning Center (PK)
P. O. Box 429, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2275 // Fax (850) 643-3771

Tolar Elementary and Middle School (K-8)
Hwy 12 South, P.O. Box 609, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2426 // Fax (850) 643-4681

Liberty County High School (9-12)
Corner of Myers & Hwy 20, P.O. Box 519, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2241 // Fax (850) 643-4153

Liberty County Adult School
P.O. Box 429, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-9753

Libraries

Liberty County/Harrell Memorial Public Library
537 Highway 12 South, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2247 (voice + TDD)

Hosford Resource Center
850-379-3330

Sumatra Resource Center

Northwest Regional Library System
www.nwrls.lib.fl.us/

Chamber of Commerce:
Liberty County Chamber of Commerce
Post Office Box 523, Bristol, FL 32321
(850) 643-2359 // Fax (850) 643-3334
Website: www.libertycountyflorida.com/

Outdoor recreation facilities: To find state parks in northwest Florida, see www.floridastateparks.org/northwest/default.asp. For a list of Wildlife Management Areas by area and activity, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's recreation website myfwc.com/recreation/.

Boat ramps: Boat ramps are listed at www.floridaconservation.org/fishing/ramps/nw-ramps.html

Fishing: The Ochlockonee and Apalachicola rivers and their tributaries and several large lakes provide fishing opportunities.

Swimming: Camel Lake has a swimming area with a white sand beach. This natural lake also has other activities including camping and hiking.

Canoe trails: See the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's “Florida Trails” website for information on canoe trails in the ARROW region (myfwc.com/fltrails/region1/reg1in.html).

Hunting areas: A list of public hunting areas in northwest Florida can be found at wld.fwc.state.fl.us/hunting/wma/Northwest.htm. Florida hunting regulations can be found at wld.fwc.state.fl.us/hunting/default.html.

Hiking trails: The Greenways and Trails website lists hiking trails in the region (www.floridadep.org/gwt/). The Garden of Eden trail north of Bristol is in the Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve, owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. The rest of the preserve is not open to the public. For more information, see nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art5521.html.

Public lands

NameTelephone
Apalachicola National Forest850-523-8500
Apalachicola River Water Management Area850-539-5999
Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area850-827-2934; FAX 850-827-2258
Lake Talquin State Forest850-488-1871
Lake Talquin State Park850-922-6007
Tate's Hell State Forest850-697-3734, 850-414-1137
Torreya State Park850-643-2674; FAX 850-643-2987


ARROW
Florida Natural Areas Inventory
1018 Thomasville Road
Suite 200-C
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Phone: (850) 224-8207
E-mail: fprice@fnai.fsu.edu

Note: The content of the website has not been updated since 2005. The site remains online for it's value as legacy content and is unlikely to be updated.