Ponce de Leon, Florida
15 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1948 and the latest in 1994. It stands in the West Holmes census division. It lies in ZIP code area 32455. It stands on Blue Creek. The Survey maps it on the Ponce de Leon quadrangle. 504 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 62 feet above sea level.
Then and now
1948 to 1994The same ground, surveyed 46 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.


Compare 1948 against another survey:
Population over time
2 figuresPonce de Leon fell from 598 to 504 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 598 | |
| 2020 | 504 | -94 (-16%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
9 surveys from 15 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1948 USGS Ponce De Leon quadrangle1:24000
- 1950 USGS Ponce De Leon quadrangle1:24000
- 1954 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1959 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000
- 1960 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000
- 1979 USGS Marianna quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
- 1982 USGS Ponce De Leon quadrangle1:24000, 2 printings
- 1988 USGS Tallahassee quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1994 USGS Ponce De Leon quadrangle1:24000
Fires near this place
223 since 1992Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 223 fires within 5 miles of Ponce de Leon between 1992 and 2020, burning about 1,021 acres in total. 6 started naturally. 15 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Equipment and vehicle use | 64 |
| Debris and open burning | 48 |
| Railroad operations and maintenance | 29 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 28 |
| Smoking | 17 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 15 |
| Recreation and ceremony | 9 |
| Natural | 6 |
| Misuse of fire by a minor | 4 |
| Power generation/transmission/distribution | 3 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 September 2002 | Debris and open burning | 18 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 30 September 2000 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 30 September 1997 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 27 September 2012 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | HWY 90 PDL (30) |
| 27 September 1993 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 18 September 2019 | Debris and open burning | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | HWY 81 (66) |
| 18 September 1999 | Railroad operations and maintenance | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
| 13 September 1999 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Florida Forest Service | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
5 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Ponce de Leon: 3 occurrences, 2 prospects. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Sand Deposit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Prospect | ||
| Blue Spring Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence | ||
| Ditch Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Prospect | ||
| Morrison Springs Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence | ||
| Springs Limestone Prospect | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Occurrence |
Storms near this place
34 since 2000Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Ponce de Leon in 34 storm reports between 2000 and 2026: 27 thunderstorm wind, 3 tornado, 2 flash flood, 2 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2020 | Flash Flood | Ponce De Leon | $8,500,000 | Extensive flash flooding occurred across Holmes county. Damage cost was estimated. |
| April 2020 | Tornado (EF1) | Ponce De Leon | $100,000 | Tree damage was first noted along Bob Sikes Rd. just west of Hwy 331. The tornado then crossed Hwy 331 knocking down a few business signs and trees as well as blowing in four windows of a series of businesses at a strip mall. A large retail business also had part of it's roof peeled back and a couple HVAC units blown off.The tornado continued east northeast with points surveyed along Bay Ave southeast of DeFuniak Springs as well as County Rd 183 south of Argyle. Trees and large limbs were downed|at both locations. The location south of Argyle was the last portion of the track able to be surveyed as the track then went into inaccessible portions of Holmes County south of HWY 90. Radar was used to extend the track a few more miles into Holmes|county. The tornado lifted before reaching Ponce De Leon or Highway 81. |
| July 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $100,000 | Straight line winds caused numerous trees to be snapped and uprooted in Ponce de Leon. Minor structural damage was sustained as roofing was peeled off of a couple of metal barns. Winds were estimated around 80 mph. Damage cost was estimated. |
| January 2024 | Tornado (EF0) | Ponce De Leon | $75,000 | A tornado touched down along R.M. Ward Road in western Holmes County. The tornado knocked down numerous trees, which caused damage to several structures, including one home and at least one vehicle. The tornado continued northeast before dissipating in a heavily wooded area northeast of Jessie Hall Lane. Damage was consistent with an EF0 tornado with max winds estimated around 80 mph. Thanks to Holmes County Emergency Management for assistance with this survey. |
| November 2002 | Tornado (F0) | Ponce De Leon | $15,000 | A small weak tornado briefly touched down near Interstate 10 and resulted in a few car accidents. There were no injuries. Reported by the Holmes County EMA. |
| January 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $5,000 | A tree was blown down onto a house. |
| June 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $3,000 | Trees were blown down on power lines and across roadways in and around Ponce de Leon. |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $3,000 | A power line was blown down on Oak Grove Road. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $2,000 | Trees were blown down between Argyle and Ponce De Leon on U.S. 90. Monetary damage was estimated. |
| September 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $2,000 | Two trees were blown down along Interstate 10. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. |
| February 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $1,000 | A tree was blown down near County Road 183. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $500 | A single tree blew down on Highway 81 near Ponce De Leon with no other wind damage reported in the area. Monetary damage was estimated. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $500 | A tree was blown down. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. |
| November 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $500 | Several downed trees in Ponce de Leon reported by a county 911 dispatcher. |
| September 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | $500 | Several large trees down. Reported by the Holmes County EMA. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | A tree was blown down on Morrow Road off Highway 90. |
| January 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Trees were blown down along Mt Zion Road. |
| January 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Trees were blown down along Valee Road. |
| January 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Trees were blown down along Oak Grove Church Road. |
| April 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | A tree was blown down near Highway 10 and Highway 10A. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | A few trees and power lines were blown down in western Holmes county. |
| July 2021 | Flood | Ponce De Leon | - | Water was reported over the roadway on Highway 81 south of I-10 resulting in a road closure. |
| April 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Widespread trees were blown down. |
| January 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | A tree was blown down at Highway 90 west of Baker Manning Loop. Additional trees were also blown down on Highway 90. |
| April 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Trees were blown down near Ponce De Leon. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Trees were blown down on Highway 10A and Jackey Road. |
| July 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | A large tree was blown down near Highway 90 and County Road 10A. |
| July 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | A large tree was blown down across both southbound lanes of Highway 81 near Ammons Road. |
| January 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Multiple trees were blown down in Holmes county. |
| January 2017 | Flood | Ponce De Leon | - | Valee Road was closed due to flooding. This was due to a long duration of moderate to heavy rainfall. |
| February 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | A tree was blown down in Ponce De Leon. |
| August 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | The local electric company reported a tree down across a rural road in western Holmes county. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Ponce De Leon | - | Two trees were blown down onto Highway 81 near Ponce De Leon. A spotter also reported multiple trees uprooted along the side of the road. |
| April 2014 | Flash Flood | Ponce De Leon | - | Several roads were flooded across the county with barricades placed due to heavy rainfall in a short period of time. |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bayou Crossing | 3.5 miles | 14 | |
| Bounds Crossing | 5.4 miles | 14 | |
| Westville | 5.8 miles | 13 | |
| Hickory Hill | 6.9 miles | 14 | |
| Cerrogordo | 8.0 miles | 14 | |
| Prosperity | 8.9 miles | 14 | |
| Hathaway Mill | 9.6 miles | 13 | |
| Arrant Settlement | 9.6 miles | 14 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Ponce de Leon | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q1013999 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 289171. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.








