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Community NewsCrystal River, the gem of Florida's beautiful Nature Coast, is about a two hour drive from Tampa/St. Petersburg. Because Kings Bay is one of the best places in the world to observe manatees Crystal River is an international destination. Kings Bay, which has been designated an "Outstanding Florida Waterway," offers opportunities for boating, diving, swimming, fishing as well as a variety of Manatee and Eco-Tours. In addition, there are miles of nature trails to hike, bike and observe an abundance of birds, deer, alligators and other wildlife. History of Citrus County Citrus County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 118,085. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 141,416. Its county seat is Inverness, Florida. More than 90% of the population of Citrus County lives outside the two incorporated towns of Inverness and Crystal River. History Citrus County was first occupied about 10,000 years ago and settled about 2,500 years ago by mound-building Native Americans that built the complex that now forms the Crystal River Archeological Site. The site was occupied for about 2,000 years. Why the complex was abandoned is currently unknown.
Citrus County was created in 1887. The Citrus County area was formerly part of a Hernando County. It was named for the county's citrus trees. Citrus production declined dramatically after the "Big Freeze" of 1894-1895. Today, citrus is grown on one large grove, Bellamy Grove. Additionally, some people do have trees on their personal property.
The original county seat was Mansfield, or Mannsfeld. The county seat was moved to Inverness. Currently, only a street and a pond remain of the original town.
Sign on the Withlacoochee State Trail marking the site of the "Great Train Wreck of 1956" in Pineola.
Phosphate mining also played a major part in the history of the County until the end of WWII in which phosphate mining was largely moved overseas.] The first newspaper of Citrus County was called the Phosphate Times.] Pineola, Florida was the site of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad's "Great Train Wreck of 1956."
In the 1960s Citrus County began to develop and housing developments such as Beverly Hills started to dominate the county.]
Citrus County is known as “The Little Giant” and this is inscribed on the official county seal. Citrus County is in the geographic center of Florida.
Citrus County has one local television station that broadcasts County Commission meetings live on the first and third Tuesday of each month. In addition, Citrus County is serviced by Bay News 9, a news outlet provided by Bright House Networks.
There are two local newspapers, the Citrus County Chronicle and the Homosassa Beacon.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 773.15 square miles (2,002.4 km2), of which 584 square miles (1,512.6 km2) is land and 189 square miles (489.5 km2) (24.49%) is water.
National protected areas
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 118,085 people, 52,634 households, and 36,317 families residing in the county. The population density was 78/km² (202/mi²). There were 62,204 housing units at an average density of 41/km² (106/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.05% White, 2.36% Black or African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.76% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 2.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 52,634 households out of which 19.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.60.
In the county the population was spread out with 17.20% under the age of 18, 4.60% from 18 to 24, 19.10% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 32.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 53 years. For every 100 females there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,001, and the median income for a family was $36,711. Males had a median income of $28,091 versus $21,408 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,585. 11.70% of the population and 8.50% of families were below the poverty line. 18.10% of those under the age of 18 and 7.00% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Exercise caution with careful research in real estate transactions in Citrus County due to reports of houses sold that are already foreclosed, undisclosed mold contamination and contract frauds.
Adjacent Counties
Cities and towns
Incorporated
Unincorporated
Former towns
Transportation
Airports
Railroads
One rail line operates within the county: A freight line to the Crystal River Energy Complex in northern Citrus County. Other lines that used to run through Citrus were either converted into rail trails such as the Cross Town Trail in Crystal River and Withlacoochee State Trail in eastern Citrus County or abandoned.
Major roads
Politics
Citrus County leans slightly Republican in national, state and local races, electing a mix of some local Conservative Democrats and Republicans, while generally voting Republican in presidential elections.
Attractions
Private Cabin On Sportsmen's Island: Citrus County, FL
Citrus County's most significant tourist draw is that it is currently the only place in the United States where one can interact and swim with the West Indian manatee without that act being viewed as harassment by Law Enforcement.] This endangered species makes Citrus County's spring-fed rivers its wintering home. According to the US Fish & Wildlife Services' Aerial Manatee Surveys, as many as 400 of these unique creatures can be found in Citrus County at one time. This typically occurs only during the coldest months of the year.
Manatees can also be viewed in the underwater observatory at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Most of the park's residents are injured animals undergoing rehabilition or unable to return to the wild. The notable exception is Lucifer, an African hippopotamus. When a permanent home could not be found for the retired actor, then-Governor Lawton Chiles created Lucifer an honorary citizen of the state.
