Flagler County, Florida

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county

Flagler County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 115,378.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Bunnell, and the largest city is Palm Coast.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Created in 1917 from portions of Saint Johns and Volusia Counties, it was named for Henry Flagler, who built the Florida East Coast Railway. Flagler County is included in the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area, and is also included in the Orlando–Deltona–Daytona Beach, FL Combined Statistical Area.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

In 1974, Marco Polo Park, a theme park off Interstate 95 opened. It was never profitable and closed soon after.

In 1998, when two brush fires threatened to become one huge brush fire in Flagler County, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for the entire county. This was the first and so far the only time a whole county was evacuated in Florida for a wildfire.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (15.0%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Adjacent counties

Parks and gardens

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Rivers and waterways

Demographics

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Flagler County racial composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn
Race Pop 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Pop 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 72,860 84,291 76.14% 73.06%
Black or African American (NH) 10,470 10,537 10.94% 9.13%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 223 291 0.23% 0.25%
Asian (NH) 2,020 2,450 2.11% 2.12%
Pacific Islander (NH) 47 59 0.05% 0.05%
Some Other Race (NH) 290 704 0.3% 0.61%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,535 4,747 1.6% 4.11%
Hispanic or Latino 8,251 12,299 8.62% 10.66%
Total 95,696 115,378 100.00% 100.00%
A map of the racial demographics of Flagler County, Florida by Census tractTemplate:Collapsible list

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 115,378 people, 48,450 households, and 34,022 families in Flagler County, Florida.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 237.3 per square mile (91.6/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 55,565 housing units at an average density of 114.3 per square mile (44.1/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 75.98% (87,661) White or European American (73.06% non-Hispanic white), 9.48% (10,935) black or African-American, 0.33% (385) Native American or Alaska Native, 2.18% (2,512) Asian, 0.06% (65) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 2.98% (3,436) from other races, and 9.0% (10,384) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 10.66% (12,299) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 48,450 households, 21.8% had children under the age of 18; 54.8% were married couples living together; 24.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 24.0% of households consisted of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 2.9.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 19.7% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

16.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 17.4% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 32.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.5 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 111.6 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $57,536 (with a margin of error of +/- $2,337). The median family income was $66,778 (+/- $2,998).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $34,295 (+/- $3,092) versus $26,810 (+/- $1,300) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $30,465 (+/- $1,204).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 7.8% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under the age of 18 and 6.9% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 census

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 95,696 people, 39,186 households, and 27,843 families residing in the county. The population density was 197.1 people per square mile. There were 48,595 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 82.3% White, 11.4% Black or African American. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.9% under the age of 18, and 24.5% who were 65 years of age or older.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,049, and the median income for a family was $58,327.

Flagler County was ranked the fastest-growing county in the nation by the US Census Bureau from 2000 to 2005, boasting a 53.3% change, with a July 1, 2005, population estimate at 76,410. As of 2016 the largest ancestry group in the county was English-American at 18.1% of the county, followed by German-American at 12.7% and Irish-American also at 12.7%.<ref>https://www.census.gov/ Template:Nonspecific</ref>

Transportation

Airports

  • Flagler County Airport is the primary airport within the county. It does not provide commercial air services but does serve private, student and business aviation.

Major roads

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Other

  • The Florida East Coast Railway provides rail freight services in the county.
  • The Intracoastal Waterway runs just in from the coast in eastern Flagler County and provides for freight shipping and recreational boating.

Politics

Flagler County Board of County Commissioners

Flagler County's foremost elected body is the Board of County Commissioners, a five-seat board elected in partisan races with four-year terms. The County Commission has the following members:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Position Name Party
  Commissioner, District 1 Andy Dance Republican
  Commissioner, District 2 Greg Hansen Republican
  Commissioner, District 3 Kim Carney (Vice Chair Republican
  Commissioner, District 4 Leann Pennington (Chair) Republican
  Commissioner, District 5 Pam Richardson Republican

Commissioners Pennington and Hansen are in office until 2026, having each been elected in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Dance's term expires in 2028, having been re-elected in the 2024 primary election.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Carney and Richardson were elected in 2024, and their terms will expire in 2028.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Flagler County School Board

