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Gilchrist County, FL Veterans Service Office (VSO): phone and address

Find veterans benefits contacts serving Gilchrist County, Florida. Compare the listed providers and contact an office directly.

Offices for Gilchrist County

For statewide phone and remote help, see the Florida directory.

Getting help in Gilchrist County

Gilchrist County Veterans Services - Trenton: Contact the provider to confirm appointment requirements and the meeting location. Confirm the service location, hours and appointment with the provider before traveling.

County Veterans Service Officers Directory (opens in a new tab) · Gilchrist County Veterans Services (opens in a new tab)

Office closed right now?

Call the Claim Raven 24-hour VSO prep line to get your records ready before your appointment. Claim Raven is not a VSO office. Your VSO's number is listed above.

Call (833) 387-1649

Veterans in Gilchrist County

The ACS estimates about 1,440, give or take 291 civilian veterans in Gilchrist County.

Among Florida's 67 counties and equivalents, Gilchrist County ranks 53rd by its estimated number of veterans.

Share of civilian veterans, ACS 2020-2024
MeasureGilchrist CountyFloridaUnited States
Share with a service-connected rating23 percent

below the Florida share; below the national share.

31 percent30 percent
Share rated 70 percent or higher10 percent

below the Florida share; below the national share.

14 percent13 percent

Gilchrist County has about 293, give or take 115 veterans 75 and older, making up 20 percent of its veterans compared with 30 percent in Florida.

Veterans under 35 account for 1 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Gilchrist County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Women veterans account for 22 percent; a small survey sample; treat as rough in Gilchrist County; the survey figures do not support a state comparison.

Income, work and education in Gilchrist County

Census ACS 2020-2024 estimates and 90% margins of error
MeasureGilchrist CountyFloridaUnited States
Veteran median income, age 18 and over with income$47,115 ± $16,619$52,753 ± $469$54,224 ± $147
Nonveteran median income, age 18 and over with income$31,807 ± $2,840$36,879 ± $115$41,154 ± $99
Veterans below poverty level, age 18 and over7.3% ± 5.6 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with a disability, age 18 and over37.6% ± 10.1 points31.0% ± 0.3 points30.7% ± 0.1 points
Employed share of veterans, ages 18 to 6463.3% ± 14.0 points71.2% ± 0.5 points73.9% ± 0.2 points
Unemployed share of veterans in the labor force, ages 18 to 640.0% ± 9.3 points; small survey sample; treat as roughNot comparedNot compared
Veterans with high school or more, age 25 and over95.3% ± 3.0 points95.9% ± 0.2 points95.5% ± 0.1 points
Veterans with a bachelor’s degree or more, age 25 and over15.5% ± 4.5 points35.0% ± 0.4 points31.8% ± 0.2 points

Income is in 2024 dollars. These figures describe civilians. Poverty and disability shares use veterans whose poverty status is determined. Census disability measures daily functioning, not a VA service-connected rating. Tables and method.

VA projects slightly fewer veterans here by 2035; both years round to about 1,000. VetPop2023 projections are rounded to the nearest 1,000 as VA directs. Projection source and method.

VA disability compensation in Gilchrist County

VA reports 561 veterans in Gilchrist County receiving disability compensation in FY2025.

VA recipients by service-connected rating, FY2025
Rating groupRecipients
0 to 20 percent107
30 to 40 percent53
50 to 60 percent69
70 to 90 percent164
100 percent168

FY2019: 346 recipients. Change to FY2025: +215.

VA does not publish some small counts. Those show as “Not published.” VA county compensation data (opens in a new tab).

VA home loans in Gilchrist County

In 2025, lenders reported 49 VA-backed home loans out of 401 home loans made in Gilchrist County (12.2% VA), under the federal Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA).

Average VA loan amount reported: about $312,000.

The 2026 FHFA one-unit county loan limit here is $832,750. This limit matters for a VA loan only when part of your entitlement is still tied to another VA loan. VA explains remaining entitlement and loan limits (opens in a new tab).

HMDA 2025 and FHFA 2026 sources.

When they served

The largest reported service groups are Vietnam era only (about 515, give or take 147) and between the Vietnam and Gulf War eras (about 303, give or take 149).

For questions about Vietnam-era exposure rules, read the Agent Orange guide; eligibility depends on your service and condition.

VA money in Gilchrist County

VA reported about $16.1 million in compensation and pension spending and about $20.3 million in medical care spending in Gilchrist County for FY2025.

Nearest VA locations

Call to confirm hours before you go.

