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HISTORY OF LAKE CITY

Known as the "Gateway to Florida" because of its easy access to Interstates I-75 and I-10.  Lake City's close proximity to surrounding towns such as Live Oak, McAlpin, O'Brien, White Springs and Fort White Fl, makes it an ideal location.  Looking to for a home, real estate properties, acreage, farm or vacant land, Lake City Florida is the place to be.

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Need a Realtor and expert information on the area?  Here is your real estate expert.  Clara is a cut above the rest.  Clara has her Broker's license and GRI-2 designation making her an expert in real estate.  Call Clara - Clara Cares!  I'm never too busy for any of your questions or referrals, so

please feel free to call me 386-965-4873 or Email me!

 

Find out what the latest mortgage rates are.  Now is the time to invest in Real Estate - Click Here History of High Springs History of Alachua
History of Lake City History of Live Oak History of White Springs History of Fort White History of Gainesville

Beginning

 

In 1817, an Seminole Chief by the name of Halpatter Tustennuggee also known as Chief Alligator. The first name of Lake City was "Alpata Telophka" which means Alligator Town. He commanded the Indian village, which is now Lake City .   Chief Alligator named the village "Alligator" after himself.  Chief Alligator spoke English and mingled with the earlier settlers  and by1824 several white settlers came to the village of Alligator.  A treaty was signed by which the Chief and village of  Seminole Indians agreed to relocate further south by Ocala.  This embittered Chief Alligator commanded several raids on the settlers and  after several cruel  confrontations, the Chief was transported to Arkansas along with the other Seminole Indians from Florida. By 1830 a census was taken showing many settlers were taking root in Alligator.  As a matter of reference, original settlers are shown on the tombstones in number of old cemeteries in the area and some of the older families in the area bear reference to direct descendants of the first settlers.

By 1832 Columbia county was formed as part of the original Alachua county with the town of Alligator as the county sea.  Columbia County was Florida's 16th county.  it originally included the present areas of Suwannee, Branford, Baker and Union Counties.  The first post office was established in 1833 with John W. Robert's as postmaster.  It wasn't until December 14, 1858 that another name as chosen for Alligator town - Lake City.  Mrs. Elex Young and Col. Robert Brown, Columbia County representative introduced the bill.  The city was incorporated as Lake City on January 15, 1859.

In the early 20th Century lake city became an important railroad hub.  Agricultural products of the area included tobacco, corn, peanuts, cotton, melons, and other fruits and vegetables.

The famous Suwannee, the historic Santa Fe, and the Ichetucknee rivers all flow throughout the area, offering natural beauty and an abundance of wildlife and fabulous playground for water sports and activities from tubing, fishing, boating, water skiing  to cavern diving and cave diving.  Just within driving distance, you'll find the historic Stephen Foster State Park the spirit of the Suwannee Music Park, O'leno state Park and Olustee State Park, just to name a few.

Columbia county's population has doubled within the last 10 years and North Florida has become the fastest growing part of all of Florida.  With Lake City as the county's economic and governmental center, major changes occur every day.  However, Lake City is still cherished as a small community in its charm and manners, progressive planning and development is turning Lake City into a modern and thriving community able to support modern conveniences and amenities.

Lake City now has three hospitals and over 2,000 hotel rooms.  it has several national and local eateries and 2 Golf courses.  Lake City's main newspaper is the Lake City reporter and the annual average temperature of Columbia County is 69 degrees with humidity of around 75%.  Water makes up about 4.69% of the city's total area.  Lake City is the home for the Osceola National Forest. Within the last two years Lake City has added a new post office,  a new court house, expanded it county jail and is currently expanding Shands Hospital, a new medical center, a Home Depot.  Lake City has a Super Wal-Mart, Lowe's and several large retail clothing chains.  New constructions is continually on the move and the city is expanding in leaps and bounds.

The area code for all Lake City phone numbers is 386.  Lake city has 4 zip codes and still growing.  the US Postal Services uses 32024,32025,32055,32056 to direct and deliver the mail to residents as efficiently as possible.

