Crystal River, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Crystal River, Florida
|
|
|---|---|
| City of Crystal River | |
US 19-98 enters Crystal River.
|
|
| Nickname(s):
Manatee Haven
|
|
| Motto(s):
"Gem of the Nature Coast "
|
|
Location in Citrus County and the state of Florida
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Citrus |
| Incorporated (town) | 1903 |
| Incorporated (city) | July 3, 1923 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.13 sq mi (21.06 km2) |
| • Land | 7.49 sq mi (19.39 km2) |
| • Water | 0.65 sq mi (1.67 km2) |
| Elevation | 4 ft (1 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 3,396 |
| • Density | 453.71/sq mi (175.17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
34423, 34428, 34429
|
| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-15775 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0281135 |
Crystal River is a city located in Citrus County, Florida, United States. It's known as the "Home of the Manatee" because many of these gentle giants live in its waters. In 2020, about 3,396 people lived there.
The city is a central part of Florida's Nature Coast. It's built around Kings Bay, which is fed by many natural springs. These springs keep the water at a warm 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius) all year. This makes Kings Bay a perfect winter home for over 400 manatees when the Gulf of Mexico gets too cold. It's also the only place in the United States where people can legally swim with manatees in their natural home. This unique activity is a big part of the local tourism.
Contents
Exploring Crystal River's Location
Crystal River is in the northwest part of Citrus County. It sits on the northeast side of Kings Bay and the Crystal River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
Major roads like U.S. Routes 19 and 98 go through the city. These roads connect Crystal River to nearby towns like Homosassa Springs to the south and Chiefland to the north. State Road 44 heads east to Inverness, which is the main town of Citrus County.
The city of Crystal River covers about 8.13 square miles (21.06 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 9.35% is water.
A Look Back at Crystal River's Past
Ancient Times and Early Settlements
Long, long ago, in the Pleistocene era, the land where Crystal River is now looked very different. Scientists have found bones of ancient animals like rhinoceros and mastodon here. They also found shells from giant armadillos and large land tortoises!
Around 500 BCE, Native Americans who built mounds lived along the Crystal River. Their settlement is now the Crystal River Archaeological State Park. We don't know why they left before Europeans arrived. The Native American name for Crystal River was Weewahi Iaca.
Settlers and Early Industries
After a conflict called the Second Seminole War, the government encouraged people to move to Florida. Many families started settling in the Crystal River area in the mid-1800s. Mail was delivered by horse and buggy, and a stagecoach brought people from Ocala.
During the American Civil War, there were no big land battles in Crystal River. However, there were many small fights on the water near the coast. Florida was important for supplying food and other goods during the war. The Union Navy tried to stop these supplies by blocking the coast.
After the Civil War, Crystal River started to grow. People from colder northern states came for the mild weather and to grow citrus fruits. Wild citrus trees were already growing here, thanks to Spanish explorers who had brought oranges. However, a very cold winter in 1894–1895, known as the "Big Freeze," destroyed most of the citrus farms.
Another early business was making turpentine from pine trees. There were also cedar mills. One of the biggest was the Dixon Cedar Mill, which made pencil boards. These were shipped by boat and later by train to New Jersey. This mill gave jobs to many people in the area.
County Changes and Growth
Crystal River was originally part of Hernando County. The county name changed a few times before becoming Hernando again. In 1887, Hernando County was split into three parts: Pasco County, Hernando County, and Citrus County. Crystal River became part of the new Citrus County.
In 1889, a valuable mineral called Phosphate was found in Citrus County. This led to a fast-growing phosphate mining industry. It was said to be one of the richest phosphate areas in the world! But the industry slowed down in 1914 because of World War I.
The railroad arrived in Crystal River in 1888. This was a huge help for shipping goods and for tourists to visit. Sport fishing became very popular, attracting many visitors from the north. Crystal River officially became a town in 1903 and then a city on July 3, 1923.
The Crystal River Mall opened in 1990 but has since closed down.
Who Lives in Crystal River?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 208 | — | |
| 1910 | 663 | — | |
| 1920 | 944 | 42.4% | |
| 1930 | 869 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 927 | 6.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,026 | 10.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,423 | 38.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,696 | 19.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,778 | 63.8% | |
| 1990 | 4,044 | 45.6% | |
| 2000 | 3,485 | −13.8% | |
| 2010 | 3,108 | −10.8% | |
| 2020 | 3,396 | 9.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Details
In 2020, Crystal River had 3,396 residents. This was an increase from 3,108 people in 2010.
In 2010, there were 1,472 households in the city. About 18% of these households had children under 18 living there. Many households (43%) were married couples. The average household had about 2 people.
The population in 2010 was spread out in terms of age. About 15.9% were under 18, and a large portion, 33.9%, were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 56 years.
Learning in Crystal River
Students in Crystal River attend schools run by Citrus County Schools. These include Crystal River Primary School (for elementary grades), Crystal River Middle School, and Crystal River High School. The city also has the Coastal Region Library, which is part of Citrus Libraries.
Staying Healthy in Crystal River
The main hospital serving Crystal River is TGH Crystal River.
Famous People from Crystal River
- Mike Hampton, a professional MLB baseball player
- Rob Hermann, an American Greco-Roman wrestler and coach
- May Mann Jennings, a former First Lady of Florida and community leader
- Gerald "Jerry" Wood Merrick, a songwriter
- Jack Roland Murphy, known as a jewel thief
- Wendi Richter, a professional wrestler
See also
In Spanish: Crystal River para niños
