Trenton, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Trenton, Florida
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| City of Trenton | |
Trenton City Hall
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| Motto(s):
"A Community of Friends"
"Building Upon a Foundation of Integrity" |
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Location in Gilchrist County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Gilchrist |
| Settled | 1883 |
| Incorporated | 1911 |
| Named for | Trenton, Tennessee |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commission-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.39 sq mi (8.79 km2) |
| • Land | 3.39 sq mi (8.79 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,015 |
| • Density | 593.87/sq mi (229.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
32693
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-72350 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0292420 |
Trenton is a city in and the county seat of Gilchrist County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,015 as of the 2020 census, up from 1,999 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Prehistory
The first Paleo-Indians reached the north-central Florida area near the end of the last ice age, as they followed big game south. As the ice melted and sea levels rose, these Native Americans ended up staying and thrived on the peninsula for thousands of years. By the time the first Spanish conquistadors arrived, there were over 250,000 Native Americans living on the peninsula. The Timucua were a historic tribe across the north central area of Florida, where Trenton later developed.
Within 150 years, the majority of the pre-Columbian Native American peoples of Florida died of new infectious diseases or warfare, with their societies disrupted. Some were enslaved by the Spaniards, and died because of harsh treatment. Little is left of these first Native American cultures in Trenton except for scant archaeological records, including a few personal artifacts. By the early 19th century, the remnants of these tribes merged with the Muscogee (also known as Creek) who migrated from Georgia and Alabama. They created a new culture through ethnogenesis and became known as the Seminole people. Most of the Seminole were removed from north-central Florida by the United States after wars from the 1830s to 1842, while some resisted by moving south into the Everglades and survived.
Post-Reconstruction to present
When the area was being settled in 1883, it was very briefly called "Joppa" before being named "Trenton" by a former Confederate soldier who resided in the community but was originally from Trenton, Tennessee (which in turn took their city's name from Trenton, New Jersey, after William Trent). The municipality was officially incorporated as the City of Trenton in 1911.
Western Alachua County was developed largely for farms and timber, which sometimes attracted itinerant workers. Trenton developed as a trading and market town for this area, with some professionals who worked here in the early 20th century.
Trenton is in a rural area, and is the hometown of country music singer Easton Corbin and MLB player, Wyatt Langford of the Texas Rangers.
Geography
The approximate coordinates for the City of Trenton is located near the southern border of Gilchrist County at 29°36′54″N 82°49′4″W / 29.61500°N 82.81778°W (29.615081, –82.817732).
U.S. Route 129 is the city's Main Street; it leads north 28 miles (45 km) to Branford and south 11 miles (18 km) to Chiefland. Florida State Road 26 (Wade Street) leads east 13 miles (21 km) to Newberry and 30 miles (48 km) to Gainesville, while to the west it leads 8 miles (13 km) to Fanning Springs. Florida State Road 47 (Trenton Boulevard) intersects US 129 in the northern part of Trenton and leads northeast 42 miles (68 km) to Lake City.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city of Trenton has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2), all land.
The Florida Department of Corrections' nearby Lancaster Correctional Institution is 3 miles (5 km) from Trenton.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Trenton has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 304 | — | |
| 1920 | 400 | 31.6% | |
| 1930 | 706 | 76.5% | |
| 1940 | 773 | 9.5% | |
| 1950 | 904 | 16.9% | |
| 1960 | 941 | 4.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,074 | 14.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,131 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 1,287 | 13.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,617 | 25.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,999 | 23.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,015 | 0.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2010 and 2020 census
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 1,424 | 1,313 | 71.24% | 65.16% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 350 | 302 | 17.51% | 14.99% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 7 | 10 | 0.35% | 0.50% |
| Asian (NH) | 11 | 9 | 0.55% | 0.45% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some other race (NH) | 1 | 5 | 0.05% | 0.25% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 49 | 92 | 2.45% | 4.57% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 157 | 284 | 7.85% | 14.09% |
| Total | 1,999 | 2,015 |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,015 people, 656 households, and 445 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,999 people, 755 households, and 430 families residing in the city.
Education
Trenton Elementary School serves Trenton area students in grades PreK–5. The Principal is Ronda Adkins and the Assistant Principal is Scott Allen. Students in grades 6–12 attend Trenton Middle High School. The Principal is Cheri Langford and the Assistant Principals are Scott Hall and Devin Colley.
Schools
Trenton, Florida, is home to two schools - Trenton Elementary School and Trenton Middle High School.
Historic buildings
Historic buildings in Trenton include:
- Gilchrist County Courthouse
- Trenton Depot
- The Trenton Church of Christ on South Main Street
Notable people
- Easton Corbin, country music singer
- Wyatt Langford, professional MLB baseball player