Citrus County also has within its territorial boundaries a number of uninhabited and/or sparsely inhabited coastal islands that can be accessed via watercraft. While some of the Citrus County islands are state lands thus available for public use for recreational opportunities, many other Citrus County islands are private property and are either wholly or partially owned by private parties. A number of the interior islands have private vacation homes and cabins situated along the waterfront.
Media
Citrus County's newspaper of record is the Citrus County Chronicle, published by Landmark Media Enterprises.
Citrus County also has one local TV Station, WYKE-LP. The county is part of the Nielsen-designated Tampa-Saint Petersburg-Sarasota television market. Bright House Networks and Comcast serve different areas of Citrus County, with Bright House serving the western part of the county, including Crystal River; and Comcast serving Inverness, and the eastern county communities; these systems offer most Tampa Bay stations, plus selected channels from the Orlando and Gainesville markets.
Radio stations in Citrus County are part of the Arbitron-designated Gainesville/Ocala Radio market.
There really is a Crystal River in Crystal River, Florida. It is a six mile long winding waterway fed by some 30 springs, connecting Kings Bay with the Gulf of Mexico. The bay and the river combine to provide virtually every aquatic activity conceivable—from swimming and diving, to boating, water skiing, fishing and just drifting along admiring the views that make this city “The Gem of the Nature Coast.” Crystal River, Citrus County, Florida "CENTURY 21 Nature Coast is pleased to recognize David Bramblett with the honor of Top Producer for the Year 2011. He has been a consistant multi-million dollar producer since joining our company. He is a leader and innovator, empowering local homebuyers and sellers with valuable information, helping them to make informed real estate decisions."says Hugh Tolle, Broker/Owner of CENTURY 21 Nature Coast. CENTURY 21 Nature Coast is a full-service real estate brokerage company specializing in residential, commercial, recreational properties and waterfront properties.
LIGHT AT THE END OF TUNNEL IN LOCAL HOUSING MARKET.. A recent roundtable discussion among a handful of local real estate, development and banking industries revealed cause for optimism despite the present economic climate. There's no denying that times are tough, but their outlook on present circumstances and what the future holds has merit. A good starting point is that Citrus County is an enviable place to live. Sooner or later the glut of baby boomers coping with the cold and snow of the northland will likely conclude that it may be several years before their home values rise to the all-time high prices of two or three years ago and a sacrifi. Once on that end it is worth it to enable a desired lifestyle change. Many in this pent-up market will conclude that putting off the move south isn't worth the sacrifice of their retirement years. With golf, swimming, hiking and an array of other outdoor options available year-round here, shoveling snow is just not that appealing. Similar to the quandary faced by northerners, would-be home sellers here have to bite the bullet and acknowledge the realistic price they'll fetch for their home, which is loosely what values were in 2004. Some who bought in recent years will take a hit while may others will simply not profit to the degree they'd hoped. One big factor that potential buyers should be aware of is interest rates are at historic lows. While it'd likely require more cash down that in the recent past, as well as a solid credit history, good-old 30 year fixed-rate loans are readily available for those who qualify. Another factor is that there's a large selection of homes to choose from, making it a buyer's market. No doubt, Citrus County is experiencing a housing slump that's typical of what much of the nation is going through. However, with our enviable locale, a lot of homes to choose from, and banks with low-interest loans awaiting qualified takers, there's every reason to believe the storm clouds of the recession will give way to brighter economic times. This was an Editoral featured in the Citurs County Chronicle AIRPORTS There are two county airports located in Citrus County. One is located in Crystal River just off Highway 19 and the other is located in Inverness behind the Fairgrounds/Race Track just of Highway 41. There are two International Airports (Orlando and Tampa) within a 90 minute drive of Citrus County and are served by all major carriers. Gainesville Regional Airport, located within 60 minutes of Citrus County offers service from Delta, US Airways and several commuter airlines. CHURCHES There is a church for everyone in Citrus County. Assemblies of God Inverness 352/341-1711 Baha'is of Citrus County Inverness 