Plaque marking the discovery of phosphate in Dunnellon
Dunnellon was founded in 1887,[1] two years before the 1889 discovery of phosphate in the area. It was officially incorporated as a city in 1891.[2] The subsequent mining boom, the first of its kind in Florida, lasted until the early 1910s.[7][8] The original mining took place in and around the Rainbow River (then called Blue Run,) using the river's natural flow to transport phosphates. One of the original mining pits is now called the 'Blue Cove' subdivision.[1] Phosphate industry operations began to shift south to the Polk County area, and by the 1960s, Dunnellon's last mine closed. Dunnellon survived the bust period, unlike other nearby phosphate towns including Romeo, LeRoy, Brewster, and Parkersburg.[8]
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.
U.S. Route 41 passes through the city, leading north 24 miles (39 km) to Williston and south 18 miles (29 km) to Inverness. Ocala, the Marion county seat, is 24 miles (39 km) to the northeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Dunnellon has a total area of 9.1 square miles (24 km2), of which 8.8 square miles (23 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km2), or 3.27%, are water.[3] The Rainbow River joins the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon, with the combined flow leading west toward the Gulf of Mexico.
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 1,928 people, 1,272 households, and 546 families residing in the city.[12]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,733 people, 824 households, and 377 families residing in the city.[13]
2000 census
As of the census[5] 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 (104.0/km2). There were 1,128 dwelling 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.
In 2000, 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 2000, 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.
In 2000, 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.
Transportation
Major roads
Northbound US 41 where it shares a hidden concurrency with SR 40.
County roads include County Roads 40, 336, and 484, all three of which run along Pennsylvania Avenue.
County Road 40 is a bi-county road that begins along the Gulf of Mexico in Yankeetown in Levy County, and merges with CR 336 before entering the city limits and turning north onto US 41 as hidden State Road 40 where it branches off on its own in Rainbow Lakes Estates north of the city.
County Road 336 is another bi-county road, but this one spans southeast from western Levy County, and merges with CR 40 west of the city limits before terminating at US 41, where CR 40 turns north and Pennsylvania Avenue becomes CR 484.
County Road 484, is a major county road in southern Marion County which begins at the terminus of CR 336 and its multiplex with CR 40. It leads to Marion Oaks, and spans as far east as US 27-441 in Summerfield.
