Formed December 23, 1856 (34th county)
Taylor County (21,800), Perry (6,876)
The tan brick Neo-Classical courthouse was built in 1908. It is located on a square surrounded by Jefferson, Main, Washington, and Green streets. Jefferson Street is United States Highway 221 passing through the city. Ben J. B. Smith is the courthouse architect. The building was remodeled in 1983. The building features a working clock and awnings. An eternal flame burns outside the structure. Perry has always been the county seat in Taylor County. Taylor County was formed on December 23, 1856 from Madison County as the 34th county. The county was named for President Zachary Taylor. Governor Madison Starke Perry was the namesake of the county seat. He is one potential source for the county seat of Bradford County. Taylor County was the birthplace of 1 Florida Governor, Cary A. Hardee.
Taylor County government consists of a manager, sheriff, and appraiser (executive). It has 5 Commissioners (legislative.) Seven Circuit Court Judges serve Taylor, Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, and Suwannee counties and a County Court Judge, clerk, and county attorney serve Taylor County (judicial.) The county is in the northwest part of the state southeast of Tallahassee, Florida. The Gulf of Mexico is the southern border. The center of the county is 6 miles Southwest of Perry nearer Hampton Springs. The county is surrounded clockwise by Madison, Lafayette, and Dixie counties and the Gulf of Mexico and Jefferson County.
The area of the county is 1042 square miles. It is 13 out of 67 counties in the state. It ranks 54 out of 67 in population in the state. It has a density of 20.9 persons per square mile making it 64 out of 67 in the state. Taylor County has 31.5% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 19 enters from Madison County, north, and exits into Dixie County, southeast. United States Highway 27 enters joined with United States Highway 19, splits and goes east into Lafayette County. United States Highway 27 Alternate begins in the county and exits joined with United States Highway 19 into Dixie County. United States Highway 98 comes in from the west, Jefferson County, and joins United States Highway 19 into Dixie County. A triangle pointing northeast best describes the county. Perry is located in the northern third of the county. Perry is the county seat and the largest city and only incorporated city in the county. It is 31.5% of the county population.
Perry
