Gadsden County Map, Florida
Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Gadsden County, Florida. With a population of 43,826 living across 516 square miles of land, Gadsden County is one of 15 counties in the Northwest Florida region. The county seat is Quincy, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12039 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.
Just west of Tallahassee, Gadsden is the only Florida county with an African American majority. Its rolling hills and red clay soils historically supported tobacco farming; today it is diversifying.
Gadsden County at a glance
A concise reference summary of Gadsden County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.
- Official name
- Gadsden County
- County seat
- Quincy
- FIPS code
- 12039
- Region
- Northwest Florida
- Established
- 1823
- Named for
- James Gadsden, U.S. minister to Mexico who negotiated the Gadsden Purchase.
- Land area
- 516 sq mi
- Water area
- 12 sq mi
- Total area
- 528 sq mi
- Population (2020)
- 43,826
- Population density
- 85 / sq mi
- Time zone
- Eastern Time
Where is Gadsden County, Florida?
Gadsden County is located in the Northwest Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Quincy, is the administrative hub — home to the courthouse, county commission chambers, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court.
The county spans a total of 528 square miles — 516 of land and 12 of water — and operates on Eastern Time. Federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, USGS, and FEMA reference the county by its FIPS code, 12039, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.
Gadsden County shares borders with 5 neighboring counties: Jackson County, Calhoun County, Liberty County, Leon County, Jefferson County. Use the interactive map above to explore where those boundaries meet or jump directly to any neighboring county page for a side-by-side comparison.
Gadsden County geography & landscape
Rolling hills, red clay uplands, and the Apalachicola River / Lake Seminole on the western boundary. Torreya State Park's ravines lie nearby.
The county's overall footprint — 516 square miles of land plus 12 square miles of water — places it among the more compact of Florida's 67 counties by area. Elevation across most of Florida is modest, and land-use, drainage basins, and habitat corridors defined by state and federal agencies (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Water Management Districts) shape how growth and conservation coexist here.
Economy & industry in Gadsden County
Agriculture (mushrooms, nursery plants, tomatoes), state institutions (Florida State Hospital in Chattahoochee), and manufacturing.
Employment, tax base, and land use in Gadsden County reflect its location in Northwest Florida and its position in the state's middle tier of population. Economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publish updated employer and workforce data for the county on their portals.
History of Gadsden County
Established 1823 from Jackson County. Shade tobacco for cigar wrappers made Quincy prosperous in the early 20th century; Coca-Cola stock purchased by Quincy residents on their banker's advice created a famous concentration of wealth.
Established in 1823, Gadsden County is one of Florida's earliest counties. Its boundaries, seat, and government have evolved through territorial, statehood, Reconstruction, and modern eras — a lineage documented by the Florida Historical Society, the State Archives of Florida, and the Gadsden County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.
Tourism & things to do in Gadsden County
Quincy Historic District, Lake Talquin, Bear Creek Educational Forest, and Gadsden Arts Center.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Gadsden County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its Northwest Florida identity. For the latest hours, admission fees, and seasonal events, check the county's official tourism development council and the Florida State Parks portal (floridastateparks.org).
Cities, towns & communities in Gadsden County
Gadsden County contains the following incorporated cities, towns, and notable census-designated places. Each municipality provides local services, zoning, and police protection within the broader county jurisdiction. Use the ZIP code lookupto jump between Florida counties instantly.
Getting to Gadsden County
Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Gadsden County.
- I-10
- US-90
- US-27
- US-267
- Quincy Municipal
Gadsden County GIS, parcel & boundary data
Gadsden County's authoritative boundary lines, parcel data, zoning layers, flood zones, and land-use inventories are maintained by county government and state agencies. Use the official links in the sidebar for parcel lookups, appraiser searches, and record requests. For statewide GIS, the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publish downloadable layers keyed to FIPS 12039.
You can download this county's outline as SVG, PNG, or a printable PDF factsheet using the export tools in the sidebar — perfect for reports, presentations, classroom handouts, or planning documents.
Frequently asked about Gadsden County
Population figures reflect the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 decennial count with ACS 5-year updates where noted. Land and water areas come from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files. Highway designations use Florida Department of Transportation route inventories. County establishment dates and namesakes are drawn from the Florida Association of Counties and State Archives of Florida. See our methodology page.
Nearby Florida counties
Counties that share a border with Gadsden County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.