Venice, Florida

Venice is a city in Sarasota County, Florida, United States. The city includes what locals call "Venice Island", a portion of the mainland that is accessed via bridges over the artificially created Intracoastal Waterway. The city is located south of Nokomis and north of Englewood. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,746.[7] It is noted for its large snowbird population and was voted as a top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns by Coastal Living.[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.6 square miles (43.1 km2), of which 15.3 square miles (39.5 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.5 km2), or 8.19%, is water.[7]

Summers in Venice are very warm and humid with high temperatures typically reaching the lower 90s and falling to the upper 70s overnight, although temperatures on many summer nights fail to drop below 80. The reason for this narrow diurnal range results from a very high amount of atmospheric moisture, which translates to high relative humidity. This abundant moisture, in addition to moderating temperatures, also serves to contribute to the development of convective thunderstorms that commonly erupt during the mid-late afternoon. These popcorn variety thunderstorms are generally brief and not severe, but can bring heavy rain and frequent cloud to ground lightning. These storms also lower the surface temperatures, often by 10 degrees or more, but simultaneously raise the relative humidity, thereby negating any comforting factor. This wet seasons typically begins in early June, and subsides in early-mid October.

Westville, Florida

Westville is a town in Holmes County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 289,[5] up from 221 at the 2000 census. From 2000 to 2010, the Westville town population growth percentage was 30.8%.

Westville is located in southern Holmes County at 30°46′4″N 85°51′8″W / 30.76778°N 85.85222°W / 30.76778; -85.85222 (30.767681, -85.852302),[6] on the west side of the Choctawhatchee River. To the east across the river is the town of Caryville in Washington County.

U.S. Route 90 passes through Westville, leading east through Caryville 11 miles (18 km) to Bonifay, the Holmes County seat, and west 18 miles (29 km) to DeFuniak Springs. Interstate 10 passes through the southern part of the town limits, but the closest access is from Exit 104 in Caryville.

Yankeetown, Florida

Yankeetown was founded in 1923 by the Indiana politician and lawyer Armanis F. Knotts, who moved to the area because of his great love for hunting.[6] Originally named for the founder, the present name comes from the fact the local mail carrier frequently and derisively directed visitors to the settlement he called "that Yankee town".[7]

Yankeetown is located at 29°1′52″N 82°43′12″W / 29.03111°N 82.72000°W / 29.03111; -82.72000 (29.031155, -82.720104).[8] The outermost reaches of the town are located around the mouth of the Withlacoochee River and along the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.1 square miles (54.6 km2), of which 7.6 square miles (19.8 km2) is land and 13.4 square miles (34.8 km2), or 63.75%, is water.[5]

Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a major city in, and the county seat of, Hillsborough County, Florida, United States.[11] It is on the west coast of Florida on Tampa Bay, near the Gulf of Mexico, and is the largest city in the Tampa Bay Area. The bay's port is the largest in the state, near downtown's Channel District. Bayshore Boulevard runs along the bay, and is east of the historic Hyde Park neighborhood.

Today, Tampa is part of the metropolitan area most commonly referred to as the "Tampa Bay Area". For U.S. Census purposes, Tampa is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The four-county area is composed of roughly 3.1 million residents,[4] making it the second largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the state, and the fourth largest in the Southeastern United States, behind Washington, D.C., Miami, and Atlanta.[12] The Greater Tampa Bay area has over 4 million residents and generally includes the Tampa and Sarasota metro areas. The city had a population of 335,709 at the 2010 census,[5] and an estimated population of 385,430 in 2017.[13]

The Tampa Bay Partnership and U.S. Census data showed an average annual growth of 2.47 percent, or a gain of approximately 97,000 residents per year. Between 2000 and 2006, the Greater Tampa Bay Market experienced a combined growth rate of 14.8 percent, growing from 3.4 million to 3.9 million and hitting the 4 million population mark on April 1, 2007.[14] A 2012 estimate shows the Tampa Bay area population to have 4,310,524 people and a 2017 projection of 4,536,854 people.[15]

Venus, Florida

Wewahitchka, Florida

Wewahitchka is a city in Gulf County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,981 as of the 2010 census.[6] This was up from 1,722 as of the 2000 census. From the creation of Gulf County in 1925 until 1965, it served as the county seat before the county seat was moved to Port St. Joe. The city took its name from an American Indian word meaning "water eyes". Two lakes along the edge of town look like a perfect pair of eyes.[7]

Wewahitchka is located in northeastern Gulf County at the junction of Florida State Roads 71 and 22. SR 71 leads north 27 miles (43 km) to Blountstown and south 24 miles (39 km) to Port St. Joe, while SR 22 leads west 28 miles (45 km) to Panama City. According to the United States Census Bureau, Wewahitchka has a total area of 7.7 square miles (20.0 km2), of which 6.5 square miles (16.8 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km2), or 15.80%, is water.[6] It is located west of the Chipola River, a tributary of the Apalachicola River, and southwest of Dead Lake.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,722 people, 696 households, and 483 families residing in the city. The population density was 277.4 people per square mile (107.1/km²). There were 894 housing units at an average density of 144.0 per square mile (55.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.61% White, 7.55% African American, 7.64% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

Youngstown, Florida

Youngstown is an unincorporated community in Bay County, Florida, United States. It was the site of an unsolved deadly train derailment in 1978.[1] It is part of the Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. The main road through Youngstown is US 231, which is the eastern terminus of County Road 388.

Tangerine, Florida

Tangerine is a census-designated place (CDP) in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,865 at the 2010 census.[3] It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km2), of which 4.6 square miles (11.8 km2) is land and 0.73 square miles (1.9 km2) (13.85%) is water.[5]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 826 people, 323 households, and 256 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 715.9 inhabitants per square mile (277.3/km²). There were 348 housing units at an average density of 301.6 per square mile (116.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.65% White, 3.27% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.57% Asian, 2.42% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.99% of the population.

Vernon, Florida

The geographical center of Washington County, Florida, Vernon is named for George Washington's Virginia home, Mt. Vernon. The quaint, pioneer town was also the site of a major Indian settlement. Vernon held the county seat until 1927 when the seat was moved to Chipley. The move was approved by a margin of one vote.

Vernon became known as "nub city" in the 1950s and 1960s for a high number of limb loss insurance claims made in the area. Vernon was featured in the Errol Morris documentary film Vernon, Florida (produced in 1981) highlighting the eccentricities of the people who lived there. The movie angered many residents of the city and surrounding areas who felt the documentary portrayed Vernon in a negative light. Morris had originally intended to document on the "Nub City" aspect of the town, but re-focused his subject after claiming to receive death threats from residents.[5] The area's history is exhibited at the Vernon Historical Society Museum in Vernon City Hall.

The city sits on the Holmes Creek where during the 1880s the creek was used as a shipping route to Bonifay and other nearby towns. The creek was also used to ship gopher tortoises due to the high value their shell carried at that time. The town gained infamy in the late 1950s and early 1960s due to the improbably high percentage of residents who put out insurance claims on lost limbs, to the point that many speculated that residents of the town were intentionally dismembering themselves for the insurance money. Although there is no real evidence to support these speculations, these insurance claims from Vernon, with a population of 500–800, accounted for as many as 2/3 of claims nationally. The town was referred to as "Nub City".[5]

White Springs, Florida

White Springs is a town in Hamilton County, Florida, United States, on the Suwannee River. The population was 777 at the 2010 census,[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] 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.[6]