Bonifay, Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bonify is a city in Holmes County, Florida, United States. Bonifay was given its name for a prominent family in the area who goes by the same last name.[1] The population was 4,078 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 2,711. [2] It is the county seat of Holmes CountyGR6.
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[edit] News Media
Investigator OnLine Newspaper - http://www.HolmesCountyFlorida.com/
[edit] Geography
Bonifay is located at (30.790573, -85.680811).GR1
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.4 km² (3.6 mi²), all land.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 4,078 people, 1,095 households, and 669 families residing in the city. The population density was 435.0/km² (1,126.9/mi²). There were 1,216 housing units at an average density of 129.7/km² (336.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.71% White, 25.50% African American, 0.71% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.89% from other races, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.12% of the population.
There were 1,095 households out of which 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 36.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 15.3% under the age of 18, 12.6% from 18 to 24, 38.9% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 172.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 192.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $21,216, and the median income for a family was $33,077. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $18,529 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,320. About 14.8% of families and 21.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.0% of those under age 18 and 26.3% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Famous Residents
Raymon Hudson: Raymon is a NFL football player signed in June 2006 with the New Orleans Saints but got cut. He played high school football at Holmes County High School in Bonifay in the late 90s and early 00s. He played college football for the University of Alabama. [3]
Chad Edelsteinfrom Bonifay was the first person from Holmes County to play football and baseball in a Division 1 College Florida A&M University and now resides in California where he is going to play Arena Football for Stockton CA.
James McFatter"Coach Mac" went to Florida State in 1950 and lettered in Volleyball in 1951 and 1952. After four years in the Navy, he returned to Tallahassee to play for Coach Bill Odeneal's NCAA championship teams in 1957 and 1958. McFatter was the versatile leader of those two great squads and was named to the NCAA All-American first team in both 1957 and 1958. James McFatter was an important force in Florida State's rise to national visibility in its first decade in intercollegiate athletics.
[edit] Current Growth
Bonifay is in somewhat of a growth spurt. Plans are underway for the construction of a new hospital to be built at the intersection of State Road 79 and Interstate 10. Also recently announced in June 2006 are plans to open a wilderness education theme park sponsored by wildlife host Jim Fowler to be called Jim Fowler's Life in the Wild. This theme park is also slated to be constructed at the intersection of State Road 79 and Interstate 10.
WTVY/Dothan has reported large property value increases due to real estate speculation. [4] However, as of August 3, 2006, the wildlife park project near Bonifay has been halted due to the termination of the agreement by the Holmes County Development Commission to sell 790 acres to Jim Fowler and his Fowler Center for Wildlife Education for the purpose of building the park. [5] The refundable deposit of $50,000.00 will be returned by the county. Also, the offices of Blue Dolphin II, Inc., (real estate and marketing partner of Mr. Fowler) have been closed and are no longer located on State Road 79 (Waukesha St.) in downtown Bonifay. Among the many financial, logistical, and regulatory obstacles facing the construction of the park are the locations of a state prison, a county jail, and other public facilities within the proposed park, as depicted by the large white block and small white block areas to the northeast of a planned lake amidst the attractions in the park's master plan. [6] Like other cities (e.g. Brunswick, GA, Crestview, FL) before it, Bonifay's brief flirtation with a Fowler-sponsored wildlife park comes to an end. [7][8]
[edit] External links
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
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![[6]](http://www.bluedolphinii.com/planbig.jpg){kind=link}