Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the population is 150,624. It is the county seat of Leon County.

Tallahassee is the home of Florida State University, Florida A & M University, and Tallahassee Community College. It is also a regional center for trade and agriculture.

The city is served by Tallahassee Regional Airport.

Tallahassee, Florida

Flag (Detail) Seal (Detail)
Location in Florida
Founded  -Incorporated	March 22, 1786  {{{incorporated}}}
County	Leon County
Mayor	John Marks
Area  - Total  - Water	254.5 km² (98.2 mi²) 6.6 km² (2.5 mi²) 2.59%
Population  - City (2000)  - Density  - Metropolitan	150,624 607.6/km²
Time zone	Eastern (UTC –5)
Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS)	30.4518° N 84.2728° W
talgov.com

History

The founding of Tallahassee was largely a matter of convenience. In 1821, Florida was ceded by Spain to the United States. A territorial government was established, but the impracticalities of alternately meeting in St. Augustine and Pensacola—the two largest cities in the territory at the time—led territorial governor William Pope Duval to appoint two commissioners to establish a more central meeeting place.

In October of 1823, John Lee Williams of Pensacola and Dr. William Simmons of St. Augustine selected the former Indian settlement of Tallahassee—roughly midway between the two cities—as a suitable place, and in March of the following year it was formally proclaimed the capital. Florida did not become a state, however, until 1845 (Tebeau:122)

On the 1st of November, 1823, John Lee Williams (1823:22-23) wrote to Congressional Delegate (and later Florida Governor), Richard Keith Call, about the location of the capital:

"Doct. Simmons has agreed that the Site should be fixed near the old fields abandoned by the Indians after Jackson's invasion, but has not yet determined whether between the ... old fields, or on a fine high lawn about a mile W. In both spots the water is plenty and good."

The name "Tallahassee" is a Muskogean Indian word often translated as "old fields," or "old town." This likely stems from the Creek (later called Seminole) Indians that migrated into this region in the 18th century recognizing that it had previously been occupied by the powerful Apalachee Indians, who cultivated large fields of crops in the region's red clay hills. The Apalachee's success as agriculturalists did not go unnoticed by the Spanish, who sent missionaries to the area throughout the 17th century. Several mission sites were established with the aim of procuring food and labor for the colony at St. Augustine. One of the most important mission sites, Mission San Luis de Apalachee, has been partially reconstructed as a state historic site in Tallahassee.

The Spanish missionaries were not the first Europeans to visit Tallahassee, however. The Spanish explorer, Hernando de Soto spent the winter of 1538 - 1539 encamped at the Apalachee village of Anhaica, which he had taken by force. De Soto's brutal treatment of the natives was fiercely resisted, and by the following spring De Soto was eager to move on. The site of Anhaica, near present day Myers Park, was relocated by Florida archaeologist, B. Calvin Jones, in 1987.

Tallahassee was very prominent during the 2000 United States Presidential Election as the capital of the state whose votes were disputed.

References

• Tebeau, Charlton, W. A History of Florida. University of Miami Press. Coral Gables. 1971
• Williams, John Lee. Journal of an Expedition to the Interior of West Florida October - November 1823. Manuscript on file at the State Library of Florida, Florida Collection. Tallahassee.

Geography

Tallahassee is located at 30°27'6" North, 84°16'22" West (30.451800, -84.272770)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 254.5 km² (98.2 mi²). 247.9 km² (95.7 mi²) of it is land and 6.6 km² (2.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.59% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 150,624 people, 63,217 households, and 29,459 families residing in the city. The population density is 607.6/km² (1,573.8/mi²). There are 68,417 housing units at an average density of 276.0/km² (714.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 60.42% White, 34.24% African American, 0.25% Native American, 2.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.97% from other races, and 1.67% from two or more races. 4.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 63,217 households out of which 21.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.1% are married couples living together, 13.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 53.4% are non-families. 34.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.17 and the average family size is 2.86.

In the city the population is spread out with 17.4% under the age of 18, 29.7% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.2% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 26 years. For every 100 females there are 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $30,571, and the median income for a family is $49,359. Males have a median income of $32,428 versus $27,838 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,981. 24.7% of the population and 12.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 21.6% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.