๐บ๐ธ Fort White is a town in Columbia County, Florida, United States, named after a military fort built in the 1830s. It is the closest town to Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Fort White High School and the Fort White Public School Historic District are located within the town's borders. The original school building was constructed in 1915.
History Fort White was originally constructed as a military fort during the Second Seminole War in 1836 to protect the Cow Creek settlement. Supplies were brought in by steamboat on the Santa Fe River and distributed to other area forts. Due to sickness, flooding along the river and rumors of the railroad coming to the area, the settlement was moved 4 miles (6ย km) east to its present location.
The town was incorporated in 1884 still named after the military fort Fort White and grew steadily following the arrival of the railroad in 1888. Phosphate mining, turpentine and agriculture (cotton and oranges) were the foundation of the economy, and the population grew to nearly 2,000. The boom turned to bust as severe freezes in the winters of 1896 and 1897 destroyed the local citrus industry. By 1910, the largest phosphate deposits were depleted and mining ceased. The boll weevil ended cotton farming before World War I, and the population shrank to a few hundred people, primarily farmers, ranchers and foresters. The town's population in 1979 was 365.
Geography Fort White is located in southern Columbia County at the intersection of U.S. Route 27 and Florida State Road 47. SR 47 leads north 20 miles (32ย km) to Lake City, the Columbia County seat, and south 23 miles (37ย km) to Trenton. US 27 leads south-east 16 miles (26ย km) to Alachua and Interstate 75, and west 13 miles (21ย km) to Branford.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Fort White has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2ย kmยฒ), all land. Most of the land surrounding the town is family farms and/or forests.
Government services The town elects a mayor and four town council members who meet once each month. Water is provided through the city, but all residents utilize a septic tank system for sewerage. Law enforcement is provided by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office who utilize a sub-station within the city limits. Fire protection is provided by the Columbia County Fire Department. Garbage collection is subcontracted to a private company. The Fort White Branch of the Columbia County Public Library system, which was previously located next to town hall, is across from Fort White High School. The county health clinic has a satellite office in Fort White which is open one day each week, but the nearest hospital facility is in Lake City.
The Fort White Sports Complex was constructed in 2005 on 25 acres (10ย ha) abutting the high school. Facilities include six baseball fields, two basketball courts and two tennis courts. A community centre was built on the site in 2008. A senior citizen meal program operates at the centre on weekdays.
The Ichetucknee River The locals have always known of and enjoyed the crystal clear Ichetucknee River and springs, located 4 miles (6ย km) north-west of the town. However, before 1970, the existence and location of this natural wonder were not widely known. The road to the spring was not paved, nor was it marked, because the spring was on private property. In 1970, the state of Florida purchased the Ichetucknee spring and river property from the Loncala Phosphate Corporation. Columbia County built a paved road, number 238, providing easier access to the springs. In 1972, the head spring of the river was declared a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The main tributary from Ichetucknee Springs became one of the most popular tubing destinations in the world, attracting up to 5,000 visitors each day during the summer. Others came to the river to swim, picnic, snorkel, scuba dive, and explore the nearby forests.
Fort White has a population of over 618 people. Fort White also forms part of the wider Columbia County which has a population of over 69,698 people. Fort White is situated near Lake City.
๐บ๐ธ New Orleans 29.953
๐ฎ๐ณ Saharanpur 29.964
๐บ๐ธ Green Cove Springs 29.983
๐บ๐ธ Port Arthur 29.896
๐บ๐ธ St. Augustine 29.883
๐ช๐ฌ Al แธจawฤmidฤซyah 29.883
๐บ๐ธ San Marcos 29.877
๐บ๐ธ St. Petersburg -82.639
๐จ๐ฆ Leamington -82.583
๐บ๐ธ Palm Harbor -82.75
๐บ๐ธ Clearwater -82.75
๐บ๐ธ Greeneville -82.817
๐บ๐ธ Mount Clemens -82.867
๐บ๐ธ Clinton Township -82.917
๐บ๐ธ Chillicothe -82.983
Locations Near: Fort White -82.7,29.9167
๐บ๐ธ Lake City -82.633,30.183 d: 30.3
๐บ๐ธ Gainesville -82.339,29.656 d: 45.3
๐บ๐ธ Ocala -82.133,29.191 d: 97.6
๐บ๐ธ Green Cove Springs -81.683,29.983 d: 98.2
๐บ๐ธ Valdosta -83.279,30.831 d: 115.8
๐บ๐ธ Jacksonville -81.65,30.333 d: 111.1
๐บ๐ธ Inverness -82.333,28.833 d: 125.6
๐บ๐ธ The Villages -81.982,28.927 d: 130.1
๐บ๐ธ St. Augustine -81.3,29.883 d: 135
๐บ๐ธ Spring Hill -82.533,28.467 d: 162
Antipodal to: Fort White 97.3,-29.917
๐ฆ๐บ Rockingham 115.717,-32.267 d: 18244.3
๐ฆ๐บ Wanneroo 115.803,-31.747 d: 18238.9
๐ฆ๐บ Mandurah 115.721,-32.529 d: 18241.9
๐ฆ๐บ Vincent 115.834,-31.936 d: 18235.2
๐ฆ๐บ Bunbury 115.637,-33.327 d: 18240.4
๐ฆ๐บ Perth 115.857,-31.953 d: 18233
๐ฆ๐บ City of Cockburn 115.833,-32.167 d: 18234.1
๐ฆ๐บ Guildford 115.973,-31.9 d: 18222.3