Sneads is a town in Jackson County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,849 at the 2010 census. Sneads is governed by a five-member town council and a city manager. It also has an all-volunteer fire rescue department, and its own police force of eight sworn officers: six full-time officers and three dispatchers. The current chief of police is Mike Miller, the city manager is Lynda Bell, the fire chief is Buddy Jeter. Sneads is home to Sneads High School. Although not in the city limits, the Florida Department of Corrections operates Appalachee Correctional Institution which is the largest employer in the Sneads area. Sneads was founded in 1894. In 2018, The Sneads police department was awarded a grant for new police vehicles. Sneads High School's girls volleyball team won the last five FHSAA state championships. In August 2018, Lynda Bell was hired as city manager and the midnight police dispatch was outsourced to the Jackson County Sheriffs Department. The Sneads Police Department is a 24/7 Police department. A police officer is on duty 24 hours a day. On October 9, 2018, the day before Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, the 5 member city council board fired long time chief of police Burt McAlpin, and the 44-year-serving city attorneyGuy Green. The council voted 4 to 1 to terminate McAlpin citing poor mismanagement of the agency and comp time. McAlpin was terminated while he was out on leave. On December 11, 2018, Mike Miller was sworn in as the new chief of police at a city council meeting after interviews were held. While the Town of Sneads was devastated by Hurricane Michael, under the leadership of the City Manager and the Town council, the town is doing financially better than it has in many years. Sneads is the third largest municipality in Jackson County Florida following Marianna the county seat, and Graceville Florida. The Town of Sneads has been awarded grants in the past as well.
Geography
Sneads is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,919 people, 796 households, and 554 families residing in the town. The population density was 434.0 inhabitants per square mile. There were 887 housing units at an average density of 200.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 79.05% White, 16.78% African American, 0.89% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 1.93% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population. There were 796 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90. In the town, the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males. The median income for a household in the town was $30,690, and the median income for a family was $37,162. Males had a median income of $25,917 versus $23,674 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,113. About 11.2% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.1% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.