352/344-5177 Beverly Hills Community Church Beverly Hills 352/746-3620 Christian Center Church Homosassa 352/628-5719 Citrus County Salvation Army Homosassa 352/621-5532 Crystal River United Methodist Church Crystal River 352/795-3148 Faith Lutheran Church Lecanto 352/527-3325 First Assembly of God Crystal River 352/795-2594 First Baptist Church Crystal River 352/795-2259 First Presbyterian Church of Crystal River Crystal River 352/795-2359 First United Methodist Church of Homosassa Homosassa 352/628-4083 Gospel Light Baptist Church Lecanto 352/628-9885 Grace Baptist Church of Citrus Springs Citrus Springs 352/465-0362 Gulf To Lake Church, s.b.c. Crystal River 352/795-8077 Hernando SDA Church Hernando 352/344-2008 Hernando United Methodist Church Hernando 352/726- 7245 Homosassa Seventh-day Adventist Church Homosassa Sprg 352/628-7950 Hope Baptist Church Citrus County Hernando 352/464-4441 Inverness Church of God Inverness 352/726-4524 Nature Coast Unitarian Universalist Beverly Hills 352/746-7040 Pleasant Grove Road Church of Christ Inverness 352/344-9173 Redeemer Presbyterian Church Inverness 352/726-0077 Roman Catholic Churches of Citrus County - Homosassa, Crystal River, Lecanto,Inverness, Beverly Hills, Citrus Springs Seven Rivers Presbyterian Church Lecanto 352/746-6200 Shepard's Way Baptist Church Lecanto 352/628-0924 St. Anne's Episcopal Church Crystal River 352/795-2176 Vineyard Christian Fellowship Inverness 352/726-1480
ORGANIZATIONS AND CLUBS Citrus County is growing. The purpose of this list is to provide people planning to move to our beautiful area information on Citrus County Community organizations and clubs. Our list is short, there are many more to find out about. Hope this will provide an insite into the place we call home. Citrus Shrine Club 4400 N. Elkam Blvd. Beverly Hills 352/746-6936 Abate of Florida, Inc. 352/489-1644 Abundant Life Coach 4 U 2834 W. Rutland Dr Citrus Springs 352/489-4440 Beverly Hills Recreation Assoc 530 W. Milkweed Lp Bev Hills 352/746-7040 Citrus County Historical Society Crystal River kryan@xtalwind.net Citrus Tree 3089 S. Graymor Path Inverness 352/341-3711 Creative Quilters of Citrus 21 Floribunda Court Homosassa 352/382-7683 Nature Cost PT Cruisers claymont@naturecoastptcruisers.com Scottish American Society of Citrus County Homosassa 352/382-2519 Sky High Amateur Radio Club w4iir@hotmail.com 352/382-3108
CITRUS COUNTY SCHOOLS
CHASSAHOWITZKA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1941, is composed of over 31,000 acres of saltwater bays, estuaries and brackish marshes at the mouth of the Chassahowitzka River. The refuge is located approximately 65 miles north of St. Petersburg, Florida and was established primarily to protect waterfowl habitat. Chassahowitzka River is one of the more scenic rivers in Florida. Accessible only by boat or canoe, the river is one of the state's Outstanding Florida Waters. Like most of the other rivers in the Springs Coast Watershed, this river is spring fed. The Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge borders the river. This refuge includes the Chassahowitzka and Homosassa River estuaries, many islands, 12 miles of river, salt marshes and coastal swamps. This area is protected and managed by several federal, state, and local government agencies. Today the Southwest Florida Water Management District buys lands that are important to the protection of Florida's water resources. In 1990, the District began acquiring lands that now make up the Chassahowitzka Riverine Swamp Sanctuary. Today the Sanctuary is made up of about 5,676 acres of land. The District's Sanctuary includes both uplands and wetlands. Some of the trees and plants you will find in the uplands include sand live oaks, fetterbushes, saw palmettos, longleaf pines, and turkey oaks. Some of the wetland plants include cypress trees, cabbage palms, saw grass, sweetgum trees and red maple trees. Many animals also make the sanctuary their home. These animals include Florida black bears, white-tailed deer, bald eagles, river otters, bobcats, ospreys, great blue herons, wood storks, manatees, and whooping cranes. Operation Migration started in 2001. The second home for the whoopers will be in the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. The migration was the longest journey attempted, 1,250 miles from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. Whooping cranes stand about 5 feet tall and are pure white in color with black wing tips and a red crown. These birds fly at 32 mph. Do you remember hearing of the movie "Fly Away Home?" The story is about a little girl who leads migrating geese in an ultralight? That movie is based on the true experiences of William Lishman and Joseph Duff, founders of Operation Migration. These people DO fly with the birds. May you always hear the whisper of wings... The West Indian manatees are large mammals with a body that tapers to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They are grayish-brown in color and have two flippers with nails on them. