Florida Tiny Towns
It's difficult to believe that in 2022, Florida, one of the fast growing states in America, still has a number of towns that have less than 1,000 residents (as reported by Florida Back Roads Travel website). Below I have listed the site's selection of 10 towns from various regions of the state. In our personal journeys, we will visit each of these towns and capture history digitally. (Note: towns noted in blue have been visited in our personal Florida journey).
"White Springs is on the Suwannee River in Northeast Florida, about 25 miles south of the Georgia state line. It is home to Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park. became noticed by tourists in the 1830s when it was believed bathing in the local sulfur spring was good for your health." Click more.
"McIntosh is in North Central Florida about 20 miles south of Gainesville and 6 miles from Micanopy. The McIntosh Historic District includes dozens of historic homes and other buildings. The name of the town may come from an early planter named Col. John Houstoun McIntosh who owned a plantation in the area from the 1820s until it was destroyed by Seminole Indians during the Second Seminole War (1835-1842)." Click more.
"Ona is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Hardee County, Florida, United States. Its population was 199 as of the 2020 census. Although such a small town, is it known by Florida explorers as the home of Soloman's Castle - a unique, art gallery and home worth a trip to visit and explore unusual yet beautiful art. Click More.
"St. Marks is an historic fishing village about 20 miles south of Tallahassee on the St. Marks River. It has a scenic lighthouse and two small restaurants. It is on a rail to trail path." Click more.
"Micanopy is a historic town on U.S. Highway 441 about 14 miles south of Gainesville. It is a quiet town where visitors enjoy browsing in the antique shops or having lunch in a small cafe. Micanopy is reported to be the oldest inland town in Florida that has been continuously inhabited." Click more.
"Steinhatchee is a fishing village on the Gulf Coast in North Central Florida. It is on the Steinhatrchee River, a river that has one of Florida's few waterfalls. The village is a great scalloping location." Click more.
"Yankeetown is a fishing village located where the Withlacoochee River enters the Gulf of Mexico. It is about 45 miles west of Ocala in Central West Florida. Elvis made one of his movies here. It is a commercial fishing town today. The oak shaded streets are draped with Spanish moss and lined with examples of Old Florida cracker homes."
"Briny Breezes is in Southeast Florida on State Road A1A. It is a town comprised of all mobile homes across the Intracoastal Waterway from Boynton Beach. Trailer parks, mobile home parks, manufactured home parks - by any name - are all over Florida, but people who pass by Briny Breezes get a different feeling about this one."
"Penney Farms is a historic town in Northeast Florida established as a farming community by James Cash Penney in the 1920s. The town today is mostly populated by retirees."
"Glen St. Mary is in Northeast Florida on U.S. Highway 90 west of Jacksonville. In 2004 it won an award as Florida's Outstanding Rural Community. Rural Community."
"Highland Park is in Polk County in Central Florida. It was established in 1927 as a golf course community. The golf course is now closed, but the town lives on. Highland Park was founded in 1927, and has always been a recreation focused community."