White Springs, Florida
| White Springs, Florida | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
White Springs Town Hall and Police Department
|
|
 Location in Hamilton County and the state of Florida |
|
| Coordinates: 30°19′54″N 82°45′22″W / 30.33167°N 82.75611°WCoordinates: 30°19′54″N 82°45′22″W / 30.33167°N 82.75611°W | |
| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 Florida
|
| County | Hamilton |
| Incorporated | 1885 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.9 sq mi (4.8 km2) |
| • Land | 1.9 sq mi (4.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 112 ft (34 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 777 |
| • Density | 422/sq mi (163.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 32096 |
| Area code(s) | 386 |
| FIPS code | 12-77400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0293230 |
| Website | www |
White Springs is a town in Hamilton County, Florida, United States, on the Suwannee River. The population was 777 at the 2010 census, down from 819 at the 2000 census. Home of the annual Florida Folk Festival, it is a tourist destination noted for historic charm, antique shops and river recreation.
The Suwannee River was once the boundary between the Timucuan tribe to the east and the Apalachee tribe to the west. When Spanish explorers visited the area in the 1530s, it was inhabited by the former, who believed its springs possessed healing powers. The Indians considered the springs as a sacred healing ground. Any tribe member could bathe and drink the mineral waters without fear of being attacked. The spring water flows through rocks embedded with sulfur crystals and acquires a "rotten egg" smell.
The settlement was incorporated in 1831 as "Jackson Springs" by businessmen Joseph Bryant, James T. Hooker, his brother William B. Hooker, John Lee, and James D. Prevatt. In addition to the spring, they planned to build a ferry across the Suwannee River.
Bryant & Elizabeth Sheffield bought tracts for a cotton plantation in 1835, and took over the ferry operation the following year. Mr. Sheffield drank the mineral waters and touted their ability to cure nervousness, kidney troubles, and rheumatism, among other problems. They constructed a hotel and spring house from logs. The spring called "Upper Mineral Springs" was very popular and became Florida's first tourist attraction.
During the Civil War, some Confederate soldiers found refuge in the town from Union troops. The family of future governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, whose Jacksonville farm was burned by Union forces, moved to a nearby farm which they named "Rebel's Refuge". At some point, the springs were renamed "White Sulphur Springs". Following the Civil War, the tourist business slowly returned. In 1882, the Georgia merchants Wight and Powell purchased the property and platted city lots. They sold parcels to other retailers to open businesses catering to plantations and resorts around the spring. Crowds of health seekers arrived, first by stagecoach and then railroad. White Springs was incorporated in 1885. Hotels and boarding houses popped up; a cotton gin attracted buyers and sellers; and fashionable clothing and hats were offered for sale. Leisure activities included ballroom dancing, lawn tennis, and skating.
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Wikipedia