Today the Lake City Columbia County Chamber of Commerce occupies a historic home at 162South Marion Avenue and the Columbia County Historical Museum is located at 157 SE Hernando Avenue.  Downtown today has been restored to its historic and traditional business center.  In November, 1993 Lake Isabella Historic Residential District was added to the National Registry.  The district is roughly bounded to the east by Church Street, and to the west by Columbia Street.  The northern boundary is Duval Street and the southern is Baya Avenue.  In June of 1994, the Lake City Historic Commercial District was added to the National Registry.  This district is roughly bounded by Railroad Street, Hernando Avenue, Duval Street and Columbia Avenue and includes all of the North Marion Avenue business district.  Top

 

 

Lake City was first called "Alligator Town", derived after a Seminole Indian Village.  In Seminole the Village was named Alpata Telophka, meaning "Alligator Town".  The name was changed when the Mayor's wife moved into town and refused to hang her lace curtains in a town named Alligator.   
Alligator Lake
Alligator Lake is the largest Lake, located in Columbia county of Lake City. Although it does support a healthy alligator population, the lake's name actually comes from the former name of its hometown: Alligator Town.  This name came from the nickname of a local Native American chief, Halpatter Tuskenuggee, or "Chief Alligator."

Like many Florida lakes, Alligator Lake is a shallow, fertile lake with extensive areas of fringing marshes and cypress swamps.  One of its most unusual features is the presence of active sinkholes in the lake bottom, which unplug during droughts and drain most of the lake.  These "natural drawdowns" were known to occur as far back as the early 1800s:

"Alligator Lake is situate in the north part of Alachua, now Columbia County, on the south side of the military road.. .  It receives several creeks, but has no outlet, except a sink hole, which in summer drains the pond nearly dry."

 

 

Two major activities have had an effect on Alligator Lake over the years.  In the late 1950s/early 1960s, extensive areas of the eastern shore of the lake were diked and drained for agriculture by private landowners.  At the time, this was thought to be the best use of these lands, which were regarded as unproductive wastelands.  Also during this time, and continuing to the present, the little village of Lake City grew into a sizable town.  During much of this growth, "stormwater management" meant getting rid of water runoff in the quickest way possible, which usually meant piping storm drains to Alligator Lake
   

BATTLE OF OLUSTEE

In 1864 the American Civil War Battle of Olustee took place near Lake City.   For 21 years, Lake City has hosted the Olustee Battle Festival and reenactment since 1976 taking place in February.  Lake City holds its annual Alligator Fest each October.

This park commemorates the site of Florida's largest Civil War battle, which took place near Lake City on February 20, 1864.   More than 10,000 cavalry, infantry, and artillery troops fought a five-hour battle in a pine forest near Olustee. Three U.S. Colored Troops took part in the battle, including the now famous 54th Massachusetts. The battle ended with 2,807 casualties and the retreat of Union troops to Jacksonville until the war's end just 14 months later. In 1912, when many living Civil War veterans still attended reunions, the battlefield became the state's first historic site. Olustee Battlefield has a visitor center with historical information and artifacts. A reenactment is held every February and a Civil War Expo takes place in late summer. Scenes for Civil War movies, including the 1989 movie Glory, have been filmed during the reenactments. Visitors can enjoy a meal at the picnic area or take a walk along a mile-long trail that has interpretive signs describing the events of the battle. Located two miles east of Olustee on U.S. 90.

The Battle of Olustee is held outside of Lake city in Columbia County in the middle of the Osceola National Forest.  The re-enactment also is accompanied by a weekend of full festivities which include a parade, a huge downtown craft show beginning Friday, entertainment.  the re-enactments end Sunday afternoon.  shuttle buses are available so parking is not a problem.  Top

     

Use this site to search the Multiple Listing Service for Lake City Florida, explore Columbia County and surrounding communities.  This site has extensive community information, consumer links, school information, free reports, real estate answers, and more.   Clara is a cut above the rest.  Clara has her Broker's license and GRI-2 designation making her an expert in real estate.  I'm never too busy for any of your questions or referrals, so please feel free to call me or email me! 386-965-4873 - email: mco@atlantic.net

Clara Cares - CALL CLARA TODAY,
AND LET HER USE HER EXPERTISE TO FIND
THE PERFECT PIECE OF REAL ESTATE FOR YOU!

 

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