Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee is the capital city of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Leon County. It became the capital of Florida in 1824. In 2024, about 205,089 people lived there, making it one of the bigger cities in Florida.

Tallahassee has many students because it is a college town. It is home to Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and Tallahassee State College. These schools help make the city a busy place for learning.

As the capital, Tallahassee has many important buildings. You can find the Florida State Capitol, Supreme Court of Florida, Florida Governor's Mansion, and many offices for state agencies here. The city also has many law offices and groups that help with business and jobs, like The Florida Bar and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. In 2025, Tallahassee won the All-America City Award from the National Civic League for the third time.

History

Main articles: History of Tallahassee, Florida and Timeline of Tallahassee, Florida

For thousands of years, people lived in the area that is now Tallahassee. Around the year 1200, a group called the Mississippian culture built large dirt mounds near Lake Jackson. You can still see these mounds today in Lake Jackson Archaeological State Park.

The Spanish came to Florida in 1565 and built missions in the area. One of the largest missions, Mission San Luis de Apalachee, has been partly rebuilt. The name Tallahassee comes from a Native American word meaning "old fields" or "old town." It was used by people who moved into the area from Georgia and Alabama.

During a conflict called the First Seminole War, a leader named General Andrew Jackson fought against local Native American groups. Tallahassee became the capital of Florida in 1824 when it was chosen as a meeting place halfway between other cities.

Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821. In 1824, Tallahassee was chosen as the capital. Over time, buildings were built, including an old Capitol in 1845. During the Civil War, Tallahassee was important to the Confederacy but was not captured.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, schools and universities were established, making Tallahassee a place for learning. During the civil rights era, people in Tallahassee worked to end unfair treatment on city buses.

The 1970s brought a new, tall Capitol building. In 1976, a famous football coach named Bobby Bowden began leading Florida State University’s team, making the city well-known for college football.

In 2000, Tallahassee was in the news because of the U.S. Presidential election. The city has also faced storms and tornadoes, which sometimes caused power outages and other problems.

Geography

The city of Tallahassee is located at approximately 30°27′18″N 84°15′12″W. It covers an area of 98.2 square miles, with most of it being land and a small part being water.

Tallahassee sits in a hilly region and is part of the Red Hills Region. The city has two large lakes, Lake Jackson and Lake Lafayette, and is near the Apalachicola National Forest. The plants and animals here are similar to those found in South Carolina and Georgia. Palm trees, pines, and oaks grow in the area. The Southern Live Oak is a special tree in the city.

Tallahassee has many neighborhoods, including Frenchtown, the oldest historically black neighborhood in the state, and Los Robles. The city is known for its canopy roads, which are tree-lined streets that give it a calm, charming feel.

The city has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild winters. Summer often brings brief, heavy rains and thunderstorms. Winter temperatures can sometimes drop to freezing, but snow is very rare. The city has faced hurricanes in the past, but they usually do not cause much damage.

Demographics

2020 census

The 2020 United States census says about 196,000 people lived in Tallahassee. There were around 78,000 households and 34,000 families.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census found about 181,000 people in Tallahassee. There were around 73,000 households and 34,000 families. Many people lived alone. A few people were aged 65 or older.

Languages

In 2000, most people in Tallahassee, about 92%, spoke English at home. Some spoke Spanish, French, or German.

Higher learning

Tallahassee has many educated people. More than half of the adults have a college degree. This is more than the average for Florida and the whole country.

Law, government and politics

Tallahassee often votes for the Democratic party, especially since the late 20th century. This shift happened as more African Americans got the right to vote and took part in politics. Because of this, Tallahassee is known for its progressive ideas and has elected many African-American leaders, including mayors and state representatives.

The city is led by an elected mayor, several city commissioners, and a city manager who takes care of daily tasks. Tallahassee is part of Florida's 2nd congressional district. The United States Postal Service, National Weather Service, and some parts of the United States Army Reserve and Navy Reserve also have offices in the city.

Education

Tallahassee has many schools and universities. The Leon County School District has many public schools where students can learn and grow. These schools work to help students do well.

The city is also home to two large universities: Florida State University and Florida A&M University. These universities offer many subjects for students to study and have programs to help people learn. There are also other colleges, like Tallahassee State College, that help students get ready for bigger universities.

Economy

Tallahassee has many important companies, like the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the Municipal Code Corporation, and the State Board of Administration of Florida. These companies help the city run and give people jobs.

In 2024, the unemployment rate in Tallahassee was 3.3%, and the average personal income was $55,363. Several big employers help support the city's economy.

Arts and culture

Tallahassee is a lively city with many places to enjoy entertainment, such as theaters, museums, parks, and performing arts centers. One popular spot is the Railroad Square Art Park.

The city has many museums. You can visit the Museum of Fine Arts at Florida State University, the Tallahassee Museum, Goodward Museum & Gardens, the Museum of Florida History, Mission San Luis de Apalachee, the Tallahassee Automobile Museum, and other interesting places like the Old Capitol Museum and Knott House Museum.

Music is important in Tallahassee. Famous musicians such as Ray Charles, George Clinton, and T-Pain have ties to the city. The city is also home to music groups like Mayday Parade and Creed.

Tallahassee has many fun festivals and events each year, including the Downtown Getdown, First Friday festivals, the Greek Food Festival, Springtime Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Wine and Food Festival, and the Winter Festival.

