Groveland, Florida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Historic Edge House

Groveland is a city in Lake County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,360 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 4,589 [1]. It is located at the intersection of State Road 19 and Florida State Road 33|State Road 33/50.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 Groveland Case
4 External links

[edit] Geography

Groveland is located at 28°33′28″N, 81°51′7″W (28.557853, -81.851918)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.8 km² (3.0 mi²). 6.8 km² (2.6 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (12.91%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,360 people, 845 households, and 626 families residing in the city. The population density was 346.5/km² (897.1/mi²). There were 921 housing units at an average density of 135.2/km² (350.1/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 68.81% White, 22.42% African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 6.27% from other races, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14.70% of the population.

There were 845 households out of which 35.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.23.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,017, and the median income for a family was $37,857. Males had a median income of $27,292 versus $20,186 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,132. About 13.9% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Groveland Case

In 1949, Harry T. Moore, the executive director of the Florida NAACP, organized a campaign against the wrongful conviction of three African Americans for the rape of a white woman in Groveland. Two years later, the Supreme Court ordered a new trial. Soon afterwards, Sheriff Willis V. McCall of Lake County, Florida, shot two of the men while in his custody. One was killed and other man was seriously wounded.

Moore demanded that the sheriff be indicted for murder and requested that the Governor suspend him from office. On December 25, 1951, a bomb exploded in Moore's house, killing him and his wife, Harriette.

Some alleged that Sheriff McCall was associated with ordering this bombing. However, an extensive FBI investigation at the time and additional separate investigations have failed to produce any evidence supporting the claim of McCall's involvement.

Although members of the Ku Klux Klan were suspected of the crime, the people responsible were never brought to trial.