Calhoun County is a county in Florida, United States, in the northwestern part of the state on the Apalachicola River. It had a population of 13,648 at the 2020 census and covers 574 square miles (1,487 km2), centred near 30°25′N 85°12′W.
Blountstown is the county seat, and its postal code is 32424. The county has two incorporated municipalities — Blountstown and Altha — plus about two dozen unincorporated communities, and no civil townships. Calhoun County observes Central time.
Towns & Villages in Calhoun County
Calhoun County has 29 named places: one city, one town, and 27 unincorporated communities and localities (labelled Unincorp. below). Population figures below are shown only where a 2020 census count is confirmed; other cells are marked —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blountstown | City · seat | — | 32424 |
| Altha | Town | — | 32421 |
| Abe Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Broad Branch | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carr Community | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chason | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chipola | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Chipola Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Clarksville | Unincorp. | — | 32430 |
| Cox | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eufala | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fisher Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Frink | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gaskins | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Henderson Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kinard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leonards | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marysville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McNeal | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ocheesee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ocheesee Landing | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ocheeseulga | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Island | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rollins Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scotts Ferry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Selman | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sharpstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Willis | Unincorp. | — | — |
Ocheesee and Ocheesee Landing are two separate, longstanding communities on the Apalachicola River a short distance apart — not a duplicate listing.
ZIP Codes
- 32424 — Blountstown
- 32421 — Altha
- 32430 — Clarksville
Most of the county’s smaller unincorporated communities receive mail under one of these three ZIP codes rather than having their own.
Geography
Calhoun County lies in Florida’s panhandle, bounded on the east by the Apalachicola River and bisected north to south by the Chipola River. The terrain is mostly flatwoods and river swamp, with the Apalachicola forming part of the Apalachicola National Forest’s western edge as it flows south toward the Gulf of Mexico.
The county borders Jackson County to the north, Gadsden County to the northeast, Liberty County to the east, Gulf County to the south, and Bay County to the west. Much of the eastern county along the Apalachicola River is low-lying floodplain and swamp, while the interior toward Blountstown and Altha rises into pine flatwoods and farmland.
Demographics
Calhoun County had a population of 13,648 at the 2020 census, spread over 567 square miles of land — a density of about 24 people per square mile. Blountstown and Altha are the two largest communities. Calhoun is a low-income rural county; its median household income runs well below the Florida median of $73,311.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, timber, and government employment anchor the local economy. Row crops and cattle operations are common on the county’s flatwoods, and the Chipola and Apalachicola rivers support fishing and boating. Calhoun Correctional Institution, a state prison near Blountstown, is one of the county’s larger employers. Blountstown’s downtown along the Chipola River serves as the retail and civic center for the surrounding rural communities, and the county school district and county government are themselves major sources of local jobs.
History
Calhoun County was created by the Florida territorial legislature in 1838 and named for John C. Calhoun, the U.S. senator and vice president. It originally included territory stretching from St. Joseph Bay to the Apalachicola River, much larger than the county’s present boundaries. Its original county seat was the port town of St. Joseph on St. Joseph Bay; St. Joseph was abandoned by 1844 after a yellow fever epidemic and a series of hurricanes, and the county seat later settled at Blountstown on the Apalachicola River, where it remains today.
Getting There
State Road 71 and State Road 20 are the county’s main highways, meeting at Blountstown.
- Marianna — about 20 miles north
- Panama City — about 45 miles southwest
- Tallahassee — about 50 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City; Tallahassee International Airport is a similar distance to the east.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Calhoun County, Florida?
It is in the northwestern part of the state, on the Apalachicola River between Tallahassee and Panama City.
What is the population of Calhoun County?
13,648 at the 2020 census, one of Florida’s least populous counties.
How big is Calhoun County?
574 square miles (1,487 km2), including 567 square miles of land.
What is the county seat of Calhoun County?
Blountstown is the county seat.
How many towns are in Calhoun County?
Two incorporated municipalities, Blountstown and Altha, plus about two dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Calhoun County?
32424 (Blountstown), 32421 (Altha), and 32430 (Clarksville).
What river runs through Calhoun County?
The Apalachicola River forms the county’s eastern boundary, and the Chipola River runs through the middle of the county.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Florida.