Hopewell, Hillsborough County, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hopewell, Hillsborough County,
Florida |
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 Hopewell, Hillsborough County,
Florida Location in Florida
Hopewell, Hillsborough County,
Florida Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Elevation | 102 ft (31 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 284253 |
Hopewell is a small, quiet place in Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States. It's called an unincorporated community. This means it's not a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county. Hopewell is about 102 feet (31 m) (around 31 meters) above sea level. You can find it along Florida State Road 60, where it meets Hillsborough County Road 39.
Contents
History of Hopewell
Hopewell has a cool history, showing how communities grow over time. It started with a small group of people building their lives there.
Early Days and the Post Office
Back on May 14, 1883, a man named George W. Wells set up the first post office in the area. It was called the Callsville post office. At that time, about 200 people lived in Hopewell. This post office helped people send and receive mail, connecting them to the outside world.
Hopewell Baptist Church
Even before the post office, the community was growing. In 1870, the early residents built the Hopewell Baptist Church. They named it after a place called Hopewell, Alabama. This church became an important gathering spot for the people living there.
Railroads and Timber
In the 1890s, the Warnell Lumber and Veneer Company built a railroad right through Hopewell. This railroad was super important for moving logs from the forests. As trees were cut down, the land was then used for growing citrus fruits, like oranges.
Over time, other companies took over the railroad. The Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad bought it first. Then, in 1905, the Seaboard Airline Railroad became its owner. Railroads were like the highways of their time, helping goods and people travel.
Innovative Orange Farming
One orange farmer, James Hester Hull, was very clever. He found a way to protect his orange groves from freezing during really cold winters. He would "fire" his groves, which meant using small fires to keep the trees warm. This helped save the orange crops.
Phosphate Mining
Later, in 1916, the Coronet Phosphate Company started mining for phosphates in Hopewell. Phosphate is a mineral used in fertilizers to help plants grow. This mining continued for many years, even into the 1940s. It was another important industry for the area.