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weights about 1000 pounds. Manatees are concentrated in Florida in the winter, but can be found as far west as Louisiana and as far north as Virginia in the summer months. The manatee lives in warm, shallow rivers, bays, estuaries, and coastal waters. They are often found in the warm waters released by power plants. The clarity of the water is not important. Manatees prefer water that has a depth of 1 - 2 meters. Manatees are very gentle, slow-moving, graceful swimmers. They eat aquatic plants. Manatees must come to the surface to breath. Manatees have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. Many manatee mortalities are human-related. Most occur from collisions with watercraft. The loss of habitat is a serious threat. There are approximately 2600 manatees left in the United States. You can see the manatees in the local rivers in the winter or in the Homosassa Springs State Park. Crystal River, Florida is the only area where the herds are growing. The City of Crystal River and Homosassa Springs area of Citrus County are very proud of this. Manatee tours are available, so that you can observe the manatee in their natural habitat. Most tours have guides that are true professional and respect the manatees and its environment. GOLFING Challenges are everywhere when you golf in Citrus County. Citrus County, the unspoiled gem in the heart of Florida's Nature Coast offers many public and private courses that beckon to both serious and casual golfers. There are more than 50 courses in our area. With one of the world's greatest concentrations of golf courses, some people refer to Florida's Gulf Coast as the "Golf Coast." The Nature Coast courses - include four ranked among the top 100 in the nation by Golf Digest magazine. With so many courses to choose from, long waits for tee times are rare and play usually moves along at a pleasant pace. Mother Nature has provides us with our magnificent landscape to remind golfers of why then have chosen to play in the great outdoors that Citrus County has to offer. Below is a list of some of Citrus County area golf courses. The Citrus County Florida Golf offering is an ever changing and growing list. Black Diamond Golf & Country Club Lecanto 352/746-3446 Citrus Hills Golf & Country Club Citrus Hills 352/746-4425 Citrus Springs Golf & Country Club Citrus Springs 352/489-5045 Inverness Golf & Country Club Inverness 352/637-2526 Lakeside Golf & Country Club Inverness 352/726-1461 Pine Ridge Country Club & Golf Course Pine Ridge 352/746-6177 Plantation Golf Club Crystal River 352/795-7211 Seven Rivers Golf Club Crystal River 352/795-2100 Southern Woods Golf Club Sugarmill Woods 352/382-5996 Sugarmill Woods Country Club Sugarmill Woods 352/382-2663 Twisted Oaks Country Club & Golf Club Beverly Hills 352/746-6257 World Woods Golf Club Brooksville 352/796-5550 x 4 FISHING We have seven of Florida's outstanding water bodies. We are sure you will have an abundance of choices, and a productive and enjoyable time when coming here to fish. If freshwater is your preference, then you have your choice of sunshine bass in the Lake Tsala Apopka chain, speckled perch in Lake Rousseau, catfish in the Withlacoochee or the ultimate southern quarry, the Florida Largemouth Bass, just about everywhere. If saltwater is more to your liking, you can seek grouper and snapper at the reefs (Citrus County Reef #1, Laran Co-ordinate 14356.2/45305.05) and rock piles of the coast, sea trout and Spanish mackerel on the grass beds, cobia and sheepshead at the markers, redfish and whiting off the oyster bars, and record size tarpon working the flats. Once you have decided what you would like to fish for, the next choice is where you want to start. We have numerous boat ramps, fishing piers, bridges, and locations for bank fishing as well as professional guides, party boats, and boat rental businesses to serve you. Choose one of our local captains to take you out and show you where the fish are biting. We also have many bait shops and sporting goods stores where you can purchase live bait and the newest "can't miss" lures. They may even fill you in on the location of the latest hot spots. If you would like to go even further and find that special spot that the locals always seem to know about, try asking them! Citrus County's regulars are usually ready to share a few secrets, although I wouldn't go as far to ask for directions to that 10 pound bass they caught last week! The last decision for you to make is when you want to come to fish. That depends on you, Certain fish, however, do have closed seasons and or special requirements that could effect your decision of when to visit. So select the time that is right for you and come and enjoy "Mother Nature's Theme Park!"
