Foxleigh, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Foxleigh, Florida
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 Foxleigh, Florida
Location in Florida
Foxleigh, 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 | 12-24675 |
| GNIS feature ID | 295303 |
Foxleigh is a place in Manatee County, Florida, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated area" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's managed by the county.
Foxleigh started as a very large farm, about 999 acres. It was located near Upper Manatee Road and State Road 64. This big farm was first known as Eagle Fruit Farms. It was run by a company called Eagle Fruit Company.
The Story of Eagle Fruit Company
The Eagle Fruit Company began in 1923. It was started by Sam Breadon (1876-1949) and William H. Anderson (1855-1938). Sam Breadon was famous for owning the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He was interested in farming and had chosen Bradenton, Florida, for his team's spring training.
Sam Breadon and William Anderson worked together to run the fruit farm. However, their partnership ended in 1934. The Eagle Fruit Company was officially closed down in 1935.
Foxleigh's New Beginning
In 1939, a woman named Gertrude Fox from Missouri bought the large farm. She decided to rename it "Foxleigh." Gertrude Fox used the ranch as her private home. She also had a mink farm there and wrote books about making fur.
Changes and Development
Gertrude Fox sold the property in 1945 to a company called the Lee Company. Soon after, a fire sadly destroyed the farm. In 1948, the farm, which was then 918 acres, was put up for sale. The old name, Eagle Fruit Farms, Inc., was officially removed.
A part of the former ranch was sold in 1952. The new owners planned to use it for a dairy and cattle ranch. By 1968, official records showed that the property was no longer being used.
Eventually, the land was developed into new neighborhoods. Today, Foxleigh is part of a fast-growing area in northeastern Manatee County. As of 2021, the land where the old farm stood is now home to a neighborhood called Gates Creek.
