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Seminole County, Florida

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Not to be confused with Seminole County, Georgia, Seminole County, Oklahoma or the city Seminole, Florida.

Seminole County (/ˈsɛmɪnoʊl/, SEM-i-nohl) is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 470,856, making it the 13th-most populated county in Florida.[1][2] Its county seat and largest city is Sanford.[3] Seminole County is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Seminole County
County
Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center
Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center
Flag of Seminole County
Flag
Official seal of Seminole County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Seminole County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 28°43′N 81°14′W / 28.71°N 81.23°W / 28.71; -81.23
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedApril 25, 1913
Named forSeminole people
SeatSanford
Largest citySanford
Area
 • Total345 sq mi (890 km2)
 • Land309 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Water36 sq mi (90 km2)  10.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total470,856 Increase
 • Density1,524/sq mi (588.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.seminolecountyfl.gov

History

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On July 21, 1821, two counties formed Florida: Escambia to the west and St. Johns to the east. In 1824, the area to the south of St. Johns County was designated Mosquito County, with its seat at Enterprise. The county's name was changed to Orange County in 1845 when Florida became a state, and over the next 70 years several other counties were created. Seminole County was one of the last to split.

Seminole County was created on April 25, 1913, out of the northern portion of Orange County by the Florida Legislature. It was named for the Seminole people who historically lived throughout the area. The name "Seminole" is thought to be derived from the Spanish word cimarron, meaning "wild" or "runaway".

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 345 square miles (890 km2), of which 309 square miles (800 km2) is land and 36 square miles (93 km2) (10.4%) is water.[4] It is Florida's fourth-smallest county by land area and third-smallest by total area.

Seminole County's location between Volusia County and Orange County has made it one of Florida's fastest-growing counties. The Greater Orlando Metropolitan District which includes Seminole, Osceola, and the surrounding counties of Lake and Orange counties, together with neighboring Volusia and Brevard counties create a viable, progressive, and diverse setting for economic growth and residential development.

Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
192010,986—
193018,73570.5%
194022,30419.0%
195026,88320.5%
196054,947104.4%
197083,69252.3%
1980179,752114.8%
1990287,52960.0%
2000365,19627.0%
2010422,71815.8%
2020470,85611.4%
2023 (est.)484,271[5]2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2019[1] 2022[10]
Seminole County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 280,452 264,072 66.34% 56.08%
Black or African American (NH) 44,196 50,276 10.46% 10.68%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 995 765 0.24% 0.16%
Asian (NH) 15,451 25,164 3.66% 5.34%
Pacific Islander (NH) 194 243 0.05% 0.05%
Some Other Race (NH) 1,202 2,975 0.28% 0.63%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) 7,771 20,822 1.84% 4.42%
Hispanic or Latino 72,457 106,539 17.14% 22.63%
Total 422,718 470,856 100.00% 100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 470,856 people, 178,094 households, and 120,049 families residing in the county.

As of the census of 2000, there were 365,196 people, 139,572 households, and 97,281 families residing in the county. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population of the county has grown to 394,878 by 2003. Current 2012 estimates put the population at more than 430,838. The population density was 1,185 inhabitants per square mile (458/km2). There were 147,079 housing units at an average density of 477 per square mile (184/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 82.4% White, 9.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.5% Asian, <0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.1% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 11.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 139,572 households, out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07. The Department of Education states that in 2003, school enrollment was approximately 72,630. As of 2006, the Seminole County School District was the 52nd largest in the nation.[15] As of 2020, the Seminole County School District was the 12th largest school district in Florida and 60th nationally with more than 67,000 students and 10,000 employees.[16]

Population was distributed with 25.4% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,326, and the median income for a family was $56,895. Males had a median income of $40,001 versus $28,217 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,591. About 5.1% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.6% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over. As of March 2009, according to Workforce Central Florida, the unemployment rate for Seminole County is 9.2 percent.

Religion

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The following reflects the latest year available for religious statistics, which was 2000.[17]

Religion Number
Did not claim a religious affiliation 230,901
Catholic 60,191
Evangelical Protestant 48,430
Mainline Protestant 19,713
Other 5,487
Orthodox 474

Government and politics

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Seminole County is part of the strongly Republican belt of central and southwest Florida that was the first portion of the state to politically distance itself from the "Solid South"; until Joe Biden carried the county in 2020, the last Democratic Party candidate to win the county in a presidential election had been Harry Truman in 1948, and the last Democrat to win a majority of votes in the county being Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1944.[18] As of November 30, 2022, Republicans slightly outnumbered Democrats, 117,134 to 114,654, in registered voters.[19]

United States presidential election results for Seminole County, Florida[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 125,241 47.89% 132,528 50.67% 3,764 1.44%
2016 109,443 48.10% 105,914 46.55% 12,169 5.35%
2012 109,943 52.57% 96,445 46.12% 2,732 1.31%
2008 105,070 50.90% 99,335 48.12% 2,021 0.98%
2004 108,172 58.10% 76,971 41.34% 1,052 0.56%
2000 75,790 55.00% 59,227 42.98% 2,788 2.02%
1996 59,797 52.04% 45,058 39.21% 10,049 8.75%
1992 57,101 48.57% 35,660 30.33% 24,799 21.09%
1988 60,401 72.20% 22,635 27.06% 622 0.74%
1984 56,244 75.91% 17,795 24.02% 53 0.07%
1980 39,989 66.16% 17,443 28.86% 3,007 4.98%
1976 26,655 56.94% 19,609 41.89% 549 1.17%
1972 27,658 80.84% 6,503 19.01% 51 0.15%
1968 10,821 44.69% 6,120 25.27% 7,275 30.04%
1964 10,078 52.48% 9,125 47.52% 0 0.00%
1960 8,936 64.63% 4,891 35.37% 0 0.00%
1956 5,841 65.15% 3,125 34.85% 0 0.00%
1952 4,683 60.02% 3,120 39.98% 0 0.00%
1948 1,665 33.25% 2,261 45.16% 1,081 21.59%
1944 1,352 31.50% 2,940 68.50% 0 0.00%
1940 1,369 30.29% 3,150 69.71% 0 0.00%
1936 897 25.80% 2,580 74.20% 0 0.00%
1932 948 30.68% 2,142 69.32% 0 0.00%
1928 1,788 58.89% 1,187 39.10% 61 2.01%
1924 372 23.46% 945 59.58% 269 16.96%
1920 767 32.28% 1,485 62.50% 124 5.22%
1916 155 15.56% 706 70.88% 135 13.55%

