Masaryktown, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Masaryktown, Florida
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Historic plaque on the corner of US 41 & Wilson Boulevard in Masaryktown
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Location in Hernando County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Hernando |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.05 sq mi (2.72 km2) |
| • Land | 1.05 sq mi (2.71 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,077 |
| • Density | 1,029.64/sq mi (397.63/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
34604
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| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-43400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0286497 |
Masaryktown is a small community in Hernando County, Florida, in the United States. It is known as a census-designated place (CDP), which means it's a special area used for gathering census information. In 2020, about 1,077 people lived there.
The town is named after Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, who was the very first president of Czechoslovakia.
Contents
Where is Masaryktown?
Masaryktown is located in the southern part of Hernando County. It is near other towns like Spring Hill to the north and west. Garden Grove is to the northeast.
The community is also close to Pasco County, with Shady Hills to its south. A main road, U.S. Route 41, runs through the eastern side of Masaryktown. This road goes north to Brooksville, which is the main city in Hernando County. It also goes south to Land o' Lakes and Tampa.
Masaryktown covers a total area of about 2.7 square kilometers (1.05 square miles). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.
The Story of Masaryktown
Founding and Early Challenges
Masaryktown was started in 1924. It was named to honor Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia. Most of the people who founded the town were from Slovakia, with only one person from the Czech Republic.
These early settlers formed a group called the Hernando Plantation Company. They sold shares, and each share allowed a person to buy 20 acres of land. At first, they tried to grow oranges. However, very cold weather, known as killer frosts, destroyed their orange groves.
Because of these problems, many Slovak families left the area. By 1952, only about 15 to 25 families remained. They found more success by raising chickens. But even chicken farming became difficult by 1965 due due to strong competition from larger farms.
A Lasting Legacy
Today, not many Slovak families live in Masaryktown. However, their history and influence are still visible. The original founders named many of the streets after important Slovak leaders and writers. These include names like Štúr, Hurban, Kollár, Štefánik, Hodža, Hviezdoslav, and Mudron.
One street is named Palacký, after a famous Czech historian. The main road through the town is named Masaryk Boulevard, after the president. Streets running north and south are named after American presidents. These include Wilson, who helped Czechoslovakia become independent, as well as Jefferson, Madison, and Lincoln.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2020 | 1,077 | — | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, Masaryktown had 920 people living there. There were 379 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 264 of these households were families.
The population was spread out in terms of age. About 23% of the people were under 18 years old. About 20% were 65 years old or older. The average age in Masaryktown was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were about 91 males.
