Liberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,974,^[2] making it the least populous county in Florida.^[3] Its county seat is Bristol. Liberty County is the only dry county in Florida. Lafayette County prohibits bars, but not retail sale of beer.

Quick Facts Country, State ...

Liberty County
County
Liberty County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°14′N 84°53′W
Country	United States
State	Florida
Founded	December 15, 1855
Named for	Liberty
Seat	Bristol
Largest town	Bristol
Area
• Total	843 sq mi (2,180 km2)
• Land	836 sq mi (2,170 km2)
• Water	7.6 sq mi (20 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,974[1]
• Density	10/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	libertyclerk.com

Close

The Apalachicola National Forest occupies half the county.

Liberty County was created in 1855^[4] and is named after the American ideal of liberty.^[5]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 843 square miles (2,180 km²), of which 836 square miles (2,170 km²) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[6] The county is bordered on the west by the Apalachicola River.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,974 people, 2,513 households, and 1,602 families residing in the county.

As of the census^[16] of 2000, there were 7,021 people, 2,222 households, and 1,553 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 people per square mile (3.1 people/km²). There were 3,156 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile (1.5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.41% White, 18.43% Black or African American, 1.81% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 4.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. More than 10% of the population are Mormons.^[17]

There were 2,222 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 37.70% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 144.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 159.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,840, and the median income for a family was $34,244. Males had a median income of $22,078 versus $22,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,225. About 16.80% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 24.30% of those age 65 or over.

Liberty County has shifted rapidly towards the Republican Party in the 21st century. As of April 26, 2023, Republicans maintain an advantage in voter registration, which is the case in all but four counties in the Panhandle. As recently as September 30, 2016, Liberty County had 3,399 registered Democrats and just 722 registered Republicans. ^[18]

Liberty County is run by a board of five county commissioners, each elected at-large. The following is a list of the commissioners with the number representative of his/her district:^[21]

1. Dewayne Branch
2. Hannah Causseaux
3. Jim Johnson
4. Doyle Brown
5. Scott Phillips

The remaining elected officials are the constitutional officers and the school board members.

• County Judge: Kenneth Hosford
• Clerk of the court: Catherine Brown
• Sheriff: Buddy Money
• Property Appraiser: Cindy Walker
• Tax Collector: Marie Goodman
• Supervisor of Elections: Grant Conyers
• Superintendent of Schools: Kyle Peddie^[21]

Liberty County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System Archived November 1, 2013, at the Wayback Machine (NWRLS), which serves Gulf and Bay Counties as well.

Much like Calhoun County, Liberty County has no Interstates or U.S. Highways, just state roads.

• FL State Road 20 is the main west-to-east route that runs east from the Apalachicola River at the Calhoun/Liberty County line to the Ochlockonee River at the Liberty/Leon County line, passing through Bristol and Hosford.
• FL State Road 65 is the main south-to-north route running from the Franklin/Liberty County line at Sumatra to the Liberty/Gadsden County line north of Hosford.
• FL State Road 12 is a southwest-to-southeast route running from Liberty County in the southwest to Havana in the northeast. It also contains a county extension into Levy County.
• FL State Road 267 briefly runs alongside state road 20 until it splits away shortly after crossing the Leon/Liberty county line and heads north towards Quincy.

• Dry counties
• Liberty County High School
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Liberty County, Florida