Characteristics

The ten counties in the ORT area — Gadsden, Liberty, Franklin, Leon, Wakulla, Jefferson, Madison, Taylor, Grady, and Thomas — comprise a unique and special place: from the Red Hills to the Forgotten Coast, and between the Apalachee and Suwannee Rivers.

The region has generally not experienced the intense growth that has been typical in more highly developed south Florida counties. In fact, the ORT area is the only portion of the North Florida / South Georgia area in which populations are less in the coastal regions than inland regions.

Tallahassee, the Florida state capital, drives a significant portion of the region’s economic activity, with each county sharing some labor force across county (and state) boundaries.

The region benefits greatly from many other communities which contribute to the sense of place:

• Quincy
• Havana
• Gretna
• Greensboro
• Bristol
• Apalachicola
• Carrabelle
• Sopchoppy
• St. Marks
• Crawfordville
• Perry
• Monticello
• Lloyd
• Madison
• Lee
• Thomasville