Florida Counties List

By: Sylvia Cochran

Break Studios Contributing Writer

The Florida counties list is 67 entries long. Back when Florida was still a U.S. territory in 1821, there were only two counties: St. Johns and Escambia. As the state grew, so did the number of counties. Which are some of the more noteworthy ones?

  1. Union County. Measuring only about 240 square miles, Union County is the smallest Florida county. There are just over 64 residents for each square mile. It is famous for being the location of the Union Correctional Institution, which also houses death row inmates.
  2. Palm Beach County. In contrast, Palm Beach County is the largest area with 2,034 square miles. Of this figure, a little over 412 square miles are water. An estimated 668 Floridians inhabit this county per square mile. It also makes the notable Florida counties list because of its annual South Florida Fair, which is a major event in the region.
  3. Miami-Date County. As of the 2010 census, Miami-Dade County is the most populous of the areas on the Florida counties list. With roughly 1,946 square miles, there are an average 1,282 residents per square mile. Some 35 cities are part of the county, as are portions of Everglades National Park.
  4. Liberty County. The least populousFlorida county is Liberty County. Spread among more than 835 square miles are only about 8,365 residents. What the county lacks in residents its makes up with breathtaking landscapes. The Apalachicola National Forest commands more than half its land mass.
  5. Escambia County. Together with St. Johns County, it is one of the original two counties. What sets it apart is the presence of Muscogee, a bona fide ghost town. Situated near the Perdido River, it offers a little bit of history that dates back to 1857.

While this Florida counties list only offers some of the highlights that the state has to offer, consider them when making future travel plans to the Sunshine State.

Posted on: Jun. 29, 2011