Columbia County Profile

County Seat: Lake City
Nearest MSA: Gainesville MSA & Jackson
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.
Time Zone: Eastern
Local Area Code(s): 386
Columbia
1980: 35,399
1990: 42,613
2007: 67,985
2015(p): 72,700
2030(p): 85,900
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,251,243
20,955,900
25,340,700
Average Temperature High Low
January: 65 42
July: 91 71
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation - 53
Average Annual Rain Days - 116
(2006)
In-Migration 4,399
Out-Migration 2,966
Net-Migration 1,433
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2007)
Labor Force 30,899
Labor Force % of County Population 45.4
Number in County Unemployed 1,113
Unemployment Rate 3.6%
N/D = No Data Columbia Florida
(2006)
Average Annual Employment 29,786 7,952,023
Natural Resources & Mining 0.4% 1.2%
Construction 4.5% 8.0%
Manufacturing 8.2% 5.1%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 13.5% 20.8%
Information 1.0% 2.1%
Financial Activities 2.0% 6.9%
Professional & Business Services 2.2% 17.0%
Education & Health Services 13.0% 18.4%
Leisure & Hospitality 8.1% 11.4%
Other Services 1.2% 3.1%
Public administration 6.8% 5.8%
Unclassified 0.1% 0.1%

Average Annual Wage
(2006)
All Industries $31,361
Construction $27,154
Education & Health Services $37,645
Financial Activities $44,245
Information $37,598
Leisure & Hospitality $12,389
Manufacturing $38,999
Natural Resources & Mining $26,238
Other Services $20,542
Professional & Business Services $32,498
Public administration $34,157
Trade, Transportation and Utilities $27,201
Unclassified $10,395
Columbia Florida
2004 $21,423 $32,618
2005 $22,316 $34,798
2006 $22,773 $36,720
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 Interstates I-10, I-75
Federal Highways US-41, US-90, US-441
State Highways SR-25, SR-47, SR-100, SR-247
Railroads CSX Railway, Norfolk Southern
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service: Jacksonville International Airport
# Runways 2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.) 8000
General Aviation Airports Lake City Airport

Local Deep Water Port Jacksonville Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port 62
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government 7.9470
Schools 7.5400
Special 2.4619
Total 17.9489
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option) 1.00
Federal Enterprise Zone No
State Enterprise Zone
STATE
Corporate Income Tax 5.5%
Personal Income Tax 0.0%
Retail Sales Tax 6.0%
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
    		•


    Exisiting Industrial Zoned Land Yes
    Number of Acres 1,500
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 300

    Industrial Parks Yes
    Number of Acres 600
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel 300

    Foreign Trade Zones No
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools    		 Teachers Enrollments
    Elementary: 8 316 5,114
    Secondary: 3 268 5,019
    Totals: 11 584 10,133

    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
    		•

    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total 86.17
    Food 98.00
    Housing 73.00
    Medical Care 86.00
    Personal Goods and Services 94.00
    Transportation 97.00
    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
    		•