Starke, Florida

Bradford County Courthouse

Starke is a city in Bradford County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,593 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,769 [1]. It is the county seat of Bradford CountyTemplate:GR.

Geography

Location of Starke, Florida

Starke is located at 29°56′50″N 82°6′29″W (29.947155, -82.108113)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.2 km² (6.7 mi²), all land.

Starke is located approximately 8 miles west of Florida's National Guard base, Camp Blanding, and is located approximately 11 miles east and 6 miles south of Florida State Prison, Union Correctional Institution, New River East Correctional Institution, and south of Lawtey Correctional Institution. Florida executes condemned prisoners at Florida State Prison; serial killers Aileen Wuornos and Ted Bundy were executed here.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,593 people, 2,003 households, and 1,350 families residing in the city. The population density was 324.2/km² (839.3/mi²). There were 2,273 housing units at an average density of 131.8/km² (341.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.05% White, 29.54% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.23% of the population.

There were 2,003 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.3% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,021, and the median income for a family was $35,093. Males had a median income of $27,176 versus $17,986 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,507. About 19.2% of families and 23.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.9% of those under age 18 and 23.2% of those age 65 or over.

Film and Television location

Starke has been the location of several Hollywood films to include; Demi Moore's "G.I. Jane" film east of Starke on Camp Blanding National Guard Reservation, Joel Schumacher's film "Tigerland" starring Colin Farrell, "Basic" starring Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, "What's Love Got To Do With It" and television's Fox reality t.v. show "Boot Camp".