Citrus County GenWeb

History of Citrus County

Original content by Bob Bamford, former Citrus County Coordinator
updated by Laverne Tornow current County Coorodinator

Citrus County is located on the central west coast of the peninsula, approximately seventy miles north of Tampa. It boasts to being "Florida's Little Giant" because it is one of the smaller counties in the state but with enormous self esteem. Its geographical position, nestled within the sweeping arc of the Withlacoochee River, places it along the frost line and allows the county to experience exceptionally mild winters and sub-tropical summers.

The Seminole Indian Nation occupied the area in its last major defiance of the resettlement plans of the young American republic; and the great Seminole warrior, Osceola, headquartered in the dense, eastern forests along the banks of the Withlacoochee River and the broad Lake Tsala Apopka. But alas, the Seminole cause was lost and the United States attempted to move the natives west to the Indian Territory of Oklahoma. Many refused to leave thier homeland and escaped to the South Florida Everglades. The descendants of those runaway natives comprise the population of the Eastern Band of the Seminole Nation. The Seminoles of Florida operate on their reservations a vast financial empire that includes ownership of several very successful casinos and the Hard Rock Cafe Restaurant chain.

In 1842, Congress encouraged settlement in the peninsula of territorial Florida by establishing the Armed Occupation Act. The law granted a patent for 160 acres to any man who kept a gun and ammunition, built a house, cultivated five acres of this land and lived there for at least five years. Settlers moved in to take advantage of the generous land deal. The area contained abundant timber and suitable farm land, appealing attributes to the frontiersman. In 1845 Florida was granted statehood.

During the War between the States, a sugar mill was operated on the Homosassa River by David Levy Yulee. This mill was a major supplier of sugar to the Confederacy. Soon after the war a robust citrus growing industry developed in the eastern part of the area and it became the focus of intense economic expansion. Eastern Citrus County is also home to southern pine and hardwood forests, cattle and truck farming and many lakes and ponds.

In 1884 the farmers and growers were given a boost when the Florida Orange Canal and Transit Company built a canal from the groves to the Lake Panasoffkee railhead in what is now Sumter County. Barging through the canal and along the Withlacoochee River avoided the long and difficult overland wagon hauls to move the fruit to markets in the East. Citrus County was originally part of Hernando County; but through the efforts of Senator Austin S. Mann, the Florida legislature established Citrus County on June 2, 1887, for whom the county seat of Mannfield was named. Mannfield was a small community about 8 miles north of the Citrus/ Hernando County line and now only exists in memories of our elders...

In 1894-95 the Big Freeze all but ended the vibrant citrus industry; but coincidentally, hard rock phosphate was discovered and a new, highly prosperous phosphate boom was underway. Steam shovels replaced the hand-pick and shovel and miners were sought from as far away as Georgia and South Carolina. The population soared to over ten thousand; 96 percent were of African-American descent. World War I terminated the flow of phosphate to European markets; the mines closed, and the population plummeted.

The area reverted to a benign, agricultural community until the great rush of retiree migration began. In the mid 1960's to the mid 1970's the Deltona Corporation developed huge tracts of land into "retirement communities" all over Florida which were heavily advertised in northern states and pitched specifically to retirees. Citrus Springs is one such community. The current population is in excess of 100,000.

Citrus County's two incorporated cities are Inverness, the county seat, and Crystal River. Several significant unincorporated areas harbor the majority of the population, however. These areas are Beverly Hills, Homosassa, Homosassa Springs, Citrus Hills, Lecanto, Sugar Mill Woods, Floral City, Citrus Springs, Hernando, Holder, Citronelle, Inglis and Ozello.

Some of the names of towns of yesteryear are Chassowitzka, Fairmount, Mt. Lee, Oakdale, Stage Stand, Stage Pond, Orleans, Rosehill, Pineola, Pleasant Grove, Bradleys, Mannfield, Arlington and Cordeal; all now resting eternally only in our memories.