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Homosassa Florida
By Alison Markham, Broker-Associate, GRI, Realtor® | March 22, 2008
Homosassa, Florida is home to one the state’s more impressive wildlife parks and rehabilitation facilities. The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is often home to large numbers of ‘migratory’ manatees, which frequent the area due to its springs and relatively warm waters.
The park is home to Lucifer, a famous hippopotamus known for his performances in many movies for the past 40 years. The Wildlife Park helps spread awareness about the dangers of boating around areas inhabited by manatees as well as the destructive effects of polluting the environment. The State Park is one of the few major attractions of the area, which has a large retiree population and a very low level of activity compared to major tourist regions of Florida.
The Homosassa River is another of the spring-fed rivers within the Springs Coast Watershed. The headwater springs of the Homosassa River are home to both freshwater and saltwater fish. This phenomenon is possible because the mineral content in the spring water resembles minerals found in salt water. The similar mineral content and some fishes’ ability to tolerate broad changes in salinity allows some species of saltwater fish to live in these freshwater habitats. The freshwater fish you’ll find in the Homosassa River include bream, largemouth bass and gar. Some of the saltwater species you’ll see include jacks, mullet, sheepshead and snook.
The Crystal River runs through the area, and it is fairly common to see manatees surface near the area’s waterfront restaurants and bars Homosassa and Homosassa Springs are located right on Florida’s pristine “Nature Coast”. Situated just north of the Tampa Bay Area, Homosassa is only a short drive away from Tampa and St. Petersburg via the new Suncoast Parkway.
This welcoming community has much to offer people of all ages: growing families, retirees, singles, and visitors.
Old Homosassa has a rich and colorful past with many historic sites. One popular site is the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins.
Once owned by David Levy Yulee, the area was part of a thriving sugar plantation that supplied cane sugar and molasses to Confederate Troops during the Civil War.
The ruins contain the remnants of the original plantation including a forty-foot limestone masonry chimney, iron gears, and a cane press.
Homosassa Springs has become known as a home for the West Indian Manatee. These endangered, gentle creatures have come here in search of the warm spring-fed waters of the Homosassa River.
The manatees are protected by the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Manatee tours are available in the area and you can rent snorkel gear at local dive shops and take a swim with the manatees.
The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is home to many native animals including the Florida panther, alligators, black bears, and numerous aquatic birds including the flamingo.
One of the primary attractions at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is an underwater glass room that gives you a chance to come face-to-face with manatees and the native fish without getting wet.
Homosassa and Homosassa Springs are considered playgrounds by the sea. The Gulf of Mexico is never more than a few minutes away, offering great deep-sea fishing and some very challenging tarpon fishing.
The abundant lakes, rivers, and springs allow you to relax with friends and family and go tubing, water skiing, swimming, boating or fishing on any of the year-round sunny days Florida has to offer.
Waterfront property is abundant in Homosassa. A peaceful drive out Halls River Road will take you back in time through the marshes, mangroves and wetlands to what it must have looked like to the native Americans hundreds of years ago.
Magnificent waterfront homes dot the area offering exclusive access to the Homosassa River and the Gulf of Mexico.
There is no better investment than waterfront property in this growing area of Florida.
Coordinates: 28°47 0 N 82°37 2 W / 28.78333, -82.61722
Country United States
State Florida
County Citrus
Area
– Total 8.3 sq mi (21.7 km²)
– Land 7.9 sq mi (20.6 km²)
– Water 0.4 sq mi (1.1 km²)
Elevation 0 ft (0 m)
Population (2000)
– Total 2,294
– Density 276.4/sq mi (105.7/km²)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 34446, 34448, 34487
Area code(s) 352
FIPS code 12-32375[1]
GNIS feature ID 0284219[2]
Homosassa is a census-designated place (CDP) in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,294 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Homosassa is located at 28°46?60?N, 82°37?2?W (28.783307, -82.617238)[3].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.7 km²), of which, 7.9 square miles (20.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (5.13%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,294 people, 1,128 households, and 771 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 288.7 people per square mile (111.4/km²). There were 1,602 housing units at an average density of 201.6/sq mi (77.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.65% White, 0.04% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.04% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 1,128 households out of which 12.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 3.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.02 and the average family size was 2.38.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 10.6% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 15.5% from 25 to 44, 35.4% from 45 to 64, and 35.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 58 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,696, and the median income for a family was $41,513. Males had a median income of $29,044 versus $21,755 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $21,135. About 10.5% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Homosassa, Florida is at coordinates 28°46 60 N 82°37 02 W / 28.783307, -82.617238 (Homosassa, Florida)Coordinates: 28°46 60?N 82°37 02 W / 28.783307, -82.617238 (Homosassa, Florida)
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