Cedar Hammock, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cedar Hammock, Florida
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 Cedar Hammock, Florida
Location in Florida
Cedar Hammock, Florida
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Manatee |
| Elevation | 20 ft (6 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 941 |
| FIPS code | 12-11175 |
| GNIS feature ID | 294356 |
Cedar Hammock is a community in Manatee County, Florida, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated area" because it doesn't have its own city government. Cedar Hammock is located between the cities of Bradenton to the north and Oneco to the south. A long time ago, it was a forest area with many strong hardwood trees. In the early 1900s, it became a popular spot for "truck farming," which means growing lots of vegetables and fruits to sell.
Contents
History of Cedar Hammock
How Cedar Hammock Started
Many people who lived in Bradenton also had farms in Cedar Hammock. This area was one of the few "hammocks" (forests with hardwood trees) in the region. Cedar Hammock covered about 6,000 acres. However, not all of it could be farmed because large parts were wetlands, meaning they were often covered in water.
Early Farming Life
The farms in Cedar Hammock grew many different kinds of produce. Farmers harvested vegetables like onions, cabbage, and potatoes. They also grew other crops. Before 1906, much of the land was very wet, sometimes several feet deep in water. To fix this, a special ditch, called a drain, was dug to help move the water away into Ware's Creek. This made more land suitable for farming.
Growing into a Community
Cedar Hammock didn't have many homes until the late 1940s. That's when "trailer parks" (communities of mobile homes) started to appear. These parks were built on land that used to be farms, especially along a main road called the Tamiami Trail. As more people moved in, they wanted to make their community better.
Community Action and Improvements
- In 1950, the people living in Cedar Hammock formed a group called the Cedar Hammock Civic Association. This group worked to improve the area for everyone.
- In 1952, the Civic Association and local residents had to stand up for their community. The city of Bradenton wanted to build a large waste disposal site in Cedar Hammock. The residents fought against this plan and won, protecting their neighborhood.
- In 1957, the Cedar Hammock Fire Control District was created. This was an important step to make sure the community had its own firefighters and could stay safe from fires.
