Pasco County, Florida

Pasco County is a located in the  of. As of, the population was 344,765. The census estimate according to the U.S. Census Bureau for the county is 450,171. Its is. It is the 38th fastest growing county in the country with a 30.6% increase and has grown by 105,403 residents since the year 2000. Pasco, along with, and , comprise the --, , .

History
Pasco County was created in from the southern part of Hernando County. It was named for, who served in the Confederate Army, the state legislature and in the from  to. The earliest towns were Anclote, Blanton, Dade City, Earnestville, Fort Dade, Macon (Trilby), Lacoochee and San Antonio. Citrus was an important industry when the county was formed, although a decline followed a freeze in 1895. Several large sawmills operated in the county in the early part of the twentieth century. During the Florida land boom of the 1920s, New Port Richey became the winter home of silent screen star and golfer ; Meighan attempted to bring other Hollywood figures to the city. The county has experienced significant population growth since the 1960s. The growth began along the Gulf coast but is now occurring most rapidly in areas north of Tampa.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 2,248 (868 ). 1,929 km² (745 sq mi) of it is land and 319 km² (123 sq mi) of it (14.18%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

 * - north
 * - northeast
 * - southeast
 * - south
 * - southwest

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 344,765 people, 147,566 households, and 99,016 families residing in the county. The was 179/km² (463/sq mi). There were 173,717 housing units at an average density of 90/km² (233/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 93.70%, 2.07% or , 0.35% , 0.94% , 0.03% , 1.52% from , and 1.38% from two or more races. 5.69% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 147,566 households out of which 23.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.90% were non-families. 27.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the county the population was spread out with 20.20% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 24.10% from 25 to 44, 23.10% from 45 to 64, and 26.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,969, and the median income for a family was $39,568. Males had a median income of $30,974 versus $23,802 for females. The for the county was $18,439. About 7.60% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 7.70% of those age 65 or over.

Incorporated

 * 1) City of
 * 2) City of
 * 3) City of
 * 4) City of
 * 5) Town of
 * 6) City of

Aviation

 * (ZPH) website
 * (X05) website
 * (X39) website
 * (FA40, private airport near Moon Lake) website

Bus service
provides bus service in West Pasco, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

Railroads
operates three rail lines within the county. formerly provided passenger rail service to Dade City, but the stop was terminated in late 2004.

Major roads

 * runs north and south across the eastern part of the county. Once a major connecting point with Tampa, I-75 has been made obsolete for western residents of the county by the Suncoast Parkway.
 * enters the county in the south halfway between Gunn Highway and US 41, and ends in the far northern part of the county at County Line Road (Exit 37), The Suncoast Parkway is a recently-constructed toll road that connects Pasco County with Hillsborough County, where it becomes the Veterans Expressway and heads directly into Tampa International Airport before reaching Interstate 275. SR 589 has four Pasco County exits: (Exit 19), Ridge Road Extension (Future Exit 24),  (Exit 27), and (Exit 37).
 * is a major commercial center running beside to the Gulf of Mexico on the western edge of the county, and used as a primary connecting route to cities down the west coast of Florida, including Tarpon Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg, as well as Spring Hill, Weeki Wachee, Homosassa and Crystal River to the north.
 * is a former section of US 19 that runs closer to the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas and southern Pasco County than US 19.
 * (Land O' Lakes Bouelvard)
 * runs northwest and southeast from Hernando County to Polk County. Concurrent with between Trilacoochee and Clinton Heights.
 * (Fort King Highway/Gall Boulevard)
 * runs northwest and southeast from into US 301 in
 * (Fort King Highway/17th Street/21st Street/Blanton Road)
 * (Colonel Schrader Memorial Highway) an east-west route that runs primarily through the center of the county from US 19 in Bayonet Point to US 98-301 in Dade City.
 * (Gunn Highway/Fifth Avenue)
 * recently constructed road between and  south of Wesley Chapel. Planned to be extended to US 301 south of.
 * the northernmost state road in Pasco County.
 * Moon Lake Road/Decubellis Road/Massachusetts Avenue (Pasco CR 587) (N)
 * Major four to six lane county road in western Pasco County bypassing US 19 between southeast of Aripeka and Trinity.
 * Trinity Boulevard(Pasco-Pinellas CR 996)
 * Moon Lake Road/Decubellis Road/Massachusetts Avenue (Pasco CR 587) (N)
 * Major four to six lane county road in western Pasco County bypassing US 19 between southeast of Aripeka and Trinity.
 * Trinity Boulevard(Pasco-Pinellas CR 996)
 * Major four to six lane county road in western Pasco County bypassing US 19 between southeast of Aripeka and Trinity.
 * Trinity Boulevard(Pasco-Pinellas CR 996)

High Schools

 * - New Port Richey
 * - Hudson
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Dade City
 * - New Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - Zephyrhills

Middle Schools

 * - New Port Richey
 * - Dade City
 * - Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Hudson
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - Dade City
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Holiday
 * - Zephyrhills
 * - Wesley Chapel

Elementary Schools

 * - New Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Dade City
 * - Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Dade City
 * - New Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Lutz
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - Port Richey
 * - Spring Hill
 * - Port Richey
 * - Holiday
 * - Holiday
 * - Hudson
 * - Dade City
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - New Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - Hudson
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - Dade City
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Dade City
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - Land O' Lakes
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Spring Hill
 * - Holiday
 * - Zephyrhills
 * - New Port Richey
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Wesley Chapel
 * - Zephyrhills
 * - Zephyrhills

Special Education Centers

 * - Dade City
 * - New Port Richey
 * - Dade City
 * - New Port Richey

Pasco County has seen explosive growth in its student enrollment, increasing from 46,458 students in the 1999-2000 year to 64,032 in the 2006-2007 year. The enrollment has grown at an average of 2510 over the past 7 years or 5.4% each year. The projected increase for the next school year is projected to grow by 1219 to reach 65,251 or 1.9%.

Government links/Constitutional offices

 * Pasco County Board of County Commissioners
 * Pasco County Supervisor of Elections
 * Pasco County Property Appraiser
 * Pasco County Sheriff's Office
 * Pasco County Tax Collector
 * Pasco County Office of Emergency Management
 * Pasco Mosquito Control
 * Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service
 * Pasco County Public Transportation

Special districts

 * Pasco County Public Schools
 * Southwest Florida Water Management District

Judicial branch

 * Pasco County Clerk of Courts
 * Public Defender for the 6th Judicial Circuit serving and Pasco Counties
 * Office of the State Attorney, 6th Judicial Circuit
 * Circuit and County Court for the 6th Judicial Circuit of Florida

Tourism links

 * Pasco County Tourism Development Council
 * Pasco County City Info and Maps

Other sites

 * History of Pasco County