Ponce de Leon, Florida

Juan Ponce de León led the first European expedition to Florida.

Ponce de Leon is located in southwestern Holmes County at 30°43′33″N 85°56′16″W (30.725783, –85.937783).[5] U.S. Route 90 runs through the center of town, leading northeast 17 miles (27 km) to Bonifay, the Holmes County seat, and west 11 miles (18 km) to DeFuniak Springs. Florida State Road 81 crosses US 90 near the center of town, leading north 20 miles (32 km) to the Alabama border and south 19 miles (31 km) to Florida State Road 20 at Bruce. Interstate 10 passes through the southern part of Ponce de Leon, with access from Exit 96 (SR 81). I-10 leads east 107 miles (172 km) to Tallahassee and west 88 miles (142 km) to Pensacola.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), of which 4.9 square miles (12.8 km²) are land and 0.26 square kilometres (0.1 sq mi), or 0.78%, are water.[4] The town is in the valley of Sandy Creek, a south-flowing tributary of the Choctawhatchee River. Ponce de Leon Springs State Park is in the southern part of the town, north of I-10, along both sides of Sandy Creek. The entrance is on the eastern side of the park off Ponce de Leon Springs Road.

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 598 people, 246 households, and 131 families residing in the town. The population density was 92.3 inhabitants per square mile (35.6/km²). There were 290 housing units at n average density of 47.0 per square mile (18.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.60% White, 1.80% African American, 2.41% Native American, 1.00% from other races, and 2.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.00% of the population.

There were 200 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,521, and the median income for a family was $33,250. Males had a median income of $26,339 versus $13,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,673. About 16.9% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 19.4% of those age 65 or over.

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• Ponce de Leon Springs State Park