Dunnellon

Dunnellon is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Dunnellon is located at 29°3'N 82°27'W (29.0500, –82.4555), 76 miles (122 km) due north of Tampa.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19 km2), of which 7.1 square miles (18 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) (5.11%) is water.

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,898 people, 950 households, and 555 families residing in the city. The population density was 269.3 inhabitants per square mile (103.9/km2). There were 1,128 housing units at an average density of 160.0 per square mile (61.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.72% White, 11.85% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.47% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.

There were 950 households, out of which 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.5% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.00 and the average family size was 2.59.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.2% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 17.7% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 35.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $27,386, and the median income for a family was $35,313. Males had a median income of $29,605 versus $22,045 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,905. About 10.4% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.

Dunnellon was founded in 1887. In 1889, phosphate was discovered in the area, leading to an expansion of the area for mining, which lasted until the early 1910s.[6] The original mining took place in and around the Rainbow River (formerly called 'Blue Run'), using the river's natural flow to transport phosphates. What is now referred to as the 'Blue Cove' subdivision, was one of the original mining pits.[7]

Areas in and around Dunnellon served as filming locations for the 2001 horror film Jeepers Creepers, with a great deal of location work on Tiger Trail (a.k.a. High School Road), the road to Dunnellon High School, officially known as SW 180th Avenue Rd., just outside Rainbow Springs State Park.

Dunnellon had four railroad lines in the past: two owned by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, one owned by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad and one owned by the Florida Northern Railroad. A boat launching area exists along the Withlacoochee River. Just outside the city, the Dunnellon/Marion County Airport can be found along CR 484.