Sports

Florida State Seminoles

From 2016 to 2017, the Florida State Seminoles team from Florida State University earned a lot of money. They made about $144 million, which was one of the highest amounts in college sports at that time.

Other

Media

See also: List of newspapers in Florida, List of radio stations in Florida, and List of television stations in Florida

Print

Tallahassee has several newspapers. The Tallahassee Democrat is the city's biggest newspaper and is printed every day. There are also papers for schools, like the FSView & Florida Flambeau for Florida State University, The Talon for Tallahassee Community College, and The Famuan for Florida A&M University.

Television

Tallahassee has many television stations. Some of the main ones are WCTV, which shows many kinds of programs. There is also WFSU-TV, a PBS station that offers learning shows. Other stations like WTLF, WTXL-TV, and WTWC-TV give viewers different entertainment choices.

Radio

See also: Category:Radio stations in Tallahassee, Florida

Public services

The Public Safety Complex at 911 Easterwood Drive is a special building shared by Leon County and the City of Tallahassee. It was built to stay strong even during very bad storms and was finished in 2013. Inside, there are many important offices that help keep the city safe, including places for police, fire, and emergency medical services.

Tallahassee has many groups that work together to keep people safe. These include the Tallahassee Police Department, the Leon County Sheriff's Office, and several other state and university police groups. There are also offices for federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service. The city also has fire departments, emergency medical services, and hospitals to care for people's health needs.

Places of interest

Tallahassee is the capital of Florida. It has many interesting places to see. You can visit beautiful parks, old buildings, and museums. These places show the history and story of the area. The city mixes nature and culture, making it a fun place to explore.

Transportation

Aviation

• Tallahassee International Airport (KTLH)

Defunct airports

• Dale Mabry Field (closed 1961)
• Tallahassee Commercial Airport (closed 2011)

Mass transit

• StarMetro provides bus service throughout the city.

Intercity bus

• Greyhound, Megabus and RedCoach based in downtown Tallahassee.

Railroads

• Freight service is provided by the Florida Gulf & Atlantic Railroad, which acquired most of the CSX main line from Pensacola to Jacksonville on June 1, 2019. FG&A also purchased the CSX branch from Tallahassee to Attapulgus, Georgia, connecting with the CSX Montgomery-Savannah main line at Bainbridge, Georgia. FG&A's headquarters office is in Tallahassee.

Defunct railroads and passenger trains

• Tallahassee Railroad, completed in 1837, now the state-owned Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail from Tallahassee southward to St. Marks, about 20 miles (32 km).
• Carrabelle, Tallahassee and Georgia Railroad, founded in 1891, merged into the Georgia Florida and Alabama Railway in 1906. The Tallahassee-Carrabelle segment was abandoned in 1948. In 2009, a short segment of the abandoned railroad opened as the Tallahassee-Georgia Florida and Alabama (GF&A) Trail in the Apalachicola National Forest.
• The Gulf Wind coach and Pullman passenger train, operated jointly by the L&N and Seaboard railroads, served Tallahassee from 1949 to 1971.
• Amtrak's Sunset Limited served Tallahassee until 2005, when service east of New Orleans stopped after Hurricane Katrina. The service has not returned.

Major highways

• Interstate 10 runs east–west across the north side of the city. Tallahassee is served by five exits including: Exit 192 (U.S. 90), Exit 196 (Capital Circle NW), Exit 199 (U.S. 27/Monroe St.), Exit 203 (U.S. 319/Thomasville Road and Capital Circle NE), and Exit 209 (U.S. 90/Mahan Dr.)
• U.S. Route 27 enters the city from the northwest beforeing south and entering downtown. This portion of U.S. 27 is known locally as Monroe Street. In front of the historic state capitol building, U.S. 27 turns east and follows Apalachee Parkway out of the city.
• U.S. Route 90 runs east–west through Tallahassee. It is known locally as Tennessee Street west of Magnolia Drive and Mahan Drive east of Magnolia.
• U.S. Route 319 runs north–south along the east side of the city using Thomasville Road, Capital Circle NE, Capital Circle SE, and Crawfordville Road.
• State Road 20
• State Road 61
• State Road 363
• Orchard Pond Parkway, the first privately built toll road in Florida.

Namesakes

Tallahassee has inspired many names in different areas. There was a Confederate ship named CSS Tallahassee, and several US Navy ships have also carried this name. The city is also remembered in movies, music, and songs — like the character in Zombieland and albums or songs by artists such as The Mountain Goats and Bing Crosby.

Sister cities

See also: List of sister cities in Florida

Tallahassee has five sister cities around the world. These cities are Konongo-Odumase in Ashanti, Ghana; St. Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles; Sligo in County Sligo, Ireland; Rugao in Jiangsu, China; and Ramat HaSharon in the Tel Aviv District, Israel. These partnerships help connect people from different parts of the world.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Tallahassee, Florida

Tallahassee has been home to many interesting people over time. Some of these people are famous in music, sports, and public service. The city is still a place where many talented and important people live and work.

Tallahassee groups and organizations

Tallahassee has many groups and organizations that help the community. These include places for learning, health services, and groups that support families and individuals. The city also has many places where people can get together, like parks and community centers.

State associations based in Tallahassee

Many important groups for the state of Florida have their offices in Tallahassee. Because it is the capital city, many organizations that help manage and support the state’s activities are located here. These groups work on topics like education and the environment, making sure Florida runs smoothly.