Bushnell is a city in western Florida and is the county seat of Sumter County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,418 at the 2010 census. According to the U.S. Census estimates of 2018, the city had a population of 3,119. History A post office called Bushnell has been in operation since 1885. The City of Bushnell was named after John W. Bushnell, who was responsible for bringing the railroad to the community. The City of Bushnell is also home to Dade Battlefield state park, a park where on December 28th, 1835, Indians ambushed 107 men in the forested area. Only 3 survivors came out of Dade Battlefield, and the battle signaled the beginning of the Second Seminole War. Geography Bushnell is located in west-central Sumter County. The area around Bushnell is relatively flat, with some forested areas belonging to the state and rivers, creeks, and small streams that flow underneath roadways with bridges. Transportation The main roads through Bushnell include US 301 which runs north and south through the city. County Road 48 (SR 48 until 2016) and County Road 476 run east and west, and have short concurrency with US 301, as well as each other. Interstate 75 runs along the western edge of Bushnell with Exit 314 leading to Sumter CR 314. County Road 475 begins at CR 48 and runs the CSX Wildwood Subdivision, which carried Amtrak's Palmetto until 2004. The Wildwood Subdivision runs along US 301 from north of the Hernando-Sumter County Line, to Bushnell until Route 301 turns onto East Noble Avenue. From there it runs along the east side of CR 48 until that route turns west onto West Belt Avenue, then follows the east side of CR 475 until its terminus at Exit 321 on I-75 at CR 470 in Lake Panasoffkee. Bushnell also runs a small transit bus, that follows a daily route around the city's main attractions and busiest areas. Demographics At the 2000 census there were 2,050 people in 830 households, including 538 families, in the city. The population density was 871.7 inhabitants per square mile (336.8/km). There were 1,004 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 83.37% White, 12.98% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 1.27% from other races, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.56%. Of the 830 households 25.4%