Lillibridge, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lillibridge
|
|
|---|---|
 Lillibridge
Location in Florida
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hillsborough |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Lillibridge is a small unincorporated community located in the southeastern part of Hillsborough County, Florida, in the United States. An unincorporated community is a place that doesn't have its own local government, but is instead managed by the larger county. Lillibridge is found about three miles east of Florida State Road 39, close to the town of Lithia.
Contents
History of Lillibridge
Early Days and Isolation
Lillibridge was started in the 1880s by a person named Morton Lillibridge. In its early days, the community was quite isolated. This was because there was no bridge to cross the Alafia River.
Traveling to nearby cities like Tampa was very difficult. A trip to Tampa could take as long as three days if you were using an oxcart. This was only possible if the water levels were low enough to cross a place called Alderman's Ford.
Railroad and Post Office
Things started to change in 1905 when the Seaboard Railroad built a train line. This new line included a stop in Lillibridge, which helped connect the community to other areas. However, this connection didn't last forever.
Around 1916, the train stop in Lillibridge was removed. At the same time, the Lillibridge post office also closed down. This meant the community became more isolated once again.
Phosphate Mining and Decline
In the early 1900s, a new industry became very important in the Lillibridge area: phosphate mining. Companies like Prairie Pebble Phosphate Company and Coronet Phosphate Company opened mines. These mines were a big part of the local economy.
Some of these old mining sites are still around today, now operated by the Mosaic Companies. Over time, the number of people living in Lillibridge has gone down. Because of this, many people living in the area today might not even know much about the community's past identity.
Education
Students living in the Lillibridge area attend schools that are part of the Hillsborough County Schools system. This means that the county manages their education.
Children in Lillibridge are assigned to specific schools based on where they live. Elementary school students go to Pinecrest Elementary. For middle school, students attend Turkey Creek Middle School. Finally, high school students are zoned for Durant High School.
