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Florida · Florida Big Bend · #764
Jefferson County, Florida
Between Tallahassee and the Georgia state line on US-90, Jefferson County's Monticello is one of the best-preserved antebellum courthouse towns in Florida - its opera house, Victorian courthouse, and tree-shaded streets represent a north Florida character that the coastal tourism economy never reached and time largely left alone.
County SeatMonticello
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Office: Jefferson County Emergency Management – (850) 342-0223 | jeffersoncountyfl.com
Alert System: Florida FDEM; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Jefferson County High School; Monticello facilities; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: North Florida Big Bend county between Tallahassee and the Gulf; Monticello is county seat; hurricane risk (Idalia 2023 made landfall in the Big Bend area causing significant surge and damage in Jefferson County’s coastal areas; Hermine 2016); flooding (Aucilla River; Wacissa River; coastal flooding along the Gulf); severe thunderstorms; wildfire risk; significant karst geology (caves and sinks); very rural; Monticello is the state tree (Sabal palm) capital
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Jefferson County Roads – (850) 342-0223
Transit: None; primarily auto-dependent
Notes: I-10 (east-west through northern Jefferson County – connects Tallahassee east to Tallahassee metro 25 miles west); US-19/SR-27 (the coastal highway south to Tallahassee and the Gulf); US-90 (the old route through Monticello); Jefferson County is immediately east of Tallahassee (about 25 miles); this proximity to the state capital provides access to services while maintaining a rural character; the county seat Monticello is a charming antebellum town
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Jefferson County Building – (850) 342-0223
Services: Very basic county permits; Monticello (separate) only significant community
Notes: Very limited development; Tallahassee exurban residential development in western Jefferson County; agricultural structures; vacation cabin development near the springs and Gulf coast
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Jefferson County Veterans Services – (850) 342-0223
VA Medical: Tallahassee VA CBOC (25 miles west – very accessible)
Services: Benefits claims; Tallahassee CBOC very accessible; small rural veteran population; Tallahassee state capital employment attracting veterans
Notes: Tallahassee VA CBOC excellent accessibility for Jefferson County veterans given the proximity
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Jefferson County Public Library – (850) 342-0205
Address: Monticello
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Monticello antebellum heritage; Jefferson County natural heritage; Aucilla River springs heritage
Notes: Single library; Monticello’s extraordinarily preserved antebellum town heritage is a primary local topic; watermelon farming heritage (Jefferson County was once one of Florida’s premier watermelon growing areas)
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Wacissa River (one of north Florida’s finest spring-fed rivers; multiple springs emerge along the Wacissa creating crystal-clear cold water; excellent kayaking from Wacissa Springs to the Aucilla River and Gulf coast; manatees winter in the springs; alligators; bream; the river is pristine and undeveloped; one of the finest kayaking experiences in north Florida); Aucilla River and Sinks (the Aucilla River disappears into a series of limestone sinks as it approaches the Gulf – an extraordinary karst phenomenon; the sinks contain mastodon bones and early human artifacts (humans were butchering mastodons at the Aucilla River sinks 12,000+ years ago – one of the most significant Paleo-Indian sites in the Southeast); diving and archaeological significance); Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park (Woodville – just west of Jefferson County; one of the most significant Florida Civil War sites – the last Confederate victory east of the Mississippi; March 1865; Florida militia defeated Union forces attempting to reach Tallahassee, making Tallahassee the only Confederate state capital east of the Mississippi never captured by Union forces)
Notable: Monticello (one of Florida’s finest antebellum towns; the courthouse square with the 1909 Jefferson County Courthouse; Victorian homes; the Monticello Opera House (a Victorian opera house that still hosts performances)); watermelon festivals
Notes: Jefferson County’s Wacissa River and Aucilla River systems are some of the finest spring-fed river experiences in north Florida – the Wacissa’s multiple springs (Big Blue Spring, Thomas Spring, and others) create extraordinary crystal-clear conditions; the Aucilla River’s limestone sink archaeology (documenting human-mastodon interaction 12,000 years ago) is one of the most significant Paleo-Indian sites in the southeastern US; Monticello’s antebellum townscape is remarkably well-preserved
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Jefferson County GIS; Florida DEP; SRWMD Wacissa and Aucilla River maps; Aucilla sinks archaeological site maps (some restricted); I-10 corridor maps
Notes: County GIS; Wacissa River spring system monitoring; Aucilla River karst mapping; Big Bend coastal management maps
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Very basic; Jefferson County Sheriff animal control
Notes: Rural county; cattle; white-tailed deer; wild turkey; Florida black bears; manatees in Wacissa Springs (winter); gopher tortoises; alligators; river turtles; Gulf coastal wildlife
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Jefferson County – limited; transfer stations
Environmental: Florida DEP; Suwannee River Water Management District; Gulf coast management (St. Marks NWR adjacent); Wacissa River and Aucilla River karst systems
Notes: The Aucilla River’s karst sinkhole system is both ecologically and archaeologically significant – the sinks are monitored by SRWMD for water quality and by the Florida Museum of Natural History for archaeological content; the Wacissa River’s spring system is protected in part by the Gulf coastal conservation lands; the Big Bend area’s coastal marshes (adjacent to Jefferson County) are important wildlife habitat managed through St. Marks NWR; agricultural nonpoint source management for north Florida flatwoods and karst
About Jefferson County
Jefferson County’s Monticello is the most intact antebellum small town in north Florida – its Opera House (built 1890), Victorian courthouse, and canopy-road corridors under live oaks give it an architectural integrity that is rare in a state where development pressure has been so relentless. The county’s watermelon farming in the sandy soils of the Big Bend transition zone produces a significant commercial crop. Jefferson County is also known for its exceptional canopy roads – the old-growth live oak tunnels over historic state roads that are among the most photographed natural features in north Florida.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Florida assesses property at just value. The homestead exemption reduces assessed value by $50,000. The Save Our Homes cap limits annual homestead increases to 3%. Florida has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
Jefferson County Clerk of Circuit Court (Probate): 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344 | (850) 342-0218.
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Jefferson County Clerk of the Circuit Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above); also serves as Jefferson County Recorder of Deeds, 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL, maintaining marriage licenses, sealed orders, court documents, deeds, and land records.
Jefferson County Historical Association, P.O. Box 496, Monticello, FL 32344.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Jefferson County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Probate Division 1 Courthouse Circle, Monticello, FL 32344 (850) 342-0218
Jefferson County sits in Florida’s 3rd Judicial Circuit. Clerk & Comptroller: Cecil “Trey” Hightower.
IMPORTANT – a major statewide law change just took effect: Florida’s summary administration threshold DOUBLED from $75,000 to $150,000 effective July 1, 2026, under CS/HB 1337 (Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida). Confirm which threshold applies based on date of death when helping someone (see
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Health & Human Services
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida DOH in Jefferson County – (850) 342-0261 | jefferson.floridahealth.gov
Services: Basic; immunizations; vital records; behavioral health; Aucilla River spring health monitoring
Hospital: No local hospital; Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (25 miles west – excellent access)
Notes: No local hospital but Tallahassee accessibility makes healthcare reasonable; behavioral health in isolated rural community; agricultural worker health
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Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Monticello
Tier: 4
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Jefferson County facilities via Amazon.
