Tallahassee, the capital city of Florida, was established in 1824 following a decision by the Legislature to locate the capital of the new Florida Territory midway between the population centers of St. Augustine and Pensacola. Located in the north central portion or Big Bend area of the state, the city is less than 20 miles south of the Georgia state line and 25 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico.
As the only incorporated city in the county, Tallahassee is the county seat. Although the city encompasses about 15% (102.00 square miles) of the county’s land area, approximately 64% (174,781) of the county’s population resides within the municipal boundaries. Since 1990, the ratio of city to county residents has remained relatively steady.
In addition to state and local government activities, the city is home to two state universities and a community college. Combined public sector employment accounts for about 38% of the Tallahassee MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) labor force and helps to keep unemployment rates below the state and national levels. Also, serving as a regional financial, trade, and health center helps the city and county to enjoy a stable economy.
The area’s population is relatively young, well educated, and affluent. A median age of 26.3 ranks Tallahassee as the youngest city in Florida, while the education level is the highest in the state. The estimated median family income for Leon County in 2004 was $59,700. Minorities account for 34% of the county’s population (29% black) as compared to the state level of 22% minorities (15% black).
From 1919 to 1997, the city was governed by a modified Commission-Manager form of government with five Commissioners, each elected at-large for four-year overlapping terms, with the position of Mayor rotating annually among the Commissioners. In a general referendum held November 1996, the citizens approved a change in this structure to allow for direct election of a Mayor for a four-year term to serve in a leadership capacity. The first directly elected Mayor took office on February 28, 1997.
The City Commission appoints the City Manager, the City Treasurer-Clerk, the City Auditor, and the City Attorney. Collectively, the appointed officials are responsible for all administrative aspects of the government, with most of the administrative and operational functions falling under the purview of the City Manager.
Tallahassee is a full-service city with 2,942.92 (FTE) employees. The city owns and operates six utilities: an electric generation, transmission, and distribution system with more than 107,282 customers in the city and adjacent urban area; a natural gas distribution system servicing approximately 22,300 customers primarily within the corporate city limits; a water production and distribution system serving about 73,619 customers within the urban area; a sewage collection system serving approximately 62,565 customers principally within the city limits; solid waste and recycling collections serving 61,510 customers and a storm water/flood control utility serving 76,231 customers exclusively within the corporate City limits.
Other enterprise activities owned and operated by the City of Tallahassee include fire services, a regional airport, public transportation, cemetery, and two municipal golf courses.
Government employment, particularly state employment, has historically been a source of stability for the local economy, providing citizens with an economic environment, which generally has been insulated from national economic trends. Representing 38% of all employment in Leon County, government employment has helped to keep unemployment rates substantially below the State of Florida and the United States average, but leaves the community vulnerable to downsizing initiatives introduced by Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature.
For more information please visit the City of Tallahassee website at www.talgov.com