Columbia County Profile
Columbia county is located in a rapidly growing region of North Florida. The population has doubled in the last 25 years with our current totals at nearly 60,000. Lake City is the county's economic and governmental center and Fort White, located 25 miles south, is the home of the county's new high school. More than 10,000 people call Lake City home and Fort White has a population of 400. Lake City has grown into a town that, while cherishing its small-community charm and manners, it is forward thinking enough to plan, organize, develop and support modern conveniences and amenities. A variety of businesses thrive here and employ thousands of workers in professions that range from mining to manufacturing. Tourism is also a benefit to our area, as Interstates 10 and 75 cross here, supporting more than two thousand motel rooms and numerous eateries.
| POPULATION: |
|
 |
|
2003 |
2000 |
1990 |
1980 |
| County |
58,372 |
56,513 |
42,613 |
35,399 |
|
| Lake City |
10,280 |
9,980 |
10,005 |
9,257 |
|
| Fort White |
409 |
409 |
268 |
386 |
|
| Greater Lake City |
32,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| CLIMATE: |
|
 |
| Annual Average Temperature : |
69° F |
| Annual Average Humidity : |
75% |
| Annual Average Rainfall : |
56.8 in. |
| January Average Temperature : |
40° F |
| July Average Temperature : |
91° F |
|
| FACILITIES: |
|
 |
| Shopping & Professional Centers : |
11 |
| Department Stores : |
3 |
| Churches : |
81 |
| Protestant |
80 |
| Catholic |
1 |
| Number of Motels : |
35 |
| Total Motel Rooms |
2,047 |
| Senior Citizen Center : |
1 |
|
| EDUCATION: |
|
 |
|
Schools – Public
|
Grades
|
Students
|
Teachers
|
|
|
Columbia High
|
9-12
|
1729
|
98 |
|
Ft. White High
|
6-12
|
1235 |
68 |
|
Challenge Learning Center
|
6-12
|
100 |
10 |
|
Lake City Middle
|
6-8
|
1110 |
57 |
|
Richardson Middle
|
6-8
|
693 |
41 |
|
Columbia City Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
676 |
47 |
|
Eastside Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
507 |
38 |
|
Five Points Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
538 |
43 |
|
Ft. White Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
674 |
44 |
|
Melrose Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
627 |
43 |
|
Niblack Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
303 |
29 |
|
Summers Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
803 |
56 |
|
Westside Elementary
|
PreK-5
|
655 |
43 |
|
|
| Lake City Community College (2-year) |
| University of Florida, Gainesville (45 mi.) |
| Fla. State University (104 mi.) |
|
Three libraries with 126,893 total volumes
|
| MEDICAL: |
|
 |
|
Number |
Beds |
|
| Hospitals : |
2 |
174 |
| Emergency Centers : |
2 |
n/a |
| VA Medical Center : |
1 |
62 |
| VA Nursing Home : |
1 |
235 |
| Vet. Domicilary : (ALF) |
1 |
150 |
| Nursing Homes : |
3 |
275 |
|
|
Number |
|
|
| Doctors : |
56 |
|
| Dentists : |
17 |
| Optometrists : |
5 |
|
| PUBLIC RECREATION: |
|
|
 |
| Auto Race Track : |
2 |
| Bowling : |
1 |
| Movie Screens : |
6 |
| YMCA : |
Programs |
| Amateur Theatre : |
1 |
| State Parks : |
3 |
| Local Parks: |
4 |
| Golf Courses : |
2 |
| Soccer Fields: |
9 |
| Skating Rink : |
1 |
| Ball Fields : |
26 |
| Swimming Pool : |
1 |
| Tennis Court : |
7 |
| Racquetball Courts: |
8 |
| |
|
|
|
Other: Country Clubs; Hunting; Fishing; Water Sports
|
| FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: |
|
|
 |
|
Number |
Total Deposits |
| Banks |
5 |
527,673,000 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
n/a |
|
| GOVERNMENT: |
|
|
 |
|
Full Time Officers |
Auxiliary Officers |
| Police Department |
38 |
7 |
| Sheriff Department |
86 |
19 |
| Fire Department |
32 |
90 |
|
City: Five Member Council / City Manager
County: Five Member Commission / County Coordinator |
|