The government operates under a County Charter adopted in 1989 and amended in November 1994. Policymaking and the legislative authority are vested in the Board of County Commissioners, a five-member board elected to four-year terms in partisan, countywide elections and from single member districts. The board adopts the county budget, levies property taxes and other fees, and hires the county manager and county attorney. In addition to the board, five constitutional officers are elected to partisan, four-year terms in accordance with the constitution of the State of Florida.

The constitutional officers, clerk of the circuit and county courts, sheriff, tax collector, property appraiser, and supervisor of elections, maintain separate accounting records and budgets. The board funds a portion or, in certain instances, all of the operating budgets of the county's constitutional officers.

The county provides a full range of services: the construction and maintenance of the county's infrastructure, public safety, recreation, health and human services, and development and protection of the physical and economic environment.

In addition to the county government described above, there are other political entities which are controlled by the county, but have their own appointed boards; the Seminole County Expressway Authority, the Seminole County Port Authority, the Fred R. Wilson Memorial Law Library and the US 17-92 Community Redevelopment Agency.

County elected officials

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Republicans control all of Seminole County's partisan elected offices. In 2020, despite Joe Biden narrowly winning Seminole County in the presidential election, Republican candidates for county office won by wide margins over their Democratic opponents.[21]

Seminole County Officials
Position Incumbent Next election
District 1 Commissioner Bob Dallari 2024
District 2 Commissioner Jay Zembower 2026
District 3 Commissioner Lee Constantine 2024
District 4 Commissioner Amy Lockhart 2026
District 5 Commissioner Andria Herr 2024
Clerk of Courts and Comptroller Grant Maloy 2024
Sheriff Dennis Lemma 2024
Property Appraiser David Johnson 2024
Tax Collector J. R. Kroll 2024
Supervisor of Elections Chris Anderson 2024
18th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Phil Archer 2024
18th Judicial Circuit Public Defender Blaise Trettis 2024

Secondary officials

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Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District

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The Seminole Soil and Water Conservation District serves as an administrative role to conserve the environment within the county.[22]

The following officers are elected as indicated:

Seminole County Soil and Water Conservation District Officers
Group Name Position Election Year
Group 1 Jennifer Webb Vice Chair & Public Relations 2024
Group 2 Karen Hariot Chairperson 2026
Group 3 Megan Betche Secretary 2024
Group 4 Gabbie Milch Treasurer 2026
Group 5 Vacant TBD 2024

Law enforcement

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Seminole County Sheriff's Office
 
AbbreviationSCSO
Agency overview
Formed1913
Jurisdictional structure
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersSanford, Florida
Agency executive
Facilities
Stations4
Website
www.seminolesheriff.org

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is the law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas of Seminole County. As of 2022 the current sheriff is Dennis M. Lemma, who took office in 2017.

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office is currently accredited by eight independent bodies:

Libraries

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Main article: Seminole County Public Library System

The library system was founded in 1978 by the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners. It contains 500,000 volumes and has a circulation of 2.5 million books annually.[23] There are five branches, located in the cities of Casselberry, Sanford, Lake Mary, Oviedo, and Longwood.[24]

An online catalog is available including access to e-books and audio books. Library cards are restricted to county residents, property owners, students (enrolled in a county public school), or employed by the county government.[25]

Education

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Seminole County Public Schools operates public schools.

Transportation

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Interstates and expressways

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Surface roads

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Airports

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Public transportation

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Communities

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Cities

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Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Former communities

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  • Markham
  • Osceola
  • Goldsboro

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  2. ^ "Florida Counties by Population". Florida Demographics By Cubit. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 27, 2002. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 7, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2022". County Population Totals: 2020-2022. U.S. Census Bureau. March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  11. ^ https://www.census.gov/ [not specific enough to verify]
  12. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  15. ^ "National Center for Educations Statistics - 100 Largest School Districts in the United States". Retrieved July 31, 2008.
  16. ^ "Seminole County Public Schools". Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  17. ^ "The Association of Religion Data Archives | Maps & Reports". Thearda.com. Archived from the original on May 11, 2011. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  18. ^ Sullivan, Robert David; ‘How the Red and Blue Map Evolved Over the Past Century’; America Magazine in The National Catholic Review; June 29, 2016
  19. ^ "Voter Registration - by County and Party - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State".
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
  21. ^ "Official Election Results" (PDF). Seminole County Supervisor of Elections. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  22. ^ "Seminole Soil & Water Conservation District | Preserving Precious Resources". Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "Seminole County Public Library: About Us". Seminole County Government. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  24. ^ "Seminole County Public Library: Branch Information". Seminole County Government. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  25. ^ "Seminole County Public Library: Obtaining a Library Card". Seminole County Government. Archived from the original on May 9, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2013.
  26. ^ Turner, Christy; Tutten, James (October 20, 2022). "New ramp connects drivers on westbound I-4 to SR-429 in Seminole County". WFTV. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
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