The cultivation of shade tobacco began in Gadsden County, Florida around 1829. In 1902, following the completion of the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railroad, many settlers moved a mile east to the present site of Havana. A local teacher, James Mathewson, proposed the name "Havana". He believed the hand-rolled cigars made in this region of Florida were comparable to those from Havana, Cuba. On December 5, 1906, the Town of Havana was officially incorporated. The railway town was important to the export of farming and tobacco.[1][2]
On March 16, 1916, Havana was destroyed by a fire and 26 business-owned buildings were burned leaving only two remaining stores.[1][2]
In recent times, much of the tobacco crop industry has declined and Havana is now known for its antiques, art galleries and specialty stores.
U.S. Route 27 passes through the center of town, leading southeast 16 miles (26 km) to the center of Tallahassee and north 25 miles (40 km) to Bainbridge, Georgia. Florida State Road 12 intersects US 27 in Havana; it leads west 12 miles (19 km) to Quincy, the Gadsden County seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Havana has a total area of 2.8 square miles (7.2 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.04 km2), or 0.57%, is water.
Havana, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,753 people, 970 households, and 708 families residing in the town.[13]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,754 people, 703 households, and 411 families residing in the town.[14]
2000 census
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,713 people, 700 households, and 471 families residing in the town. The population density was 922.5 inhabitants per square mile (356.2/km2). There were 762 housing units at an average density of 410.4 per square mile (158.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 41.86% White, 56.74% African American, 0.06% Asian, 0.82% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
In 2000, there were 700 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 20.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.
In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the town was $27,344, and the median income for a family was $38,487. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $19,958 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,481. About 11.1% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 23.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Havana Magnet School (former Havana Middle School)
Previously the Havana area had three schools: Havana Elementary School, Havana Middle School, and Havana Northside High School.[15] Havana Elementary began using the Accelerated School program in Spring 1995 in order to improve academic performance. In 2001, Havana Elementary, which occupied an 18-acre (7.3 ha) area, had about 100 employees and 1,000 students; most of the students were low income, and 95% of the students were from African-American families.[16] In 2003, Havana Northside High School and James A. Shanks High School in Quincy consolidated into East Gadsden High.[17] In 2017, the high school section of West Gadsden High School consolidated into East Gadsden High, leaving the latter as the only remaining zoned high school in the county.[18]
