Bradford County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,303.^[1] Its county seat and largest city is Starke.^[2]

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Bradford County
County
Bradford County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°57′N 82°10′W
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	December 31, 1858
Seat	Starke
Largest city	Starke
Area
• Total	300 sq mi (800 km2)
• Land	294 sq mi (760 km2)
• Water	6.5 sq mi (17 km2)  2.2%
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,303
• Density	91/sq mi (35/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	3rd
Website	www.bradfordcountyfl.gov

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New River County, as it was known at the time, was created in 1858 from segments of Columbia and Alachua counties. It was renamed Bradford County in 1861 in honor of Confederate Captain Richard Bradford, who fought in the American Civil War and was killed in the Battle of Santa Rosa Island, becoming the first officer from Florida to die during the Civil War.^[3][4]

During the county's early history, Lake Butler served as the county seat. However, the growth of Starke as an important city on the Fernandina to Cedar Key railroad led to an 1875 vote on the location of the county seat, with Starke winning by 46 votes. A successful legal challenge brought the county seat back to Lake Butler, and an 1885 referendum reaffirmed the move by 19 votes.^[5]

Yet another referendum was held in 1887, and saw the courthouse and county seat moved back to Starke, where it would remain. The dispute brought on the attention of the Florida Legislature, and in 1921, the western portion of Bradford County and Lake Butler were separated to form Union County.^[5]

The county was home to numerous citrus farms in its early days prior to the Great Freeze in the winter of 1894–1895. Even after the freeze, Starke and Lawtey continued to be major regional agricultural producers, with the primary exports being cotton, tobacco, and strawberries.^[5]

Significant growth would come to the county during the World War II era, with the construction of U.S. Route 301 and nearby Camp Blanding.

Post-war, the county saw the construction of Florida State Prison on the Bradford-Union County line in Raiford, along with several moments in the national media spotlight. Ted Bundy was executed at the prison in 1989, while Starke and Bradford County faced a series lawsuits in the 2000s over a cross on the city's water tower and a Ten Commandments statue in front of the county courthouse.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 300 square miles (780 km²), of which 294 square miles (760 km²) is land and 6.5 square miles (17 km²) (2.2%) is water.^[6] It is the third-smallest county in Florida by land area and second-smallest by total area.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 28,303 people, 9,318 households, and 5,882 families residing in the county.

At the 2000 census there were 26,088 people, 8,497 households, and 6,194 families in the county. The population density was 89 people per square mile (34 people/km²). There were 9,605 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.28% White, 20.79% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. 2.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.^[15] Of the 8,497 households 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 13.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.10% were non-families. 22.90% of households were one person and 9.70% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

The age distribution was 21.90% under the age of 18, 9.50% from 18 to 24, 32.10% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 127.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.50 males.

The median household income was $33,140 and the median family income was $39,123. Males had a median income of $29,494 versus $20,745 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,226. About 11.10% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 17.60% of those age 65 or over.

The Florida Department of Corrections operates several correctional facilities in unincorporated areas. The facilities include Florida State Prison,^[16] Florida State Prison – West Unit,^[17] and New River Correctional Institution.^[18] Florida State Prison houses one of Florida's two male death rows and the State of Florida execution chamber.^[19]

Bradford County School District operates public schools. Bradford High School is the county's public high school.

The main library serving Bradford County is the Bradford County Public Library in Starke. As of 2023^[update] the library director is Robert E. Perone.^[22]

• Bradford High School
• Bradford County Public Library

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Bradford County, Florida