Holopaw, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Holopaw, Florida
Unincorporated community
Holopaw, Florida Location in Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Osceola
Elevation	24 m (79 ft)
Time zone	UTC-5
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)	321, 407, 689

Holopaw is a small community in Osceola County, Florida, in the United States. It's not a city with its own government, but a part of a larger county area. You can find it where two main highways, US 192 and US 441, meet. Holopaw has fewer than 5,000 people. It is part of the larger Orlando-Kissimmee area.

The name "Holopaw" comes from the Creek Indian language. It means "Walkway" or "Pavement." This name makes sense because Holopaw was once a stop along a railroad line.

History of Holopaw

The Railroad Comes to Town

Between 1911 and 1929, the Florida East Coast Railway built a new train line. This line was called the Kissimmee Valley Branch. It was planned to be a second main route to Miami. The railway started from New Smyrna Beach and went southwest.

By 1915, the train tracks reached Holopaw. The line helped transport many goods. It was especially important for moving lumber and farm products. Even though it wasn't a "second main line" as planned, it was very busy.

Holopaw's Sawmill Era

In 1923, a man named JM Griffin started a large sawmill in Holopaw. A sawmill is a factory that cuts logs into lumber. Griffin built streets and houses for his workers. Holopaw became a "company town." This meant that the company owned most of the homes. Workers often rented their houses from the company. They also shopped at the company's general store.

The JM Griffin Lumber Company grew very big. It became the largest sawmill in the St. Cloud area. More than 500 people worked there. This mill was special because it was one of the first in the country to use all electricity. Sadly, the mill closed in 1931 during the Great Depression.

A new mill opened in 1935. It was owned by the Peavy-Wilson Lumber Co. This new mill was even bigger. It hired over 1,000 people. These workers harvested timber, made turpentine, and worked at the sawmill. At its busiest time, Holopaw had more than 2,000 residents.

The End of the Railroad and Mills

The railroad through Holopaw stopped running in 1947. A new, shorter train route opened elsewhere. However, the Peavy-Wilson Lumber Company still needed the tracks. They leased the section of track from Holopaw northward. So, trains continued to carry lumber from the mill. These trains were pulled by the company's own steam locomotives.

By 1951, most of the forests were cut down. The lumber company had less wood to process. Because of this, the Peavy-Wilson Lumber Company closed down. Soon after, the train tracks were removed.

With no more jobs at the mill, most people left Holopaw. They moved to find work in other places. The local post office also closed in 1954.

Ranching and Wildlife in Holopaw

The area around Holopaw is still active today. There are many cattle ranches here. People also grow citrus fruits and harvest timber.

Holopaw is also home to important natural areas. The Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area is a few miles east. This is a place where wildlife is protected. West of Holopaw is the Holopaw State Forest. Across the highway from the State Forest is the Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area. These areas help protect Florida's natural environment and animals.

Climate