Suwannee County is a county in Florida, United States, on the state’s northern border along the Suwannee River. It had a population of 43,474 at the 2020 census and covers 692 square miles (1,790 km2) centred near 30°11′N 82°59′W.
Live Oak is the county seat, and its postal code is 32060. The county has one city, one town, and more than a dozen unincorporated communities, all in the Eastern time zone.
Towns & Villages in Suwannee County
Suwannee County has one incorporated city, one incorporated town, and a scatter of unincorporated communities strung along the Suwannee River and its tributaries. The table below carries every settlement the county recognises; CDP means census-designated place, and Unincorp. covers a named community with no formal municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak | City · seat | 7,038 | 32060, 32064 |
| Branford | Town | 688 | 32008 |
| McAlpin | Unincorp. | — | 32062 |
| O’Brien | Unincorp. | — | 32071 |
| Wellborn | Unincorp. | — | 32094 |
| Dowling Park | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Suwannee Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ellaville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Falmouth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fort Union | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hildreth | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Houston | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Luraville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Padlock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pouchers Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rixford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Slade | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Beachville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Suwannee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dickert | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Starr | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mercer | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Newburn | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pine Mount | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sandy Point | Unincorp. | — | — |
Several names on the old list — Live Oak Pines MH Park, Live Oak Trailer Park, Pleasant View MH Park, Sunset Manor MH Park, Trailer Harbor MH Park, Wayne Friers MH Park, Sandy Point Trailer Park, and River Run Campground — are manufactured-home communities and a campground rather than distinct settlements. They are dropped from the table above; see notes.md.
ZIP Codes
- 32060 — Live Oak (west side)
- 32064 — Live Oak (east side)
- 32008 — Branford
- 32071 — O’Brien
- 32094 — Wellborn
- 32062 — McAlpin
Smaller communities such as Dowling Park, Suwannee Springs, and Ellaville share the ZIP code of their nearest post office town rather than having their own.
Geography
Suwannee County sits in Florida’s Big Bend transition zone, where the Suwannee River bounds the county on the north, west, and much of the south. The terrain is gently rolling coastal-plain sandhill and flatwoods, with the Withlacoochee River joining the Suwannee near the county’s southwest corner. Of the county’s 692 square miles, 689 are land and about 3.7 are water.
Suwannee County borders Hamilton County to the north, Columbia County to the east, Gilchrist County to the southeast, Lafayette County to the south and southwest, and Madison County to the northwest. Of these, Gilchrist County, Lafayette County, and Madison County have live pages on this site.
Demographics
The 2020 census counted 43,474 residents, up from 41,551 in 2010. Live Oak, the county seat, is by far the largest community, followed by Branford. Suwannee County’s median household income runs well below the Florida median of $73,311, reflecting the county’s rural, agriculture-based economy. Population density is roughly 63 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture anchors the local economy — row crops, poultry, and cattle operations spread across the county’s flatwoods and river bottoms. Suwannee County Hospital and the Suwannee County School District are among the largest employers, alongside county and municipal government in Live Oak. The county was legally dry until August 2011, when voters ended a decades-long ban on alcohol sales.
History
The Florida legislature created Suwannee County on December 21, 1858, carving it from Columbia County. The county takes its name from the Suwannee River, which forms most of its border. During the Civil War, Company K of the 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment drew almost entirely from Suwannee County men, and the Suwannee Rifles later served in the Spanish-American War.
Getting There
Interstate 10 and Interstate 75 cross in the county’s southeast corner, making Suwannee County a highway junction for north Florida traffic; US 90, US 129, and US 27 also run through it, along with State Roads 51, 136, and 247.
- Lake City — 20 miles east
- Valdosta, Georgia — 45 miles north
- Gainesville — 55 miles south
- Tallahassee — 75 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Gainesville Regional Airport, about an hour’s drive south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Suwannee County?
It is in the Big Bend region of north Florida, along the Suwannee River, at the junction of I-10 and I-75.
What is the population of Suwannee County?
43,474 as of the 2020 census.
How big is Suwannee County?
692 square miles (1,790 km2), of which about 3.7 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Suwannee County?
Live Oak is the county seat.
How many towns are in Suwannee County?
One city (Live Oak), one town (Branford), and more than twenty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Suwannee County?
32060 and 32064 (Live Oak), 32008 (Branford), 32071 (O’Brien), 32094 (Wellborn), and 32062 (McAlpin).
When was Suwannee County created?
December 21, 1858, from part of Columbia County.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Florida.