Lake Panasoffkee, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lake Panasoffkee, Florida
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Lake Panasoffkee's Recreational Park off of CR 470
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Location in Sumter County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Sumter |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.60 sq mi (17.10 km2) |
| • Land | 4.30 sq mi (11.14 km2) |
| • Water | 2.30 sq mi (5.96 km2) |
| Elevation | 59 ft (18 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,072 |
| • Density | 946.98/sq mi (365.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
33538
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-38575 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0285267 |
Lake Panasoffkee is a small community in Sumter County, Florida, in the United States. It's known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area defined for gathering population data. In 2020, about 4,072 people lived there. The area is named after the nearby Lake Panasoffkee.
Contents
History of Lake Panasoffkee
Early People and Villages
Long ago, a village called Boggy Island was settled near Lake Panasoffkee. This village was home to Black Seminoles. They were people who had escaped slavery from the Kongo region in Africa. They arrived around 1813.
The Black Seminoles named their village Sitarkey's Village. It was named after Sitarkey, an Alachua Seminole leader. Nearby areas included Gum Slough and Indian Mound Springs. The Seminoles used the Lake Panasoffkee area for important meetings. They also held their traditional Green Corn Dances there.
The people of Sitarkey's Village grew crops like corn, rice, and sugar cane. They also raised animals such as cattle, horses, and hogs. They might have even planted one of Florida's oldest orange groves.
The Second Seminole War Era
During the Second Seminole War, Sitarkey's Village was mostly safe. Black Seminole families used it as a hiding place from the war. However, the United States Army did search the village twice.
On June 10, 1840, soldiers led by Colonel Bennet Riley and Colonel W. J. Worth searched for Seminole warriors. They traveled from Fort McClure to Lake Panasoffkee. On June 11, they found the village empty.
After the battle of Wahoo Swamp, the famous Seminole leader Osceola came to the Panasoffkee Swamp. He was possibly sick with malaria. He lived with the Black Seminoles, who respected him greatly.
On January 10, 1837, General Thomas Sidney Jesup raided the village looking for Osceola. Osceola and three warriors escaped. Jesup captured 16 Black Seminoles, but the rest of the villagers got away. Osceola, 50 warriors, and their families moved to the Ocklawaha River.
Modern Development of the Town
According to Broward Mill, a local historian, Lake Panasoffkee was a citrus farming area. This was true from when white settlers first arrived in Sumter County. However, severe freezes in the 1880s and 1890s destroyed the citrus industry.
In 1908, Charles G. King, a businessman from Cleveland, bought a large area of land. He developed 737 acres into Monarch Grove. He used the sour oranges planted by the Seminoles for new orange trees. By 1926, this grove produced about 40,000 boxes of oranges.
There was also evidence of old house foundations and chimneys. These were in places where no white settlers were known to have lived. Officials later thought a local cemetery might have been a family burial ground.
Lake Panasoffkee Dredging Project
Lake Panasoffkee was once famous for fishing. It had 15 fish camps and was known as one of Florida's best fishing spots. This is according to Bob Wattendorf and Marty Hale from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation.
In 1981, the water levels in Lake Panasoffkee dropped very low. This was the lowest since 1962, when the Wysong Dam was built. Officials discussed building a temporary dam to raise water levels. Some residents believed the Wysong Dam was harming the Withlacoochee River.
Geography of Lake Panasoffkee
Lake Panasoffkee is a community with a total area of about 4.1 square miles (10.6 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.0 square miles (10.4 square kilometers), is land. The rest is water.
Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 4,072 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,413 people living in Lake Panasoffkee. There were 1,644 households, which are groups of people living together. About 16.8% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.08 people.
The community's population was varied in age. About 15.4% were under 18 years old. A large portion, 33.5%, were 65 years or older. The average age was 53 years.
Notable Events
The Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee Mystery
On February 19, 1971, a sad discovery was made near Lake Panasoffkee. The body of a young woman, thought to be between 17 and 24 years old, was found. She was found under the Interstate 75 overpass.
The local sheriff's department tried many times to find out who she was. In 1986, her body was carefully examined again. Experts created drawings of what she might have looked like as a child and at the time of her death. In the early 1990s, the TV show Unsolved Mysteries even featured her case. But still, her identity remained a mystery.
In 2012, the University of South Florida helped re-examine the remains. A special test showed she might have been from Greece, possibly from a town called Lavrion. It was thought she moved to the United States just a few months before her death. This new information changed earlier ideas about her background.
Authorities thought she might have been visiting the Tarpon Springs area for a special holiday called Epiphany on January 6, 1971. They contacted police in Tarpon Springs and the Greek Orthodox Church. They also sent out many flyers. As of 2016, the case is still unsolved, and her identity remains a mystery.
Record-Breaking Fish Catch
On April 14, 1985, something exciting happened in Lake Panasoffkee. Evan Merritt caught a huge longnose gar fish. It weighed 41 pounds! This was the largest longnose gar ever caught in the state of Florida.
Nature Preserves
The Lake Panasoffkee park and preserve is a large protected area. It covers about 9,911 acres (40.11 square kilometers). Here, you can enjoy many outdoor activities. These include birdwatching, biking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, hiking, and hunting. You can get to it from the south side of State Route 44.
Another protected area is the Panasoffkee Outlet park and preserve. It is about 1,118 acres (4.52 square kilometers). It offers similar activities, except for biking. Both of these important natural areas are protected by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
See also
In Spanish: Lake Panasoffkee para niños
