Gilchrist County is a county in Florida, United States, on the western edge of the Gainesville metropolitan area. It had a population of 17,864 at the 2020 census and covers 355 square miles (920 km2) of land and water, centred near 29°44′N 82°48′W.
Trenton is the county seat, and its postal code is 32693. The county has one city, one town, one shared municipality, and a scatter of unincorporated communities; there are no civil townships in Florida. Gilchrist is in the Eastern time zone and carries FIPS code 12041.
Towns & Villages in Gilchrist County
Gilchrist County has three incorporated municipalities — a city, a town, and a city that straddles the Levy County line — plus a dozen or so unincorporated communities scattered along the Suwannee River and its tributaries. Unincorporated places (CDP or plain Unincorp.) have no municipal government of their own.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | City · seat | 2,015 | 32693 |
| Bell | Town | 518 | 32619 |
| Fanning Springs | City | — | 32693 |
| Blitchville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Craggs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Curtis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harvard | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Lake City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lottieville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mutual | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Neals | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Spring Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Thames | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tyler | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wanamake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wannee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Waters Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilcox | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilcox Junction | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Williford | Unincorp. | — | — |
Fanning Springs is split by the Gilchrist–Levy county line, with most of its population and city hall on the Levy side; only its northern edge lies in Gilchrist. Bell and Trenton are the county’s only true population centers — everywhere else on the list is a rural crossroads, mill site, or river landing rather than a town with its own government.
ZIP Codes
- 32693 — Trenton (also serves Fanning Springs and most of central and northern Gilchrist County)
- 32619 — Bell (serves western Gilchrist County)
The rest of the county’s unincorporated communities receive mail through one of these two post offices; none has a separate ZIP code of its own.
Geography
Gilchrist County sits in the north-central peninsula, on rolling sandhill and flatwoods terrain drained by the Suwannee River, which forms most of the county’s western and southern boundary, and the Santa Fe River, which forms part of its eastern edge. The county’s springs — including Fanning Springs and Hart Springs on the Suwannee — are its best-known natural features.
Gilchrist County borders Columbia County to the northeast, Alachua County to the east, Levy County to the south, Dixie County to the southwest, and Suwannee County and Lafayette County to the northwest.
Demographics
Gilchrist County had 17,864 residents at the 2020 census. Trenton and Bell are its two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the Florida median of $73,311, reflecting the county’s rural, agricultural economic base. Population density is about 50 people per square mile, among the lower densities in the Gainesville metro area.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and forestry anchor the local economy — row crops, cattle ranching, and timber on the sandhill land north and west of Trenton, with poultry and dairy operations also present. Gilchrist County Public Schools and county government are among the largest employers, and many residents commute east to Gainesville and the University of Florida/Shands medical complex for work. The Suwannee River’s springs draw recreational visitors for tubing, diving, and camping, supporting a small tourism trade around Fanning Springs State Park.
History
Gilchrist County was organized on December 4, 1925, carved from the western portion of Alachua County — the last county created in Florida to date. It was named for Albert W. Gilchrist, Florida’s governor from 1909 to 1913, who had died the year before the county’s creation; an earlier proposal to call it “Melon County,” after the area’s watermelon crop, was dropped. Trenton, already an established rail town on the former Seaboard Air Line, was named county seat at organization.
Getting There
US 129 and US 27 Alternate run north–south through the county, and US 19/US 98 crosses the southwest corner near Fanning Springs; State Roads 26 and 47 connect Trenton to surrounding towns.
- Gainesville — 30 miles east
- Lake City — 30 miles northeast
- Chiefland — 15 miles southwest
- Cross City — 25 miles west
Gainesville Regional Airport, about 30 miles east, is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Gilchrist County, Florida?
It is in the north-central Florida peninsula, on the eastern side of the Suwannee River, just west of Gainesville and Alachua County.
What is the population of Gilchrist County?
17,864 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Gilchrist County?
355 square miles (920 km2), including about 6 square miles of water.
What is the county seat of Gilchrist County?
Trenton, Florida, an original railroad town on the former Seaboard Air Line.
How many towns are in Gilchrist County?
Three incorporated municipalities — Trenton, Bell, and Fanning Springs (which it shares with Levy County) — plus about a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Gilchrist County?
32693 (Trenton/Fanning Springs) and 32619 (Bell) cover the whole county.
Why is it called Gilchrist County?
It was named for Albert W. Gilchrist, Florida’s governor from 1909 to 1913, shortly after his death in 1926 — a proposed name, “Melon County,” honoring the local watermelon crop, was set aside.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Florida.