The second-nearest medical center to Gilchrist County is Lake City VA Medical Center (opens in a new tab) in Lake City, FL, about 35 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The second-nearest Vet Center to Gilchrist County is Ocala Vet Center (opens in a new tab) in Ocala, FL, about 53 miles in a straight line from the county center.

The state registry lists St. Petersburg RO (station 317); county claims jurisdiction is unconfirmed.

Veterans cemeteries and State Veterans Homes

Nearest open VA national cemetery

Florida National Cemetery (opens in a new tab)
6502 SW 102nd Avenue Bushnell, FL 33513
352-793-7740

About 83 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

Nearest VA-funded state or tribal veterans cemetery

Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Glennville (opens in a new tab)
8819 U.S. Hwy 301 Glennville, GA 30427
912-654-5398

About 164.3 miles in a straight line from the county center. Burial space: open.

This cemetery is in another state. State veterans cemeteries set their own eligibility rules, which can include residency in that state.

National Cemetery Administration lists checked October 2, 2026. Cemetery coverage and distance method.

Cleanup and former military sites in Gilchrist County

No sites from these two federal datasets were mapped to Gilchrist County.

For VA’s service-location rules, see the presumptive conditions list. A location listing does not establish personal exposure or eligibility.

Veterans experiencing homelessness

On one night in January 2024, Gainesville/Alachua, Putnam Counties CoC counted 77 veterans experiencing homelessness (49 sheltered, 28 unsheltered).

FL-508 is the HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) selected by this county's geographic center (polygon centroid).

The HUD workbook reports 126 veterans for the 2019 comparison.

This is a one-night count for the whole CoC area, not a county or annual total. CoC mapping method.

If you need housing help, call the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 877-424-3838. You can call any time, day or night.

Your nearest VA medical center by straight-line distance is Malcom Randall Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (opens in a new tab), 352-376-1611. Ask for the homeless coordinator.

Housing prevention and rehousing help serving Gilchrist County

VA's FY2026 Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) intake list names these providers. About VA SSVF (opens in a new tab).

VA homeless programs (opens in a new tab)

Cities and towns in Gilchrist County

  • Trenton (city): about 2,320 residents
  • Bell (town): about 563 residents
  • Spring Ridge (unincorporated community): about 555 residents

Census incorporated places and census-designated places, sorted by ACS 2020-2024 population. Figures are ACS estimates for the whole place, not only the part inside this county. Places are assigned by their 2024 Census internal point and may cross county boundaries. Sources and mapping method.

Free tools and help

For the Veterans Crisis Line, dial 988 then press 1. VA crisis support (opens in a new tab)

Florida benefits

Qualifying Florida veterans with at least 10 percent disability may receive a $5,000 assessed value reduction.

Florida offers scholarships to eligible children and spouses of veterans with a 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability.

See every Florida benefit by rating

Get ready for your appointment

  • Your DD-214 or other discharge papers
  • Any VA decision letters you have received
  • Medical records you want to discuss

Full appointment checklist

Starting a new claim? Ask about an intent to file

Ask the office about VA Form 21-0966 to preserve a potential benefits start date while gathering evidence. Check your intent to file deadline.

Search or filter Florida listings

Nearby counties

Sources and method

ACS 2020-2024; VA FY2025; geography/locations/benefits 2026; adjacency 2024. Distances: straight line from county center. Full method.

VA-accredited attorneys and claims agents near Gilchrist County

Distances are straight-line estimates between county internal points. Representatives may serve clients outside their local area.

Robert Evans

Claims agent · Bronson · FL · About 30 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 61502

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Your state: Florida

Hannah Lewis

Attorney · Gainesville · FL · About 26 miles away

VA-accredited since 2026 · checked

VA accreditation number 62036

3.8 · 143 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Florida

Mark Avera

Attorney · Gainesville · FL · About 26 miles away

VA-accredited since 2024 · checked

VA accreditation number 57031

4.9 · 177 reviews · Firm rating

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Your state: Florida

N Bacharach Jr.

Attorney · Gainesville · FL · About 26 miles away

VA-accredited since 2009 · checked

VA accreditation number 14363

4.5 · 18 reviews · Firm rating

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Your request goes straight to N Bacharach Jr.'s email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

Dominique Gonzales

Attorney · Gainesville · FL · About 26 miles away

VA-accredited since 2014 · checked

VA accreditation number 30560

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Your request goes straight to Dominique Gonzales's email on file with VA. It's free, and they reply to you directly.

Your state: Florida

VA-accredited attorneys in Florida

Claim Raven is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney or claims agent. Listings come from VA's public accreditation records. Paid placements are advertising. Check an attorney's accreditation on VA's accreditation search (opens in a new tab) before you hire them.

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