Pasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 344,765. The July 1, 2007 census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 462,715.[1] Its county seat is Dade City, Florida[2]. It is the 38th fastest growing county in the country with a 30.6% increase and has grown by 105,403 residents since the year 2000. Pasco, along with Hernando, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, comprise the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Pasco County was created in 1887 from the southern part of Hernando County. It was named for Samuel Pasco, who served in the Confederate Army, the state legislature and in the United States Senate from 1887 to 1899. The earliest towns were Anclote, Blanton, Dade City, Earnestville, Fort Dade, Macon (Trilby), Lacoochee and San Antonio. Citrus was an important industry when the county was formed, although a decline followed a freeze in 1895. Several large sawmills operated in the county in the early part of the twentieth century. During the Florida land boom of the 1920s, New Port Richey became the winter home of silent screen star Thomas Meighan and golfer Gene Sarazen; Meighan attempted to bring other Hollywood figures to the city. The county has experienced significant population growth since the 1960s. The growth began along the Gulf coast but is now occurring most rapidly in areas north of Tampa.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 868 square miles (2,248 km²), of which, 745 square miles (1,929 km²) of it is land and 123 square miles (319 km²) of it (14.18%) is water.
Adjacent Counties
Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 344,765 people, 147,566 households, and 99,016 families residing in the county. The population density was 463 people per square mile (179/km²). There were 173,717 housing units at an average density of 233 per square mile (90/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93.70% White, 2.07% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.52% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 5.69% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 147,566 households out of which 23.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.77.
In the county the population was spread out with 20.20% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 26.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,969, and the median income for a family was $39,568. Males had a median income of $30,974 versus $23,802 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,439. About 7.60% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.
Municipalities
Incorporated
Incorporated municipalities of Pasco County. Numbers correspond to list at left.
- City of Dade City
- City of New Port Richey
- City of Port Richey
- City of San Antonio
- Town of St. Leo
- City of Zephyrhills
Unincorporated
Unincorporated Communities Not CDPs
Transportation
Aviation
Bus service
Pasco County Public Transportation provides bus service in West Pasco, Dade City and Zephyrhills.
Railroads
CSX operates three rail lines within the county. Amtrak formerly provided passenger rail service to Dade City, but the stop was terminated in late 2004.[4]
Major roads
- See also: List of county roads in Pasco County, Florida
- Interstate 75 runs north and south across the eastern part of the county. Once a major connecting point with Tampa, I-75 has been made obsolete for western residents of the county by the Suncoast Parkway.
- Suncoast Parkway enters the county in the south halfway between Gunn Highway and US 41, and ends in the far northern part of the county at County Line Road (Exit 37), The Suncoast Parkway is a recently-constructed toll road that connects Pasco County with Hillsborough County, where it becomes the Veterans Expressway and heads directly into Tampa International Airport before reaching Interstate 275. SR 589 has four Pasco County exits: SR 54 (Exit 19), Ridge Road Extension (Future Exit 24), SR 52 (Exit 27), and County Line Road(Exit 37).
- U.S. Route 19 is a major commercial center running beside to the Gulf of Mexico on the western edge of the county, and used as a primary connecting route to cities down the west coast of Florida, including Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg, as well as Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee, Homosassa and Crystal River to the north.
- Alternate 19 is a former section of US 19 that runs closer to the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas and southern Pasco County than US 19.
- U.S. Route 41 (Land O' Lakes Bouelvard)
- U.S. Route 98 runs northwest and southeast from Hernando County to Polk County. Concurrent with US 301 between Trilacoochee and Clinton Heights.
- U.S. Route 301(Fort King Highway/Gall Boulevard)
- State Road 39 runs northwest and southeast from Plant City into US 301 in Zephyrhills
- County Road 41 (Fort King Highway/17th Street/21st Street/Blanton Road)
- County Line Road (CR 578) is a major county road running entirely along the border with Hernando County beginning at US 19, intersects the Suncoast Parkway, and ends at US 41. Due to increased congestion, it is planned to be upgraded from two to four lanes, and possibly upgraded from a county road to a state road.
- State Road 52 (Colonel Schrader Memorial Highway) an east-west route that runs primarily through the center of the county from US 19 in Bayonet Point to US 98-301 in Dade City.
- State Road 54 (Gunn Highway/Fifth Avenue) another east-west road that runs through southern Pasco County, from US 19 near Holiday to US 301 in Zephyrhills.
- State Road 56 recently constructed road between SR 54 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. Planned to be extended to US 301 south of Zephyrhills.
- State Road 575 the northernmost state road in Pasco County.
- Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
- Rowan Road/East Lake Road (CR 77)
- Dale Mabry Highway
- Moon Lake Road/Decubellis Road/Massachusetts Avenue (Pasco CR 587) (N)
- Gunn Highway (CR 587) (S)
- Little Road (CR 1) Major four to six lane county road in western Pasco County bypassing US 19 between southeast of Aripeka and Trinity.
- Trinity Boulevard(Pasco-Pinellas CR 996)
Education
High Schools
Middle Schools
Elementary Schools
Special Education Centers
Pasco County has seen explosive growth in its student enrollment, increasing from 46,458 students in the 1999-2000 year to 65,126 in the 2007-2008 year, an increase of 18,668 or 40.2%. The projected enrollment for the 2007-2008 was 64,674, so the actual enrollment was 452 students over the projection. http://plan.pasco.k12.fl.us/Pages/pdf_files/ADM_Proj.pdf http://plan.pasco.k12.fl.us/Pages/pdf_files/adm.pdf So yearly, the school district has grown 2,489 or 5.4%, which leads to building one new school a year.
Colleges / Universities
References
External links
Government links/Constitutional offices
Special districts
Judicial branch
Tourism links
Other sites
Coordinates: 28°18′N 82°26′W / 28.30, -82.44
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