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Arcadia History |
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“Welcome
to Tater Hill Bluff” is how you would have been greeted had you
visited in the mid-1800’s. Arcadia was incorporated in 1886 and
was chosen as the County Seat in 1888. Arcadia remains the only
city in DeSoto County. Many local families are 5th and 6th
generations.
During the l890’s cattle range wars were rampant. Artist
Frederick Remington visited Arcadia and captured the era’s fever
in several of his paintings. The Peace River was the first mode
of Public Transportation and then a mule-drawn “Street Car”
brought you to town. On Thanksgiving night in 1905 the
downtown burned. The merchants agreed only brick and stone would
be built. The present downtown is the result; however, wooden
sidewalks were allowed until 1916 when the streets were paved. Our courthouse was built in 1912 and our City Hall in 1923.
During WWI and WWII two primary training flying fields were
located here with British trainees during WWII.
About 1919 (WWI) the flying fields were sites of early parachute
experimentations and pioneer guided missile testing. The
"Soldiers Club” was housed in the Opera House. Thirty-two
British Cadets are buried in the City cemetery where a British
Memorial Service is held each year.
Though small and rural, many locals have distinguished
themselves in diverse fields. Others have become legends. One,
Acrefoot Johnson, almost 7 feet tall, walked barefoot carrying
mail on his back from Fort Myers to Fort Meade (about 85 miles). Another, Bone Mizell, a “cracker” cowboy, drove cattle all week
and had several books written about his weekend escapades.
Some firsts for Arcadia: 1884 - Post Office and first appeared
on a map; 1886 - Railroad, organized church and survey (Surveyor
Albert W. Gilchrist in 1909 became the 20th governor of
Florida); 1889 - Tree of Knowledge planted; 1902 - Car; 1905 -
High School and Water Plant; 1912 - Hospital.
Industries have included citrus, cattle, watermelons,
rattlesnake cannery, extracting resin from pine stumps, winter
home 0f the “Louisville Colonels” a minor league baseball team,
a Chautauqua, convention headquarters for “Tin Can Tourist 0f
the World” and selected “Best Small Town”. The All-Florida
Championship Rodeo was started in 1929 and is still going, as is
our Golf Course which was built in 1925.
A goodly number 0f the beautiful two-story homes built prior to
1900 remain today. Most are along Oak, Magnolia and Hickory
Streets.
Over the last 150 years the face of Arcadia has changed from a
wild frontier known for its range wars and as headquarters of
the “Cattle Kings”, to a milder place during the land boom of
the 1920’s, to a resilient City through the depression of the
1930’s and early 1940’s, to the great small place it is now.
Let us hope the same steadfast character will prevail here in
the next 150 years.
We take pride in our City and our history, and hope to preserve
the remaining physical assets which seem to have been frozen in
time.
We hope you will come again. Bring a friend, enjoy our neat
stores, learn more our history and meet the super folks who live
in this unique place called Arcadia. |
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DeSoto County - A
Rich History |
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DeSoto County is named for the Spanish explorer Hernando
DeSoto. It was created from Manatee County in April 1887.
Until 1921, DeSoto was one of the largest counties in the
state, but residents complained of the vast distance between
home and the courthouse. It was then subdivided to create
Hardee, Charlotte, Highlands, and Glades counties.
The original DeSoto County seat, which had also served
Manatee County since 1866, was located at Pine Level.
Although apparently built of brick, the Pine Level
courthouse, or at least its jail, was derided as flimsy,
allowing the escape of prisoners to such an extent that
vigilantism was rampant in the large and undeveloped county.
Eventually, a new county seat was created at Tater Hill
Bluff,’ renamed Arcadia, in 1888 after Arcadia Albritton,
the pretty daughter of local settlers. |
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"The Depot" or formerly the old Atlantic
Coastline Train Station |
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The old Peace River Bridge |
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In the late 1870’s, the railroads were completed through
Desoto County and it changed the growth of the county and
brought wealth for many. In 1881, phosphate was discovered
on the banks of Peace River that flows through the county.
Mining of this mineral brought much prosperity for many
years. Ruins of the old phosphate docks can be found
today near Liverpool on Hunter Creek, just a few hundred
yards from the Peace River in South DeSoto County.
The first courthouse in Arcadia was constructed by
Peyton Read at a cost of $6,000, half of which had
been donated to the county by four local citizens.
It is probable that this structure was destroyed in
a 1905 fire, since historian
Louise Frisbie reports only three brick buildings survived
that conflagration. The current DeSoto County Courthouse was built by the Read-Parker |
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Construction Company in 1912-1913. It was designed by the Tampa architectural
firm of Bonfoey and Elliot. |
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Business as Usual |
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Citrus is DeSoto County’s largest agricultural industry. The
rest of the industry is made up of cattle ranching, farming,
processing, and canning. Commercial forestry claims
about 46,000 acres.
The DeSoto County Chamber of Commerce boasts a thriving
membership of 250 members consisting of businesses, clubs,
and organizations.
Every
March, July, and October, the Rodeo comes to town in
Arcadia, Florida. Established in 1928, the Arcadia
All-Florida Championship is where the nation’s top
professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls battle for the
points and prize money each year to go on to the National
Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Come to Florida’s cowboy
country for fun. |
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What DeSoto County
has to offer |
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Seven Hotels & Bed and Breakfasts. |
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Air service from major airlines in Fort Myers, Sarasota, and
Tampa. A local municipal airport is available. |
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Port services in Tampa. |
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Over 76 friendly churches in the DeSoto County community. |
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Locally printed newspapers: DeSoto Sun Herald, Tampa
Tribune, and Arcadia’s Weekly News. |
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Recreational Opportunities: Peace River Canoeing, Boating,
Fishing, Fossil Hunting, Antiquing, Golfing, Horseback
Riding, Camping, and Visiting the Historic Downtown Area. |
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Historical Points of Interest: Owens School Historical
Renovation, National Historic District, and the British
Memorial Oak Ridge Cemetery. |
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Cultural Events I Festivals: Chamber Springfest, DeSoto
County Watermelon Festival DeSoto County Rodeo, BlueGrass
Festival, and the DeSoto County Fair. |
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Area Golf Courses |
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Miles from Arcadia to:
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DeSoto County Facts |
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Tampa ..................................... |
65 |
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Population 2003 est. |
34,000 |
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Orlando ................................... |
95 |
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Persons under age 5 |
7.70% |
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Miami ...................................... |
146 |
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Persons under age 18 |
27.6% |
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Jacksonville .............................. |
217 |
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Persons 65 years & older |
13.9% |
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Atlanta, Georgia ....................... |
475 |
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Land area - square mile |
637 |
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Dallas, Texas............................. |
972 |
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Population density |
42.3 |
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New York, New York.............. |
1034 |
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Largest city |
Arcadia |
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Chicago, Illinois ........................ |
1064 |
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Labor force |
9.616 |
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Per capita income (99) |
$22,404 |
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Unemployment rate |
8.3% |
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Cross Creek Country Club & RV Resort -
6837 NE Cubitis Avenue - Arcadia, Florida 34266-5675
863-494-7300 * Fax: 863-494-2994 |
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