Gilchrist County Map, Florida
Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Gilchrist County, Florida. With a population of 17,864 living across 349 square miles of land, Gilchrist County is one of 14 counties in the North Central Florida region. The county seat is Trenton, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12041 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.
Florida's newest county (created 1925), Gilchrist is a small, rural county along the Suwannee River, dotted with springs and family farms.
Gilchrist County at a glance
A concise reference summary of Gilchrist County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.
- Official name
- Gilchrist County
- County seat
- Trenton
- FIPS code
- 12041
- Region
- North Central Florida
- Established
- 1925
- Named for
- Albert W. Gilchrist, Florida governor 1909-1913.
- Land area
- 349 sq mi
- Water area
- 5 sq mi
- Total area
- 354 sq mi
- Population (2020)
- 17,864
- Population density
- 51 / sq mi
- Time zone
- Eastern Time
Where is Gilchrist County, Florida?
Gilchrist County is located in the North Central Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Trenton, 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 354 square miles — 349 of land and 5 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, 12041, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.
Gilchrist County shares borders with 6 neighboring counties: Dixie County, Levy County, Alachua County, Columbia County, Suwannee County, Lafayette 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.
Gilchrist County geography & landscape
The Suwannee and Santa Fe Rivers frame two sides. Numerous first- and second-magnitude springs (Fanning, Manatee, Hart, Ginnie) rise from the Floridan aquifer.
The county's overall footprint — 349 square miles of land plus 5 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 Gilchrist County
Agriculture (dairy, hay, watermelons), timber, and springs-based tourism.
Employment, tax base, and land use in Gilchrist County reflect its location in North Central Florida and its position as a smaller, more rural county. 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 Gilchrist County
Split from Alachua County in 1925 — the last new county created in Florida.
Established in 1925, Gilchrist County is one of Florida's modern 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 Gilchrist County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.
Tourism & things to do in Gilchrist County
Fanning Springs State Park, Hart Springs, Ginnie Springs Outdoors, and the Nature Coast State Trail.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Gilchrist County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its North Central 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 Gilchrist County
Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist County
Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Gilchrist County.
- US-19
- US-129
- SR-26
- SR-47
- Gainesville Regional nearby
Gilchrist County GIS, parcel & boundary data
Gilchrist 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 12041.
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 Gilchrist 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 Gilchrist County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.