Inverness, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Inverness, Florida
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| City of Inverness | |
Old Citrus County Courthouse
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Location in Citrus County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Citrus |
| Incorporated | March 6, 1919 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.69 sq mi (22.51 km2) |
| • Land | 8.33 sq mi (21.58 km2) |
| • Water | 0.36 sq mi (0.94 km2) |
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,543 |
| • Density | 905.41/sq mi (349.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP codes |
34450, 34451, 34452, 34453
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-33950 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0284579 |
Inverness is a city in Florida, United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Citrus County. This city is close to the large Flying Eagle Preserve. In 2020, about 7,543 people lived in Inverness. This was a bit more than the 7,210 people counted in 2010. Inverness is also part of the larger Homosassa Springs, Florida area.
Contents
Discovering Inverness: A Look at Its Past
Archaeological digs show that the Seminole people lived in the area that is now Inverness. A Seminole leader named Osceola set up his wartime camp here. It was known as Powell's Town during the Second Seminole War.
The Siege of Fort Cooper
During that war, Fort Cooper was surrounded by Osceola and his warriors. The soldiers inside were almost out of food. Luckily, a group of troops led by General Duncan L. Clinch arrived and saved them.
How Inverness Got Its Name
The city of Inverness was first called "Tompkinsville." White settlers started living here around 1868. A man known as "Uncle Alf" Tompkins began the community. He set up mail service and helped build the first sawmill in the county. He gave land to his brother-in-law, Frank M. Dampier Sr., to build a store. Dampier was the first merchant in town. He is also known for planning the town and naming it Tompkinsville.
Later, the town was sold to a company in Jacksonville. Its name was changed to "Inverness." Historian Mary McRae says Inverness is named after a city in Scotland. The Scottish city of Inverness is in the northern part of Great Britain. It is known as "the capital of the Highlands."
The story goes that a Scottish man, far from home, saw the blue waters of Tsala Apopka Lake in Florida. He thought it looked like the lakes and headlands around Inverness, Scotland. The word Inver means "mouth of the river" in Scottish Gaelic. The River Ness flows through the Scottish city. So, Inverness means "mouth of the River Ness." Since the Florida city is near a chain of lakes, the name Inverness seemed fitting.
Key Dates and Recognitions
Official city papers show that Inverness became an official city on March 6, 1919.
Many buildings downtown have special historic plaques. They are still busy places for businesses today. Grants have helped keep the city's historic look. In 1961, the old courthouse downtown was used to film a scene for the movie "Follow That Dream." This movie starred Elvis Presley.
Inverness has been called a "Gateway Community" by the Florida Trail Association. Since 1995, it has been a "Tree City USA." This award comes from the National Arbor Day Foundation and the US Forest Service. In 2009, a group for veterans, the Forty and Eight, named Inverness "City of the Year."
Geography and Climate
Inverness is in eastern Citrus County. It sits on the western shore of Tsala Apopka and Henderson lakes, which are connected. The city covers about 8.69 square miles (22.51 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. About 330 acres of land in the city are set aside for parks.
The city is located at 28°50′21″N 82°20′25″W. It is also near the large Flying Eagle Preserve.
Understanding Inverness's Weather
Inverness has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. The winters are mild and mostly dry.
| Climate data for Inverness, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1899–present | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 92 (33) |
95 (35) |
96 (36) |
97 (36) |
101 (38) |
102 (39) |
102 (39) |
101 (38) |
105 (41) |
97 (36) |
93 (34) |
90 (32) |
105 (41) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 82.6 (28.1) |
84.6 (29.2) |
87.6 (30.9) |
91.1 (32.8) |
95.8 (35.4) |
97.3 (36.3) |
97.3 (36.3) |
96.7 (35.9) |
94.8 (34.9) |
91.5 (33.1) |
87.6 (30.9) |
83.9 (28.8) |
98.7 (37.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69.3 (20.7) |
72.3 (22.4) |
76.8 (24.9) |
82.0 (27.8) |
87.9 (31.1) |
90.1 (32.3) |
90.6 (32.6) |
90.4 (32.4) |
88.8 (31.6) |
83.7 (28.7) |
76.9 (24.9) |
72.4 (22.4) |
81.8 (27.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 56.0 (13.3) |
58.9 (14.9) |
63.1 (17.3) |
68.5 (20.3) |
74.8 (23.8) |
79.7 (26.5) |
80.7 (27.1) |
80.7 (27.1) |
78.9 (26.1) |
72.4 (22.4) |
64.3 (17.9) |
59.0 (15.0) |
69.8 (21.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 42.6 (5.9) |
45.6 (7.6) |
49.4 (9.7) |
54.9 (12.7) |
61.8 (16.6) |
69.2 (20.7) |
70.9 (21.6) |
71.1 (21.7) |
69.0 (20.6) |
61.2 (16.2) |
51.7 (10.9) |
45.7 (7.6) |
57.7 (14.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 25.4 (−3.7) |
27.8 (−2.3) |
32.6 (0.3) |
40.3 (4.6) |
50.8 (10.4) |
63.2 (17.3) |
67.4 (19.7) |
67.7 (19.8) |
61.7 (16.5) |
45.1 (7.3) |
