Silver Springs, Florida

Last updated

Silver Springs, Florida
Census-designated place
Silverspringsfl.JPG
Silver Springs State Park
FLMap-doton-Ocala.PNG
Location of Silver Springs, Florida
Coordinates: 29°12′59″N82°3′28″W / 29.21639°N 82.05778°W / 29.21639; -82.05778
Country United States
State Florida
County Marion County
Area
[1]
 • Total6.19 sq mi (16.0 km2)
 • Land6.16 sq mi (16.0 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.08 km2)
Elevation
47 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2020 census) [2]
 • Total2,844
 • Density461.7/sq mi (178.3/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
34488-34489 (Silver Springs)
34470, 34479 (Ocala)
FIPS code 12-66125
GNIS feature ID2805193 [3]

Silver Springs is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion County of northern Florida. It is the site of Silver Springs, a group of artesian springs and a historic tourist attraction that is now part of Silver Springs State Park. The community is part of the Ocala metropolitan area. It was first listed as a CDP for the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 2,844. [2]

Contents

One of Florida's first tourist attractions, the springs drew visitors even before the U.S. Civil War. Glass-bottom boats have been a popular way to see the 242-acre (98 ha) complex. A small amusement park with various animals, a concert stage, a carousel, and exhibits also developed.

History

Steamboat and railroad at Silver Springs in 1886 Steamboat approaching Silver Springs FL George Barker.jpg
Steamboat and railroad at Silver Springs in 1886

Silver Springs was founded in 1852. [4]

Since the mid-19th century, the natural environment of Silver Springs has attracted visitors from throughout the United States. The glass-bottom boat was invented and tours of the springs began in the late 1870s. [5] In the 1920s, W. Carl Ray and W.M. "Shorty" Davidson, after leasing the land from Ed Carmichael (upon whose death the springs were left to the University of Florida), developed the land around the headwaters of the Silver River into an attraction that eventually became known as Silver Springs Nature Theme Park. The attraction featured native animal exhibits, amusement rides, and 30 or 90-minute glass-bottom boat tours of the springs. The 1934 'Princess Donna' is the oldest and only remaining operational boat from this bygone era. The "Princess Donna' currently operates on the Rainbow River in Dunnellon, Florida. In 2013, the State of Florida took over operations of Silver Springs and combined it with the adjacent Silver River State Park to form the new Silver Springs State Park. The T. W. Randall House on the National Register of Historic Places is located to the northeast.

Several defunct tourist attractions were once located near Silver Springs. The Western-themed Six Gun Territory theme park, which included several attractions such as the Southern Railway & Six Gun 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge [6] railroad, operated from 1963 to 1984. The Wild Waters water park also existed in Silver Springs and operated from 1978 to 2016. [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Silver Springs was "whites only" until 1967. From 1949 to 1969, African Americans were served by nearby Paradise Park, Florida, which closed when Silver Springs integrated racially.

Cattle ranch development

Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach has been building the Adena Springs Ranch for cattle, an abattoir, residential property development, and a thoroughbred horse farm in the area, stirring concern over plans for water use and how groundwater draw will affect the springs. [13] [14]

Geography

Silver Springs is in central Marion County and is bordered to the southwest by the city of Ocala, the county seat. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Silver Springs CDP has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16 km2), of which 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2), or 0.50%, are water. [1] The springs, in the center of the community, flow out to form the Silver River, which runs 4 miles (6 km) east to the Ocklawaha River.

Transportation

The main road through Silver Springs is State Road 40 which runs east and west from Rainbow Lakes Estates to Ormond Beach in Volusia County. State Road 326 terminates at SR 40, as does State Road 35, which becomes County Road 35 north of SR 40 before terminating at SR 326. County Roads 314 and 314A are also important north-south county roads that run west and into the Ocala National Forest.

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marion County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Marion County is located in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 375,908. Its county seat is Ocala.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ocala, Florida</span> City in Florida, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Springs Shores, Florida</span> Census-designated place in Florida, United States

Silver Springs Shores is a census-designated place (CDP) in Marion County, Florida, United States. The population was 24,846 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glass-bottom boat</span>

A glass-bottom boat is a boat with sections of glass, panoramic bottom glass or other suitable transparent material, below the waterline allowing passengers to observe the underwater environment from within the boat. The view through the glass bottom is better than simply looking into the water from above, because one does not have to look through optically erratic surface disturbances. The effect is similar to that achieved by a diving mask, while the passengers are able to stay dry and out of the water.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Springs</span>

Rainbow Springs, formerly known as Blue Spring, is a first-magnitude artesian spring formation in Marion County, Florida, United States, several miles north of the city of Dunnellon. Rainbow Springs is the focal point of Rainbow Springs State Park. The spring formation is the fourth-largest in Florida, and produces over 490 million gallons of water daily. Rainbow Springs forms the headwaters of the Rainbow River, which empties into the Withlacoochee River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida State Road 40</span> Highway in Florida