Local CENTURY 21 Office Releases Spring Survey Results Crystal River, FL (Grassroots Newswire) June 22, 2010 - Many people dream of buying their first home or trading up to a new home that will better suit their changing needs. However, as the market begins to climb out of one of the most challenging economic downturns in recent history, the current state of the real estate market may be in question in many peoples’ minds. Is it the right time to make a move? In April, two giants in the real estate market announced interesting survey results. Fannie Mae found that two-thirds of Americans (65 percent) are still bullish on homeownership, preferring to own a home despite the challenging economic environment and the housing downturn. Additional research conducted by Century 21 Real Estate LLC provides further insight. CENTURY 21® First-Time Home Buyers and Sellers survey captured and compared the opinions of prospective home buyers and sellers who either purchased or sold their first home within the past year or are planning to buy or sell their first home within the next year. The majority of survey respondents had moved or intended to move more than 10 miles but less than 50 miles from their previous location, indicating current market conditions may be a catalyst for buying or selling homes, as opposed to a desire to dramatically change geographic location or relocate for a job. “Buying a home, whether it’s your first or subsequent purchase, is the single greatest financial decision that most people will make in their lifetime,” counsels Rick Davidson, president and chief executive officer, Century 21 Real Estate LLC. “And, our research indicates that today’s market presents a generational opportunity for home buyers and current home owners looking to leverage their market position.” Current Market Conditions More than 80 percent of first-time home buyers and sellers feel the current housing market is more affordable today than this time last year. This is despite the fact that 40 percent of all respondents are more worried about the economy now compared to this time last year. Federal tax credits and solid mortgage rates have had a positive impact on driving people to take action. A full market recovery takes time and current conditions continue to favor buyers. While buyers are excited about the opportunities in the current market, sellers note their main concern is losing money on the sale of their home and receiving offers near their asking price. When will the balance between housing need and inventory return? The real estate industry typically considers six months of inventory to represent a balanced market. According to the National Association of REALTORS® the number of homes for sale currently represents approximately eight months of inventory and has decreased 21.7 percent below the record of 4.58 million homes for sale in July 2008*. First-time home buyers anticipate home prices will soon begin to rise and in fact, about half of first-time buyers (48 percent) expect an increase by this time next year, thereby reestablishing better market equilibrium. Let an Expert Help Guide You Whether you are considering buying or selling a home, 60 percent of first-time home buyers do not feel they have a good handle on the real estate process. Given the complexity and opportunity of today’s real estate market, 85 percent of both first-time buyers and sellers feel that using a real estate professional is important. Allow an experienced professional to help guide you to the home that is right for you, at a price you can afford. The market is recovering and providing a powerful opportunity to act. Take advantage of positive price points and low interest rates today. For additional information about market conditions in *National Association of Realtors Existing Home Sales Report, March 2010 Methodology – Century 21 Real Estate LLC First Time Home Buyers and Sellers Survey MarketTools, Inc. conducted a quantitative survey on behalf of Century 21 Real Estate LLC with 708 prospective home buyers and sellers who either purchased or sold their first home within the past year or are planning to buy or sell their first home within the next year. The quantitative study yielded results from 353 first-time home buyers and 355 first-time home sellers in the form of an online survey fielded from March 12 to 16. The margin of error for this study is 3.7 percent. About Century 21 © 2010 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. CENTURY 21® Is A Registered Trademark Licensed To Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing
Crystal River is truly the City of festivals! It is home to many much loved festivals that draw thousands of people, such as the Manatee Festival, Scarecrow Fest, Octoberfest, the Stone Crab Jam, the Scallop Festival, the 4th of July Fireworks Show and the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Christmas Parade.
Additionally, the City sponsors free entertainment in the form of "Music In The Park" which takes place at the Gazebo behind City Hall the third weekend of each month. There are numerous fine restaurants, cafes and pubs both in Crystal River and within a short drive. Also nearby are other great attractions such as the Homosassa Wildlife Park, ancient Indian Mounds and the cultural center of Citrus County, the Art Center Theater which is a first rate performing arts center.
Crystal River is proud of it's history, parks, natural beauty, low tax structure and first rate municipal services.
Treat yourself and your family to our many attractions, warm laid back welcoming folks and a slower pace.
Enjoy Crystal River! |
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