Demographics - As of the census of 2000, there were 22,863 people, 8,450 households, and 6,236 families residing in the county. The population density was 15/km (38/mi). There were 9,820 housing units at an average density of 6/km (16/mi). The racial makeup of the county was 86.10% White, 11.51% Black or African American, 0.59% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. 1.94% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,450 households out of which 35.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.10% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.99. In the county the population was spread out with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 10.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 107.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,149, and the median income for a family was $42,222. Males had a median income of $29,845 versus $24,330 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,678. About 9.30% of families and 11.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 15.10% of those age 65 or over.
Places
Incorporated
- City of Sopchoppy
- City of St. Marks
- Crawfordville
- Medart
- Panacea
- Newport
- Smith Creek
- Shell Point
Wakulla County stands out in one statistical category: there is a near-absence of any municipal population in this county of perhaps 27,000. Two tiny municipalities hold maybe 3 percent of the population. The county seat, Crawfordville, is the only unincorporated county seat among Florida's 67 counties, and, lying only 20 miles from Tallahassee, that district has grown dramatically in recent years to an extraordinarily large and dense population for a "rural" place not touching or having any continuity with any incorporated town. The Crawfordville population center may now have 12-18,000 inhabitants in 10-20 square miles.
The County's boosters claim that Crawfordville is the only place that has preserved one of Florida's old wooden courthouses, a handsome 3-story building used until after World War II. This building is currently being restored and will house the Wakulla County Chamber of Commerce. (The Chamber offices were there previously but had to relocate to the Tallahassee Community College Wakulla Branch when restoration began.)
The prevailing unincorporated status of Wakulla County is used to support a claim of an inviting rural environment. Ironically, however, the traditional rural enterprise of farming in the County declined over the past several decades even faster than real estate activity grew. Crops and livestock as a livelihood may have been as nearly eliminated now from the society and economy of this county as anyplace in Florida-- certainly more so than in some of Florida's most populous counties.
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