State Road 40 is a 91.832-mile-long (147.789 km) east–west route across northern and east-central Florida, running from U.S. Route 41 in Rainbow Lakes Estates eastwards through Ocala over the Ocklawaha River and bridge and through the heart of the Ocala National Forest to State Road A1A in Ormond Beach. Names of the road include Silver Springs Boulevard in Ocala, Fort Brooks Road from Silver Springs through Astor, Butler Road in Astor, and Granada Boulevard in Ormond Beach. Former sections in Ormond Beach are named "Old Tomoka Road" and "Old Tomoka Avenue."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Springs State Park</span> State park in Florida, United States

Silver Springs State Park, formerly known as Silver River State Park, is a Florida state park located on the Silver River in Marion County. The park contains Silver Springs, Florida's first tourist attraction.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weeki Wachee Springs</span> Natural tourist attraction located in Florida

Weeki Wachee Springs is a natural tourist attraction located in Weeki Wachee, Florida, where underwater performances by "mermaids," women wearing fish tails as well as other fanciful outfits, can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River. A waterpark, Buccaneer Bay, river boat rides, kayak and paddleboard rental are some of the other activities offered at Weeki Wachee Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Lakes Estates, Florida</span> Census-designated place in Florida, United States

Rainbow Lakes Estates is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Marion and Levy counties, Florida, United States, established as a Municipal Services District. The Marion County part of the community is part of the Ocala metropolitan area, while the Levy County portion is part of the Gainesville metropolitan area. It was first listed as a CDP for the 2020 census, at which time it had a population of 3,438.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Springs (attraction)</span> Group of artesian springs in Marion County

Silver Springs is a group of artesian springs that feed into the Silver River in Marion County, Florida. It is the largest artesian spring in the world and the site of the oldest commercial tourist attraction in Florida, and was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971. Its main features are the glass-bottom boat tours on the river, which have operated there, in various forms, since 1878. Long privately owned and operated, the springs area was formerly the site of a small amusement park, Silver Springs Nature Theme Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow River</span> River in Florida, United States

The Rainbow River is located in Dunnellon, Florida, United States, in the southwest corner of Marion County, about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Ocala, 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Orlando and 100 miles (160 km) north of the Tampa Bay area. It is formed by a first-magnitude spring that is ranked fourth in the state for volume of discharge. In addition to the springs located at the headwaters, there are many smaller springs that discharge from numerous caves, rock crevices, and sand boils the entire length of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver River (Florida)</span> River in the United States of America

The Silver River is a short spring-fed river located east of Ocala in Marion County, Florida. Fed by Silver Springs, it connects the springs to the Ocklawaha River, passing through a pristine woodland environment. The river was probably named for its silvery appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Allen (herpetologist)</span> American herpetologist and writer (1908–1981)

Ensil Ross Allen was an American herpetologist and writer who was based in Silver Springs, Florida for 46 years, where he established the Reptile Institute. He used it for research and education about alligators, crocodiles and snakes, also sponsoring and conducting collection expeditions.

Adena Springs Ranch is the former name of a 30,000-acre cattle ranch in Florida's Marion County now known as Sleepy Creek Ranch Lands. Adena Ranches is a related cattle ranch property in Levy County. Both are owned by Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paradise Park, Florida</span> Segregated tourist atrtraction in Florida

Paradise Park was a tourist attraction and recreational facility "for colored people only", as its sign said, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from Silver Springs, near Ocala, Florida, founded and run by the same management. It offered similar features, such as glass-bottom boats, "jungle cruises," a petting zoo, a dance pavilion with jukebox, performers, a softball field, a horseshoe toss, and a sandy beach with lifeguards. It operated from 1949 to 1969, closing soon after desegregation of Silver Springs. It served African American patrons prohibited from Silver Springs' boat rides that were limited to whites only. As was the rule during the allegedly separate but equal period, "Paradise Park was alright, but it wasn't up on a par with the white parts of Silver Springs."

Silver Springs Shores East is a census-designated place (CDP) in southeastern Marion County, Florida, United States. It is bordered to the west by Ocklawaha and is 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Ocala, the Marion county seat.

References

  1. 1 2 "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  2. 1 2 "P1. Race – Silver Springs CDP, Florida: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 21, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Silver Springs Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ↑ "Marion County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
  5. ↑ Griffin, Steve (September 2, 2013). "Glass-bottom boats, history and monkeys in Silver Springs". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Surviving Steam Locomotive Search". www.steamlocomotive.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  7. ↑ Bevil, Dewayne. "Silver Springs looks back at its 'Sea Hunt' days". orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  8. ↑ VANHOOSE, JOE (May 23, 2008). "Silver Springs marks 'Sea Hunt' anniversary - underwater - STAR-BANNER". ocala.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ Alec Peirce Scuba (April 27, 2017). "Sea Hunt Remembered: Silver Springs, Florida - S02E11" . Retrieved May 26, 2017– via YouTube.
  10. ↑ "Sea Hunt (TV Series 1958–1961)". imdb.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Now Endangered, Florida's Silver Springs Once Lured Tourists". NPR.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  12. ↑ Florida, State Library and Archives of. "Shipwreck used during filming of the TV show "Seahunt" - Silver Springs, Florida". Florida Memory. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  13. ↑ Joe Callahan Billionaire makes big donation to Fort McCoy School September 28, 2011 Ocala.com
  14. ↑ Nathan Crabbe Water-issue protesters greet UF's Stronach center dedication May 15, 2012 Gainesville Sun
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