1885 Community profiles, Hillsborough County, Florida

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Brian Salmons,
bsalmons@yahoo.com

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Hillsborough and Pinellas County, FL community profiles taken from page 58
of "Webb's Industrial, Historicaland Biographical Florida, Part I", Watson
S. Webb, 1885 (New York: W. S. Webb & Co. Publishers) - available at
University of South Florida, Tampa Library, Special Collections Department.


pg. 58:


        DUNEDIN is situated on the Clear Water Peninsula and St. Josephs bay
on the Gulf coast, 75 or 80 miles south of Cedar Keys, and is reached by
sailing vessels from this latter place.


        JOHN'S PASS is situated on the famous Clear Water Peninsula anout 33
miles southwest of Tampa, and on the bay of Boca Siega.  The land is elevated
above the sea level, and the population is about 250.  Reached by sailing
vessel by Tampa or Cedar Keys.


        KEYSTONE PARK is situated on the mail route from Tampa to Tarpon
Springs.  Fare to Tampa, $1.50; to Cedar Keys, $4.  It derives its name from
the fact that many of the settlers are from the Keystone State.  Railroad
prospects are very favorable, so that fast trasportation is a matter of the
near future.  Keystone Lake, the largest in this vicinity is 4 1/2 miles
long by 1/2 mile in width, and is in the shape of a boat.  There is an M. E.
Church here, and a common school.  Among the owners of noted orange groves
are Rev. Jason Grant, Messrs. R. T. Youngblood, M. D. Patterson and C. A.
Nicholson.  The settlers are whites, from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and
Michigan, are well-to-do and industrious.  Mr. J. F. Pierce is postmaster.


        KEYSVILLE is a prosperous town of 500 inhabitants, situated 12
miles distant from Plant City, and the South Florida Railway.  The fare by
stage from Tampa is $2, and the time via rail and steamer from Jacksonville,
24 hours.  The village contains two churches, Baptist, Rev. L. G. Simmons;
Methodist, Rev. E. H. Giles, and a good common school.  Prominent residents
are J. L. Keene, S. J. Lightsey, D. M. Blue, J. W. Tamer.  Messrs. Blue,
Keene, Lightsey, D. W. Proctor, and Joseph Altman are owners of notable
orange groves.  The postmaster is Mr. V. F. Strickland.


        LIMONA is situated in the central part of Hillsborough county, about
3 miles from the line of the S. F. Ry., by which it has connection with the
city of Tampa, 10 miles distant.  The place was first settled as a couny
settlement during the period of the Indian Wars, and now numbers about 30
families.  There are a number of fine orange groves just beginning to bear,
this industry being well adapted to the soil.  There are a number of lakes
and ponds in the vicinity, including Lake Limona, covering 150 acres, and
the Alafia river is but 4 miles distant, and is navigable for small boats
to this point.  The village contains a church, the M. E. (South) Rev. --
Philips, pastor, and a common school.  There is much fine timber, and a
good opening for a saw-mill with facilities for the manufacture of crates
for vegetables, fruits, etc.


        MANGO is located on the line of the S. F. Ry., by which it is a
journey of 25 minutes from Tampa.  The first settlement was by W. M. Grover,
in January, 1884.  Among the prominent men now resident are Messrs. E. A.
and Moses Hewitt, and H. M. Bryan.
        There is good opening for mercantile business, and good sober
settlers are received with open arms.


        PERU is situated on the south bank of the Alafia river, 4 miles
from its mouth.  Good water transportation is had to Tampa.  It was settled
in February, 1874, by Mr. James M. Boyett, the present postmaster.  In 1882,
there was only one family there.  At the present time the population is about
70 and rapidly increasing.  J. J. Boyett is the name of the land agent.  The
Alafia river is navigable to this place, and with a little dredging the
depth of water could be made seven feet.  Nathan Boyett, I. H. Pelham, S. E.
Mays, and R. Moody have the largest and finest orange groves.  Cattle do
well.  Sheep are being raised very extensively with satisfactory results.


        PINELLAS is located on the "Great Bayou," 22 miles from Tampa,
which is reached by steam or sailing vessel in from 2 to 8 hours.  It was
settled about the year 1864 by Messrs. A. Miranda, William P. Coons, James
Hays, John A. Bethell, et al.  At the present writing it has a population of
325.  The principal occupations are gardening and fruit culture.  Of those
who have prominent groves here may be mentioned Messrs. J. A. Cox,  Wm. P.
Neeld, M. F. Neeld, A. Maltby & Son, J. C. Williams, Jr., George R.
Johnston, George R. Meares, C. H. Keller, Dr. John B. Abercrombie, Gov. A.
P. K. Satford, A. Miranda, W. S. Thornton, H. A. Weir, A. B. Chandler,
WIlliam B. Miranda, John A. Bethell, Jacob Baum, A. Ross, D. Moffatt, D. W.
Meeker, E. E. Belcher, J. A. Harris, E. B. Telman, Ike Mallette, John
Donaldson, J. R. Tarres, J. C. Williams, Sr., James Henry, I. J. Sheffield,
George W. Arnold, William Nash, Richard Strada, J. Ping, Tim Kimball, and
many others.


        PLANT CITY has a population of 350, a Methodist and a Baptist church,
presided over by Rev.'s T. J. Philips and L. J. Jordoun, respectively; an
Academy (Shiloh) Mrs. J. R. Crane, principal; and a post-office, E. S. Tyner,
postmaster. (end of page 58)


(Transcribed for USGENWEB by Brian Salmons, May 3, 2001)