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Columbia County Profile
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County Website : www.madisoncountyfl.com
Nearest MSA: Gainesville
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 386
Largest Cities:1 Lake City
2 Ft. White
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................97
Orlando...................................142
Tampa...................................154
Jacksonville...................................60
Miami...................................342
Atlanta...................................268
Chicago...................................854
Dallas...................................852
New York...................................879
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Columbia
1980:35,399
1990:42,613
2009:69,264
2015(p):71,300
2030(p):85,200
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,537,969
19,881,200
23,821,300
Columbia Florida
2006$23,823$38,161
2007$24,817$39,036
2008$25,095$39,064
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:6542
July:9171
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................116
(2008)
In-Migration3,661
Out-Migration3,217
Net-Migration 444
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2009)
Labor Force31,713
Labor Force % of County Population45.8
Number in County Unemployed2,968
Unemployment Rate9.4%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataColumbiaFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment22,7587,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining0.7%1.2%
Construction7.7%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities19.6%20.5%
Manufacturing9.0%4.7%
Information1.1%2.0%
Other Services1.5%3.2%
Public administration9.2%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality10.9%11.9%
Education & Health Services18.0%19.4%
Professional & Business Services8.2%14.4%
Financial Activities4.7%6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries$32,132
Construction$33,801
Education & Health Services$40,508
Financial Activities$43,505
Information$37,352
Leisure & Hospitality$13,382
Manufacturing$39,667
Natural Resources & Mining$27,803
Other Services$21,407
Professional & Business Services$29,617
Public administration$35,010
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$28,602
UnclassifiedN/D
Major Private Sector Employers

VA Medical Center
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 1,049

Sitel
Business Line: Computer Support Services
Number of Employees..................................................... 750

PCS Phosphate - White Springs
Business Line: Phosphate Mining
Number of Employees..................................................... 715

TIMCO
Business Line: Aircraft Maintenance
Number of Employees..................................................... 713

Anderson Columbia Company
Business Line: Asphalt Paving
Number of Employees..................................................... 527

Shands at Lake Shore
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 500

Lake City Medical Center
Business Line: Healthcare
Number of Employees..................................................... 296

S & S Food Stores
Business Line: Convenience Stores
Number of Employees..................................................... 209

New Millennium
Business Line: Manufacturing
Number of Employees..................................................... 180

Target
Business Line: Warehouse Distribution
Number of Employees..................................................... 145
Federal InterstatesI-10, I-75
Federal HighwaysUS-41, US-90, US-441
State HighwaysSR-25, SR-47, SR-100, SR-247
RailroadsCSX Railway, Norfolk Southern
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Jacksonville International Airport
# Runways2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)8000
General Aviation AirportsLake City Airport

Local Deep Water PortJacksonville Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port62
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government7.8910
Schools7.8610
Special2.6107
Total18.3627
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise Zone
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Florida Power & Light
  • Progress Energy
  • Suwannee Valley Electric
  • Clay Electric Cooperative

    • Natural Gas Companies:
  • Florida Gas Transmission Company (Supplier)
  • City of Lake City

    • Telephone Companies:
  • AT&T
  • Comcast
  • Windstream

    • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • City of Lake City


    • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres1,500
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel300

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres600
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel300

    Foreign Trade ZonesNo
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools    		TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:233165,114
    Secondary:132685,019
    Totals:3658410,133

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • University of North Florida
  • University of Florida
  • St. Leo College
  • Flordia State University
  • Florida A&M

    • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • Lake City Community College

    • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • none

    • Other Schools:
  • none

    • Local Radio Stations:
  • WDSR 1340 AM
  • WGRO AM
  • WQLC 102 FM
  • WNFB 94.3
  • WJTK 96.5 FM
  • WCJX 106.5 FM
    • Local Television Stations:
  • WCJB 20
  • ABC 30
  • HQTV 47
  • TNT 25
  • WCTV 6
  • WJXT 4
  • WTLV 12
    • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • Lake City Reporter
    		•

    Number of Banks:6

    Number of Savings and Loans:0

    Number of Credit Unions:5
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total86.17
    Food98.31
    Housing73.93
    Medical Care86.73
    Personal Goods and Services 94.32
    Transportation97.58
    Medical Services:
  • Haven Hospice
  • Lake City Medical Center
  • Shands at Lake Shore
  • V.A. Medical Center

    • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Alligator Lake
  • Boating/Fishing
  • Bowling
  • Golf/Tennis
  • Ichetucknee State Park
  • Oleno State Park
  • Stephen Foster State Park

    • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Columbia County Historical Museum
  • Olustee Battle Field

    • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Community Concerts
  • Olustee Festival - Februrary

    • Enterprise Florida, Inc. 800 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 1100 Orlando, Florida 32803 Phone 407-956-5600 Fax(407)956-5599
    Visit us on the World Wide Web: http://www.eflorida.com