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Flagler County, Florida

Flagler County is situated in the northeastern quadrant of the U.S. state of Florida. The population as of the 2020 census was 115,378. Bunnell is the county seat, and Palm Coast is the largest city. Flagler County is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area, but is also part of the Orlando–Deltona–Daytona Beach, FL Combined Statistical Area.

History
The region was home to Seminole and Timucua tribes before the Spanish arrived in the 16th century. Large plantations grew cash crops including corn and sugar cane in the early 1800s. Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park was the biggest sugar plantation on Florida's east coast. Farmers also cultivated the Irish potato and the potato is on the county seal. Beginning in the 1800s, agriculture (cabbage and potato farming), silviculture and ranching (cattle farming) were the economic drivers of the county. The county was created in 1917 using parts of Volusia and St. Johns Counties. It was named in honor of Henry Flagler, the wealthy Industrialist who financed and constructed the Florida East Coast Railway. Formally incorporated in 1999, it grew from a planned retirement/resort area into a thriving city, now known for its extensive canal systems and rapid population growth. ==Geography==
Geography
U.S. Census Bureau data shows that the total area of the county is , of which is land and (15.0%) is water. The county has 18-miles of Atlantic coastline. Adjacent countiesSt. Johns County, Florida – north • Volusia County, Florida – south • Putnam County, Florida – west Parks and gardens The county has over 40 preserves and parks for use by sunbathers, campers, swimmers, boaters and nature-lovers. There are more than 90 miles of trails for biking, hiking, and paddling. • Belle Terre Parkway • Betty Steflik Preserve • Bings Landing • Bird of Paradise Nature Reserve • Bull Creek Campground • Bulow Creek State ParkBulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park • Central Park in Town Center • Children's Memorial Garden • Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area • Graham Swamp Preserve • Haw Creek Preserve / Russell Landing • Heroes Memorial Park • Herschel King Park • Hidden Trails Park • James F. Holland Memorial Park • Jungle Hut Park • Lehigh Trail • Longs Landing Estuary • Malacompra Park • Moody Homestead Park • Old Dixie Park • Old Salt Park • Palm Coast Community Center & Park • Palm Coast Linear Park • Princess Place Preserve • Ralph Carter Park • River to Sea Preserve • Seminole Woods Neighborhood Park • Shell Bluff Park • Silver Lake Park • St. Joe Walkway • Varn Park • Veteran's Park • Wadsworth Park • Washington Oaks State Gardens • Waterfront Park • Wickline Park Rivers and waterwaysAtlantic OceanCrescent LakeIntracoastal WaterwayMatanzas River • Pellicer Creek ==Demographics==
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, Flagler County had a population of 115,378, 48,450 households, and 34,022 families; the population density was 237.3 per square mile (91.6/km), and there were 55,565 housing units at an average density of 114.3 per square mile (44.1/km). Of those housing units, 12.8% were vacant, 78.5% of the occupied units were owner-occupied, and 21.5% were renter-occupied, with a homeowner vacancy rate of 2.1% and a rental vacancy rate of 10.7%. As of the 2020 census, the median age was 54.0 years; 16.5% of residents were under the age of 18, 6.0% were 18 to 24, 17.4% were 25 to 44, 28.0% were 45 to 64, and 32.2% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.6 males age 18 and over. As of the 2020 census, 92.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 7.7% lived in rural areas. As of the 2020 census, there were 48,450 households, of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.8% were married-couple households, 14.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.5 and the average family size was 2.9. 2020 American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates According to the 2016-2020 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 19.7% of residents had a bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income was $57,536 (± $2,337), and the median family income was $66,778 (± $2,998). Males had a median income of $34,295 (± $3,092) versus $26,810 (± $1,300) for females, and the median income for those over 16 years old was $30,465 (± $1,204). 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. 2010 census As of the census 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%. ==Transportation==
Transportation
AirportsFlagler Executive Airport is the primary airport within the county. It does not provide commercial air services but does serve private, student and business aviation. Formerly, Flagler County Airport, it was renamed April 20, 2015 following $22 million in projects and improvements completed over six years including a new control tower. Major roads • (Interstate 95) • • • • • 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==
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: Commissioners Pennington and Hansen are in office until 2026, having each been elected in 2022. Dance's term expires in 2028, having been re-elected in the 2024 primary election. Carney and Richardson were elected in 2024, and their terms will expire in 2028. 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. 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: Furry and Chong are in office until 2026, having both been elected in 2022. 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. The county elected Janie Ruddy to the District 3 seat and Lauren Ramirez to the District 5 seat in the 2024 election respectively. 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: Alred was last elected in 2024, winning terms that expire in 2028. Martin was also up for election in 2024, but faced no opposition. Seat 1 became vacant on December 2, 2025 when Julius 'Jules' Kwiatkowski was announced to have passed away while serving his term in office. Kwiatkowski had been on the Mosquito Control Board since 2008. 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. 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. Statewide elections ==Education==
Education
The Flagler County School Board 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 SchoolFlagler 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==
Libraries
Flagler County Library System consists of two branches with over 57,000 borrowers. 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. 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. 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." ==Healthcare==
Healthcare
In 1951, Dr. John Canakaris' opened Bunnell Medical Clinic with 5 beds. In 1960, Bunnell Medical Clinic became Bunnell General Hospital with 60 beds. In late May 2000, Memorial Health Systems chose to merge with Adventist Health System. In September 2002, Memorial Hospital-Flagler constructed a new facility in Palm Coast with 81 beds for $67 million and was renamed Florida Hospital Flagler. An outpatient clinic named Florida Hospital Flagler Medical Plaza opened on July 10, 2012. On January 2, 2019, Florida Hospital Flagler rebranded to AdventHealth Palm Coast. A second AdventHealth hospital opened in Palm Coast on August 2, 2023. At the end of the first year, AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway's Emergency department had treated 30,000 people, had 5,300 inpatient visits, and 16,700 outpatient visits. The new hospital hired 650 employees. ==Communities==
Communities
CitiesBunnellFlagler BeachPalm Coast TownsBeverly BeachMarineland (partly in St. John's County) Unincorporated communitiesAndalusiaBiminiCody's CornerDaytona NorthDupontEspanolaFavorettaHammockKoronaOrange HammockPainters HillRelaySt. Johns Park ==See also==
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