Bell, Florida

Bell is a town in Gilchrist County, Florida, United States. The population was 456 at the 2010 census,[6] up from 349 in 2000. It is situated in the northern part of the county. The middle/high school is home to approximately 750 students.

Bell, Florida
Town
Location in Gilchrist County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 29°45′16″N 82°51′42″W
Country United States
State Florida
County Gilchrist
Incorporatedc. 1900[1]
Government
 • MayorThomas Brown[1]
Area
 • Total1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2)
 • Land1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
69 ft (21 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total456
 • Estimate 
(2019)[3]
498
 • Density304.03/sq mi (117.39/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
32619
Area code(s)352
FIPS code12-04975[4]
GNIS feature ID0278410[5]
Websitetownofbellflorida.com

History

The town was founded in the 1890s, named after a beauty contest winner, Bell Fletcher. In the early 1900s, a railway was built, passing through the town on its route between Starke and Wannee. A train depot was built circa 1905, and the restored depot building is now the Town Hall.[1]

On September 18, 2014, a 51-year-old ex-convict, Don Charles Spirit, shot his daughter Sarah and her six children to death. He then committed suicide after police officers responded to the scene of the mass shooting.[7][8][9]

Geography

Bell is located at 29°45′16″N 82°51′42″W (29.754443, -82.861712).[10] U.S. Route 129 is the town's Main Street; it leads north 18 miles (29 km) to Branford and south 10 miles (16 km) to Trenton, the Gilchrist County seat.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), all land.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1910243—
1920146−39.9%
193016815.1%
19401838.9%
1950108−41.0%
196013424.1%
197022769.4%
19802270.0%
199026717.6%
200034930.7%
201045630.7%
2019 (est.)498[3]9.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 349 people, 125 households, and 91 families residing in the town. The population density was 213.5 people per square mile (82.7/km2). There were 149 housing units at an average density of 91.2 per square mile (35.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.99% White, 2.01% African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.43% from other races, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.

There were 125 households, out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 16.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.4% were non-families. 21.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.21.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.4% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,156, and the median income for a family was $30,987. Males had a median income of $21,250 versus $23,125 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,790. About 13.1% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65.

Education

There are several schools that serve the Bell area and are, in turn, served by the Gilchrist County School District.
These schools include:

References
  1. Town of Bell, Florida, retrieved 2012-11-26
  2. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bell town, Florida". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  7. "Florida man kills 6 grandkids, daughter"
  8. "Florida man kills his daughter and her six children"
  9. "Don Spirit Kills Daughter, Six Grandchildren in Bell, Florida"
  10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
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