The county is also served by the Flagler School Board, who are elected in non-partisan races to four-year terms in office.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite news</ref> One member, Derek Barrs, is poised to leave office upon potential confirmation as the U.S. Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The members are as follows:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Position Name
School Board Member, District 1 Derek Barrs
School Board Member, District 2 Will Furry (Chair)
School Board Member, District 3 Janie Ruddy
School Board Member, District 4 Christy Chong (Vice Chair)
School Board Member, District 5 Lauren Ramirez

Furry and Chong are in office until 2026, having both been elected in 2022.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Barrs was defeated by Ruddy in the 2024 election, but was then appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to fulfill the vacancy created by member Sally Hunt's resignation.<ref name=":1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county elected Janie Ruddy to the District 3 seat and Lauren Ramirez to the District 5 seat in the 2024 election respectively.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

East Flagler Mosquito Control District

Flagler County voters elect three individuals to the East Flagler Mosquito Control District Board of Commissioners in non-partisan races, with each serving a four-year term in office. The commissioners are responsible for overseeing the management of mosquito breeding and population within the county. The members are as follows:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Position Name
Commissioner, Seat 1 Julius 'Jules' Kwiatkowski
Commissioner, Seat 2 Mike Martin (Chair)
Commissioner, Seat 3 Lance Alred

Kwiatkowski and Alred were last elected in 2024, winning terms that expire in 2028. Martin was also up for election in 2024, but faced no opposition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other Elected Officials

The county is also served by five elected constitutional officers: Sheriff Rick Staly, Property Appraiser Jay Gardner, Clerk of Courts Tom Bexley, Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston, and Elections Supervisor Kaiti Lenhart.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Voter registration

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a plurality of registered voters in Flagler County. The last Democrat to win the county was Barack Obama in 2008, and since then it has seen a gradual increase in Republican support in every election. In 2024, Donald Trump performed better in the county than any Republican since Nixon's 1972 landslide.

Flagler County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of April 30, 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Template:Party color cell Republican 49,478 49.41%
Template:Party color cell Democratic 24,392 24.36%
Template:Party color cell No party affiliation 22,635 22.61%
Template:Party color cell Minor parties 3,624 3.62%
Total 100,129 100.00%

Statewide elections

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Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2022 66.76% 39,183 32.67% 19,177 0.57% 336
2018 58.60% 30,951 40.11% 21,183 1.29% 682
2014 52.82% 19,996 42.25% 15,994 4.93% 1,868
2010 52.91% 17,711 43.11% 14,430 3.98% 1,335
2006 51.81% 15,376 45.79% 13,589 2.40% 714
2002 55.97% 14,407 43.25% 11,133 0.77% 199
1998 54.01% 9,779 45.99% 8,326
1994 47.37% 7,160 52.63% 7,954

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Education

Flagler County Public Schools operates the following public schools:

  • Belle Terre Elementary
  • Bunnell Elementary
  • Old Kings Elementary
  • Rymfire Elementary
  • Wadsworth Elementary
  • Buddy Taylor Middle School
  • Indian Trails Middle School
  • Matanzas High School
  • Flagler Palm Coast High School
  • Imagine School at Town Center (charter)
  • Flagler Technical College

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orlando operates St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School.

In addition, Daytona State College maintains a branch campus in Palm Coast.

Libraries

Flagler County Library System consists of two branches with over 57,000 borrowers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Main Branch is located at 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast and the Bunnell Branch is located at 103 E Moody Blvd, Bunnell. The Flagler County Library system currently employees eighteen staff, with fourteen full-time employees and four part-time employees with an annual operating budget of $1 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Flagler County Public Library was created by the County Commission in 1987, but as early as 1937, a room of the County Courthouse in Bunnell was set aside for a small library, which was sponsored by the Colony Club. The current library director is Holly Albanese.

The Flagler County Library System offers a wide variety of services beyond traditional library services. They have an e-book collection through Overdrive and Axis360. The library system will assist patrons in filing taxes, and applying for some government programs, as well as with passport applications. Both libraries offer fax services, and the Main Branch also offers scanning services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2001, the Flagler County Library System began a local oral history project called the "Flagler County Memories Project". This project is currently being recorded and then preserved on compact discs. The project mission states, "This collection of oral life histories seeks to sample the common themes and unique stories of selected local residents."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Communities

Cities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

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See also

Notes

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References

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Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

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