Citrus County – Taste of History

Citrus County

Citrus County became the 40th County to be established in Florida on June 2, 1887. Located along the Gulf Coast of Florida, Citrus County’s natural beauty offers nature lovers a real treat with many natural springs and plentiful wildlife.

Formed from what had once been part of Hernando County, Citrus County was named after the abundant citrus trees that grew in the area. The earliest settlement recorded in the area is that of a Deptford Culture of Native Americans that lasted until about the early 1400’s. This 14 acre area in Crystal River is now part of the Florida State Park System and is known as the Crystal River State Archeological Site and contains burial mounds, temple/platform mounds, a plaza area and a midden. Now just a memory, the first County Seat was Mannfield, which was founded in 1884. After much heated dispute, Inverness was named the permanent county seat in 1891. Not much remains of Mannfield today but an old cemetery and some foundation remnants.

Homosassa Springs is the largest town in Citrus County with a total land area of 25.8 sq. miles and a population of nearly 14,000 according to the 2010 census. The same census records show a population of nearly 142,000 residents! The Freeze that hit during the years of 1894-1895 all but decimates the citrus groves that once dominated the area. Today, other than what private residents grow, the only grove in the area that continues to produce is Bellamy Grove.

Citrus County only borders 4 other counties; Levy County, Marion County, Sumter County and the County from which it was formed, Hernando. The rest of Citrus County lies along the nearly 52 miles of Gulf Coastline. The phosphate industry really helped to jumpstart the economy in Citrus County until after WWII when phosphate mining was largely moved overseas. Eco-tourism in Citrus County is quite popular. Manatees have made many of the natural waterways in Citrus County their home. Many tourists flock to the area each year to catch a glimpse of this gentle and endangered giant. Being so densely populated with natural springs, Citrus County is a popular destination for boaters and divers alike.

With the wonderful Florida weather that we experience nearly year-round, Citrus County is a wonderful place to visit, especially if you love the outdoors. Citrus County is home to quite a few parks that are operated by the Florida State Park System. Some of those include Homosassa Springs State Park, Rainbow River State Park, and Fort Cooper, to name a few. So, if you are ready for an outdoor adventure that you will never forget, head on over to explore beautiful Citrus County!

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