Chiefland, Florida
| Chiefland, Florida | |
|---|---|
| City | |
Chiefland City Hall
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| Motto: "Gem of The Suwanee Valley" | |
 Location in Levy County and the state of Florida |
|
 Chiefland, Florida
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| Coordinates: 29°28′54″N 82°51′44″W / 29.48167°N 82.86222°WCoordinates: 29°28′54″N 82°51′44″W / 29.48167°N 82.86222°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 Florida
|
| County | Levy |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Betty |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.2 sq mi (16.1 km2) |
| • Land | 6.2 sq mi (16.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 2,245 |
| • Density | 360/sq mi (140/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP codes | 32626, 32644 |
| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-11925 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0307630 |
Chiefland is a city in Levy County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,245 at the 2010 census. Chiefland calls itself the "Gem of the Suwannee Valley" and was incorporated in 1929.
A village of the Timucua people was once located south of the present city and at Manatee Springs. The area's economy was traditionally based on agriculture, primarily farming (peanuts, watermelons, hay); ranching (cattle, hogs); dairy (milk); timber (pulpwood, lumber, turpentine) and aquaculture (fishing, oystering, crabbing).
Manatee Springs State Park is located 6 miles (10 km) west of town; the crystal-clear water is a "first-magnitude" spring that flows directly into the Suwannee River. The park offers a full slate of activities, including camping. Manatees can be seen in the spring year-round, but especially in late fall and winter, where the constant 72 °F (22 °C) temperature of the spring is much warmer than river water.
Chiefland is located in the northwest corner of the county, where Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties adjoin (known as the "Tri-County area"). As growth in north Florida increased during the last quarter of the twentieth century, Chiefland became a local center for shopping. A 202,000 sq ft (18,800 m2) Walmart Supercenter was opened in 1995, and increased traffic along US 19/98 support a variety of national fast food franchises plus Best Western and Days Inn motels. Georgia-Pacific was a large employer, operating a mill in Chiefland from 1955 to 1978. Agriculture is still a major factor in the local economy, but there has been a big shift to a service economy. There are three incarceration facilities in the area: Cross City Correctional Institution & Work Camp; Lancaster Correctional Institution & Work Camp; and Levy Forestry Camp. They provide a total of over 800 jobs.
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