History of Citrus County, Florida
Few counties in Florida enjoy a more salubrious year-round climate then Citrus. Summer days average 82 degrees, moderated by constant breezes from the lakes and the Gulf of Mexico; winter lows average 62 degrees, encouraging the dedicated gardener to experiment with a wide variety of flowers and vegetables every month of the year. Rainfall averages 45 to 52 inches, most falling during the summer months.
Culture And Community Growth From An Ancient Heritage
Rich in natural wonders, Citrus County also boasts an ancient and rich heritage. Here the woods and fields are littered with the relics and memories of mankind's pilgrimage through history. Millennia before Miami was invented or Lake Okeechobee diked, men and woman farmed the land, harvested the bounty from the sea, and created community in Citrus County. According to archaeologists, the earliest settlers speared mammoth and challenged the saber-toothed tiger on this land more than 10,000 years ago. In more recent past, about 500 BC, a community was established along the banks of the Crystal River through three cultural epochs until 1400 AD. The state-managed Crystal River Archaeological Site, one mile west of U.S. 19 on the north side of Crystal River, with its burial mounds and riverside temple pyramid, tell the story.
More than a century before the first pilgrim put a boot on Plymouth Rock, Spanish explorers, including Hernando DeSoto, were trading beads and rumors of gold with the Indians in villages throughout the region which is now Citrus County. In the early 1830's, the first group of northern entrepreneurs, including New York born David Yulee who settled on the Homosassa River, arrived in coastal Citrus County to develop huge sugar plantations and to plant the first citrus groves. Yulee is also credited with building the first railroad south of Cedar Key.
Modern Citrus County is a mosaic of towns and villages. Several such as Crystal River and Homosassa Springs, trace their roots to the early 19th century American frontier which depended on water for communication, trade and transportation. The architecture of the homes and businesses in Inverness, much of it wonderfully restored, suggests the optimism Floridians felt at the turn of the century.
Citrus County, which is located in West Central Florida, is an ideal place to call home with its numerous recreational opportunities, its natural resources, and its mild subtropical climate.
The county is surrounded by water and is bounded on the north and east by the Withlacoochee river and the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes, on the east, and on the west by the Gulf of Mexico, into which the Homosassa and Crystal Rivers flow.
Citrus County contains 682 square miles and has a beautiful coastline on the Gulf of Mexico. The west coast is noted for hundreds of creeks, islands, inlets, bays, and natural springs. The east coast is popular for its 3 lake chains and the Withlacoochee River.
The waters are plentiful with black bass, speckled perch, blue gill, shellcracker, grouper, spotted seatrout, catfish and others. Tarpon are in from April to October. The county is well known for its manatee population, and for those who do not know, the best time to see them is in January in Kings Bay or one or the other seven rivers our gulf coast offers.
Golfing, canoeing, nature studies, hiking, scuba diving, fishing, and swimming are just a few of the activities enjoyed by its residents and visitors. All or these activities can be enjoyed almost year-round, as winter temperatures average around 60 degrees, and summer temperatures average 82 degrees.
Our roadways provide excellent intercounty movement putting us in close proximity to Interstate 75, the Florida Turnpike, and the major population centers of North and Central Florida. Tampa and Orlando International Airports can be reached in 90 minutes.
The Citrus County Parks and Recreation Division maintains 22 county boat ramps, 23 county parks, one campground, three community centers and the Citrus County Auditorium. We have an 1150 seat auditorium where we hear the Central Florida Symphony in addition to a varied menu of cultural performances.
Many are attracted to the county's natural resources; more than one-third of the county is protected as state, federal, and county park land, or fish and wildlife reserves.
They may also be attracted by the cost. Citrus County is the least expensive Suncoast county, and one of the least expensive counties in Florida for the combined costs of housing, food, apparel, transportation and health, recreation and personal services, according to University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research.
Citrus County's current population of nearly 140,000 is expected to grow to 155,000 by the year 2010, according to University of Florida researchers.
It comes as no surprise that much of the activities in Citrus County are based around water, boating, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, scalloping, swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving to name a few. Salt water and fresh water fishing are fantastic in the Citrus County area.
The many rivers and lakes that make up the region provide excellent fresh water fishing, bass especially. The Gulf of Mexico and King's Bay offer endless saltwater and deep sea fishing opportunities. In fact, the world record tarpon was caught just off the coast of Citrus County.
The many rivers including the Crystal River, the Homosassa River, the Chassahowitzka River, the Rainbow River and the Withlacoochee River are spring fed from the plentiful Florida aquifer. The warm spring waters of Crystal River and Homosassa Florida have become home to the Florida Manatee, actually the West Indian Manatee.
People flock from across the world to Citrus County Florida to witness the wonder of these rare, prehistoric creatures. The many local dive shops that dot the area offer boat rentals, snorkel tours and manatee tours where you can actually swim with the manatees.
Other communities such as Pine Ridge Estates in Beverly Hills Florida offer a more rustic country atmosphere with large wooded lots.
Pine Ridge Estates was planned as an equestrian community. Pine Ridge Estates has over 28 miles of horseback riding trails that weave through the neighborhood from back yard to backyard.
The rolling hills and verdant pine forests offer beauty and privacy.
For country club living, nothing beats the Villages of Citrus Hills including Brentwood, Clearview, Terra Vista and the original Citrus Hills. Terra Vista at Citrus Hills is the newest and most impressive community in Citrus Hills.
Right from the exclusive gated entrance you know you are entering somewhere special. The well manicured landscaping and lamp light sidewalks
The magnificent home sites lie perched high on the hillside overlooking the entire County. The Skyview golf course is located on one of the highest elevations in the state of Florida, offering a panoramic view like no other.
Sugarmill Woods is another country club community worth noting. Designed around the greenbelt concept, every home site has some amount of naturally wooded area adjacent to their home. No two back yards butt up against each other.
This provides plenty of natural habitat for native Florida plants and animals. The Sugarmill Woods Golf and Country Club offers world caliber golfing and dining as a matter of fact there are over twenty spectacular golf courses in the Citrus County Florida area.
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