Apalachicola, Florida
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Apalachicola is a city located in Franklin County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,334. It is the county seat of Franklin CountyTemplate:GR.
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History
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A trading post called Cottonton was located on the current site of Apalachicola. In 1827, the town was incorporated as West Point. Apalachicola received its current name in 1831, by an Act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida. "Apalachicola" is an American Indian name, sometimes translated as "Land Of The Friendly People" or "The People on the Other Side".
Apalachicola was once the third busiest port in the Gulf of Mexico (behind New Orleans and Mobile). In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the sponge trade, led by Greek immigrants, was a major industry in the town. Apalachicola is still the home port for a variety of seafood workers, including oyster harvesters and shrimpers. Every year the town hosts the Florida Seafood Festival.
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Trinity Episcopal Church was incorporated by an Act of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida on Feb 11, 1837. The builiding was one of the earliest prefabricated buildings in America. The framework was shipped by schooner from New York and assembled in Apalachicola with wooden pegs.
In 1850, Apalachicola resident Dr. John Gorrie (1802-1855) invented a machine for making artificial ice. This machine laid the groundwork for modern refrigeration and air-conditioning. A replica of his ice machine is on display in the John Gorrie Museum.
The AN Railway, formerly the Apalachicola Northern Railroad, serves the city.
Geography
Apalachicola is located at 29°43'31" North, 84°59'33" West (29.725203, -84.992534)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 km² (2.7 mi²). 4.9 km² (1.9 mi²) of it is land and 2.0 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 29.32% water.
Demographics
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Location of Apalachicola, Florida
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 2,334 people, 1,006 households, and 608 families residing in the city. The population density is 479.3/km² (1,242.1/mi²). There are 1,207 housing units at an average density of 247.9/km² (642.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 63.41% White, 34.92% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.39% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. 1.67% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,006 households out of which 23.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% are married couples living together, 15.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% are non-families. 34.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.24 and the average family size is 2.87.
In the city the population is spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $23,073, and the median income for a family is $28,464. Males have a median income of $22,500 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the city is $12,227. 25.3% of the population and 19.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 32.4% of those under the age of 18 and 15.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
External links
- Apalachicola Chamber of Commerce (http://www.apalachicolabay.org/)