Dunnellon () is a city in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,928 at the 2020 census, 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. 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 communities that became ghost towns, such as Romeo, LeRoy, Brewster, and Parkersburg.

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Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable"

|+Dunnellon racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>

!Race

!Pop 2010

!Pop 2020

!% 2010

!% 2020

|-

|White (NH)

|1,453

|1,543

|83.84%

|80.03%

|-

|Black or African American (NH)

|158

|125

|9.12%

|6.48%

|-

|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)

|2

|5

|0.12%

|0.26%

|-

|Asian (NH)

|12

|13

|0.69%

|0.67%

|-

|Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)

|0

|0

|0.00%

|0.00%

|-

|Some other race (NH)

|5

|8

|0.29%

|0.41%

|-

|Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)

|17

|66

|0.98%

|3.42%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino (any race)

|86

|168

|4.96%

|8.71%

|-

|Total

|1,733

|1,928

|

|

|-

|}

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Dunnellon had a population of 1,928. The median age was 58.5 years. 15.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 37.3% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 81.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 78.5 males age 18 and over.

92.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 7.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 1,000 households in Dunnellon, of which 18.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.1% were married-couple households, 20.0% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 38.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 40.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,733 people, 824 households, and 377 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census Just outside the city, the Dunnellon/Marion County Airport can be found along CR 484.

Notable people

  • Terrence Brooks, American football NFL safety for the New York Jets
  • Max Lanier, former MLB baseball player
  • Lerentee McCray, former NFL outside linebacker and defensive end for the Denver Broncos
  • Kelly Meggs, leader of the Florida Chapter of the Oath Keepers militia, convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol
  • Ernie Mills, former NFL football player, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Terry Plumeri, classical composer, orchestra conductor, double bassist, lecturer, teacher, producer, and film score composer
  • Michael Roof, actor from the XXX films, The Dukes of Hazzard movie, Black Hawk Down and Raising the Roofs

See also

  • Dunnellon Boomtown Historic District

References

  • Ocala/Marion Visitors' & Convention Bureau