Worthington Springs is a spring and town in Union County, Florida, United States. It is part of the North Florida region. The population was 378 at the 2020 census.
History
The community was named for early settler Sam Worthington, who arrived prior to the first Seminole War of 1814–1819. The mineral spring on the Santa Fe River was alleged to have medicinal benefits, attracting people from the late 1800s to the early 1900s. In the early years, swimming was segregated, with men and women assigned specific time intervals. In 1906, the new owner constructed a 12'×12' concrete box around the spring to divert water into a 90'×50' concrete pool with a wall dividing the bathing area into sections for men and women. The complex included a hotel, recreation hall and bathhouse for the spring pool.
Independence Day was always a big celebration at the springs. Thousands of people from surrounding communities would converge on the springs to picnic, swim, politic, and converse with friends and fellow Floridians. A special train transported people from Jacksonville for the holiday festivities.
An iron and timber bridge was built across the river in 1908, facilitating access to and from the south. It was replaced in 1937 with the present concrete structure. In the mid-twentieth century, the outflow from the spring declined, and then stopped flowing completely. Activity at the resort likewise curtailed, and the facility was abandoned. Street lights were installed, and a playground was created in the town park. In 1975, a community center was built, which included government offices for the town hall.
2010 and 2020 census
{| class="wikitable"
|+Worthington Springs racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010
!Pop 2020
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|White (NH)
|153
|282
|84.53%
|74.60%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|7
|43
|3.87%
|11.38%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)
|0
|3
|0.00%
|0.79%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|0
|4
|0.00%
|1.06%
|-
|Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)
|8
|25
|4.42%
|6.61%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|13
|21
|7.18%
|5.56%
|-
|Total
|181
|378
|100.00%
|100.00%
|-
|}
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 378 people, 126 households, and 89 families residing in the town.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 181 people, 46 households, and 42 families residing in the town.
2000 census
As of the census