Jefferson County, Florida

Jefferson County is located in the Florida panhandle, 25 miles east of Tallahassee. The population of 13,000 is predominately rural. Monticello, the county seat, has a population of about 3,000. Agriculture has been the traditional base of the economy, but the community is in transition. The county serves as a bedroom for Tallahassee, the state's capital. Almost one half of the non-farm workforce commutes outside the county for employment, many to professional, academic, state government, service and trade jobs. In like manner, consumers in Jefferson County depend on Tallahassee and Thomasville, Georgia (20 miles north of Monticello) markets for hospitals and specialized health care, consumer durables, automobiles, sports and entertainment, and specialized retail purchases.

Aproximately 24% of county income is derived directly from agriculture and forestry,and about 25% of total county income comes from transfer payments. Unemployment is consistently below state averages, and over 90% of non-farm private employment is in small business. Per capita taxable sales are typically low when compared to state averages, which is indicative of expenditures outside the county. Per capita income is also consistantly low when compared with the State, at about two-thirds the Florida average.  

The Economic Development Corporation of Jefferson County, Inc., is responsible for promoting and encouraging improvements for community development in the county. Operating from the Chamber of Commerce, the corporation consists of seven members. The EDC established the following mission statement in 1992: To maintain the existing rural quality of life, increase the per capita income level, and develop additional retail and recreational services as needed by the citizens of Jefferson County.