Adjacent counties

• Levy County - northwest
• Marion County - northeast
• Sumter County - east
• Hernando County - south

National protected areas

• Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge

Fauna

According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service's aerial manatee surveys, as many as 400 of these unique creatures can be found in Citrus County at one time. This typically occurs only during the coldest months of the year.

Manatees can also be viewed in the underwater observatory at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Most of the park's residents are injured animals either undergoing rehabilitation for future release to the wild, or will be permanent due to their inability to be released to the wild.^[14] The notable exception is Lucifer, an African hippopotamus that had prior movie roles. When a permanent home could not be found for Lucifer, then-Governor Lawton Chiles named him an "honorary citizen of the state" thus allowing him to remain at the Park.^[15]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 153,843 people, 69,438 households, and 40,063 families residing in the county. The median age was 57.9 years. 14.5% 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 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 92.1 males age 18 and over.^[21]

The racial makeup of the county was 87.5% White, 2.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.6% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.5% from some other race, and 6.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.0% of the population.^[22]

75.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 25.0% lived in rural areas.^[23]

There were 69,438 households in the county, of which 17.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 48.7% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[21]

There were 81,687 housing units, of which 15.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.1% were owner-occupied and 17.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.^[21]

Racial and ethnic composition

2000 census

As of the census^[33] of 2000, 118,085 people, 52,634 households, and 36,317 families resided in the county. The population density was 78 per square kilometre (200/sq mi). The 62,204 housing units averaged 41 per square kilometre (110/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 95.05% White, 2.36% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. About 2.66% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

Of the 52,634 households, 19% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31% were not families. About 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.60.

In the county, the population was distributed as 17.20% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 19.10% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 32.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.

Personal income

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The median income for a household in the county was $31,001, and for a family was $36,711. Males had a median income of $28,091 versus $21,408 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,585. Around 11.70% of the population and 8.50% of families were below the poverty line; 18.10% of those under the age of 18 and 7.00% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Labor

More than one-third of residents were senior citizens in 2014. Health care dominates the work force.^[34]

Airports

• Citrus County is served by two local airports, Crystal River Airport and Inverness Airport.

Railroads

One rail line operates within the county: A freight line to the Crystal River Energy Complex in northern Citrus County. Other lines that used to run through Citrus were either converted into rail trails such as the Cross Town Trail in Crystal River and Withlacoochee State Trail in eastern Citrus County or abandoned.

Major roads

• SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway) runs north to south due to the recent expansion of the Suncoast Parkway from Hernando County (N.B. the Suncoast Parkway is considered incomplete; there are plans for it to extend through northern and northwestern Citrus County and head into Red Level.)
• US 19 (SR 55/Suncoast Boulevard) is the main local road through western Citrus County, running south to north.
• US 41 (SR 45/Florida Avenue) is the main local road through eastern Citrus County, running south to north. North of CR 48 in Floral City, the road is also shared by the DeSoto Trail.
• US 98 (SR 700/Ponce de Leon Boulevard) runs northwest to southeast from Hernando County, Florida, and joins US 19 in Chassahowitzka on its way to Perry.
• SR 44 (Gulf-to-Lake Highway) runs east and west through the northern part of the county from Crystal River into Sumter County. A county extension south of the western terminus runs into Fort Island.
• CR 48 runs mostly east and west through Southeastern Citrus County. It spans from US 41 Floral City winding southeast along the Withlacoochee River, which it eventually crosses on the way to Bushnell and Center Hill in Sumter County, and Howey-in-the Hills in Lake County. The segment in Bushnell between I-75 (Exit 314) and US 301 was a state road until the end of 2016. Throughout Citrus County, County Road 48 is also shared by the DeSoto Trail.
• CR 480 is the southernmost county road in Citrus County. It runs east and west from Chassahowitzka with a short concurrency with US 98, then through the Withlacoochee State Forest where it eventually terminates at US 41 in Floral City, south of CR 48.
• CR 490 runs east and west from the Gulf of Mexico along the south side of the Homosassa River until it briefly joins US 19–98 in downtown Homosassa Springs only to head northeast towards SR 44 in Lecanto.
• CR 491 (Lecanto Highway): A Bi-County road that begins in unincorporated northwestern Hernando County, then runs north and south along the western side of the Withlacoochee State Forest, and into Lecanto and Beverly Hills where it curves east in northern Citrus County and crosses US 41 in Holder, only to terminate at SR 200 near the Citrus-Marion County Line.
• CR 581: Runs north and south along the eastern side of the Withlacoochee State Forest from County Road 481 in Lake Lindsey, into Inverness where it joins SR 44 east towards US 41, only to branch off on its own as a dead end street on the banks of the Withlacoochee River.

Cities

• Crystal River
• Inverness

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Former towns

• Mannfield (original county seat, now a ghost town)^[35]
• Orleans^[36]
• Stage Pond (Cemetery still remains)^[37]
• Arlington^[38]
• Fairmount (town site is now Meadowcrest Industrial Park)^[39]

Citrus County Fire and Rescue

Citrus County Fire and Rescue first began serving the community in 1974.^[40]

In 2025, Citrus County Fire and Rescue (CCFR) received over $2 million in grants from the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency, in order to expand their hiring and upgrade their equipment.^[41]

Libraries

Libraries within Citrus County were originally separate and overseen by different local organizations. In 1961, the libraries of Crystal River, Floral City, Hernando, Homosassa, and Inverness joined the Central Florida Regional Library System along with Levy and Marion Counties. The Citrus County Library System was established on October 1, 1987.^[42] In 1996, the libraries became connected to the Internet and were able to access online resources and materials.^[43]

There are five branches of the Citrus County Library System:^[44]

• Beverly Hills (Central Ridge)
• Crystal River (Coastal Region)
• Floral City
• Homosassa
• Inverness (Lakes Region)

Elections