Tucked away in the southeast corner of Citrus County, Florida is a community that’s a modern-day holdover of the real, small town old Florida, and it still survives in today’s modern, fast-paced world. Floral City was founded in 1883 by a state senator and a surveyor who thought the location on the south shore of a lake was an ideal place to live. Native Americans were drawn to the area for the same reason.
In 1539 Spanish Conquistador Hernando DeSoto, on his march north in search of gold, visited the Indian village of Tocaste , located on the site of what was to later become Floral City.
Three hundred years later the Seminole Indians had established a village in the area of the current historic district and named it Cho-illy-hadjo, which translates in English to “Crazy Deer’s Foot”.
Floral City is not just a relic of the past, but a vibrant village that enjoys a slower pace of life, welcoming visitors to discover its unique charm. The town is only a 15 minute drive west of Interstate 75 on State Road 48. As you enter the historic district you’ll find yourself enveloped by a canopy of 125-year-old oak trees planted by the early founders of the town as a beautification project. Their foresight has given the village one of the most photographed roads in the state.
Floral City’s population has changed little over the past 128 years. In the 1890s the federal census listed its inhabitants at 350. Today’s estimate for those living in the historic district is 400 to 450. However in the early 1900s, during the phosphate boom, it was estimated that the town’s population had soared to nearly 10,000 inhabitants, much larger than the small village at the southeastern tip of the state known as Miami, population 350. This was due to the influx of laborers needed in the nearby mines and when the industry moved south to the Tampa Bay area, Floral City’s population returned to its previous numbers.
Today the town is appreciated for its rural atmosphere, 2-lane tree shaded roads, rolling hills enveloped in live oaks and the sparkling waters of surrounding lakes and the Withlacoochee River. A working farm is located on the eastern edge of town where strawberries and blueberries are grown and cattle graze on the rolling pastures.
The railroad came to Floral City in 1893 and ceased operation in the mid 1980s and the old road bed is now The Withlacoochee State Trail. Floral City is the geographic center of the 46-mile trail and offers a wonderful jumping-off point for trail riders. It is a paved multi-use recreational trail suitable for hiking, biking, and horse riding enthusiasts as it winds through small towns and rural countryside.
If water is your preferred recreation base Floral City’s lakes and river offer kayakers, canoeists and boaters many opportunities to see unspoiled shorelines, wildlife and great fishing for the famed Florida Large Mouth Bass. The scenery is unsurpassed as you glide across the calm waters.
The Floral City area, with its 2-lane, tree shaded rural roads offers the motorcyclist unlimited cruising range in some of the finest rural scenery in Florida. Pick the right time of day and you might see wild turkey, deer or even the wily Florida gray fox.
With all the area has to offer we invite you to come out to the “quiet corner” of Citrus County and make Floral City the center from which you can explore the surrounding countryside. Our compact business district encompasses about ½-square mile, and all the shops and businesses are within easy walking distance. Browse through the art gallery offering the works of local artists, cross the street to the Heritage Museum and store to see historic photos and exhibits of the area’s storied past. Antique and gift shops are located in historic homes and buildings in the business district. Bicyclists will find one of the most complete bicycle shops in the state right next to the trail.
Across the street are two shops catering to motorcyclists and the small-town hardware store is fun to browse. A fresh produce stand is just around the corner, and a short walk from there you’ll find strawberry milk shakes, made with fresh strawberries from the farm offered in their roadside store. Restaurants, pizza shops and sandwich shops will also help to satisfy your appetite.
Should you desire to stay longer than a day, two bed-and-breakfast facilities, in addition to two lake-front resorts, are in the area for your consideration.
There is much to see and do in Floral City, so come out and meet the folks who will always greet you with a handshake and a smile and show you the hospitality of the real, small town old Florida.
For more information about the Floral City Merchants Association
Contact President Pam Bellman: 727-810-1425
7838 S. Great Oaks Drive, Floral City, Florida 34436