34.8 (1.6) |
29.5 (−1.4) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 15 (−9) |
18 (−8) |
24 (−4) |
30 (−1) |
42 (6) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
61 (16) |
50 (10) |
31 (−1) |
22 (−6) |
15 (−9) |
15 (−9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.97 (75) |
2.69 (68) |
3.29 (84) |
2.69 (68) |
3.09 (78) |
8.13 (207) |
7.80 (198) |
8.69 (221) |
5.81 (148) |
2.92 (74) |
1.83 (46) |
2.48 (63) |
52.39 (1,331) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.0 | 7.0 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 13.9 | 16.7 | 16.8 | 12.8 | 7.5 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 111.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Inverness: Census Facts
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,132 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,215 | 7.3% | |
| 1940 | 1,075 | −11.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,471 | 36.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,878 | 27.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,299 | 22.4% | |
| 1980 | 4,095 | 78.1% | |
| 1990 | 5,797 | 41.6% | |
| 2000 | 6,789 | 17.1% | |
| 2010 | 7,210 | 6.2% | |
| 2020 | 7,543 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population and Diversity
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 6,038 | 6,072 | 83.74% | 80.50% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 406 | 318 | 5.63% | 4.22% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 25 | 24 | 0.35% | 0.32% |
| Asian (NH) | 121 | 159 | 1.68% | 2.11% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 6 | 2 | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Some other race (NH) | 19 | 35 | 0.26% | 0.46% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 128 | 273 | 1.78% | 3.62% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 467 | 660 | 6.48% | 8.75% |
| Total | 7,210 | 7,543 |
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 7,543 people living in Inverness. There were 3,685 households and 1,657 families.
About 1.92 people lived in each household. Most people (83.6%) stayed in the same home for at least a year. A small number (3.8%) of people aged 5 and older spoke a language other than English at home.
Homes and Income
In 2020, the average value of a home owned by its resident was $120,100. If a home had a mortgage, the average monthly cost was $882. Without a mortgage, it was $324. The average rent was $842 per month.
The average household income was $39,532. The income per person was $24,585. About 15.8% of the people lived below the poverty threshold.
Education and Health
In 2020, most homes (86.0%) had a computer. Also, 81.3% of homes had a fast internet connection. Most adults (90.9%) aged 25 and older had finished high school or higher. About 15.1% of these adults had a Bachelor’s degree or more.
Among people under 65 in 2020, 11.0% lived with a disability. Also, 13.5% of people in that age group did not have health insurance.
Getting Around and Having Fun in Inverness
Roads and Airport
Inverness Airport is located just south of the city. The Citrus County Sheriff's Office uses this airport for its aviation unit.
U.S. Route 41 is the main north-south road. It goes north to Dunnellon and south to Brooksville. State Road 44 is the main east-west road. It leads west to Crystal River and east to Interstate 75 near Wildwood. These two roads meet to form Main Street in Inverness.
Parks and Trails
Inverness has the Lakes Region Library. It is part of the Citrus County Library System. The library offers many fun classes. These include Tai Chi, painting, gardening, and tech lessons. They also have programs for kids and teens.
The Withlacoochee State Trail is a popular spot. It used to be a railroad line. Now, it is a paved trail for biking, jogging, and walking. It is 46 miles long, making it the longest paved trail in Florida. The Inverness trailhead is on North Apopka Avenue.
Other parks in Inverness include Wallace Brooks Park and Whispering Pines Park. There are also boat ramps at Henderson Lake. Fort Cooper State Park is just south of the city. Inverness is also near Withlapopka Community Park, the large Flying Eagle Preserve, and the McGregor Smith Scout Reservation.
Education in Inverness
The city's schools are part of Citrus County Schools. Students attend Inverness Primary, Pleasant Grove Elementary, or Hernando Elementary. All students go to Inverness Middle School and Citrus High School.
The Lakes Region Library, part of Citrus Libraries, is also in Inverness.
Exciting Events in Inverness
Annual Festivals
The last full weekend in October is for the Great American Cooter Festival. It is named after the Florida cooter turtle. This family event has music, games, and crafts. It takes place at Liberty and Wallace Brooks parks on Lake Henderson. In 2022, this event was replaced by the Inverness Country Jam.
Since 1971, the first weekend in November brings the Festival of the Arts. This is a special art show with over 100 artists.
Historical Re-enactments
Every March, there is a Seminole War re-enactment. It is called Fort Cooper Days. It takes place at Fort Cooper State Park.
Images for kids
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Old Citrus County Courthouse
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Location in Citrus County and the state of Florida
See also
In Spanish: Inverness (Florida) para niños
