Palmdale, Florida facts for kids

Palmdale is a small community in Glades County, Florida. It's not an official city or town, but a place where people live and work. You can find it on US 27, just north of where State Road 29 meets it.

The Story of Palmdale

Early Days and Settlers

Palmdale began as part of DeSoto County. In 1911, a company called Florida Fruit Farm Corporation sold land to the Palmdale Land Company. This company then sold plots to about 500 settlers, creating the first community.

However, many early farmers found it hard to get their goods to market. There wasn't enough transportation. By 1917, many of them moved away. They often left their homes and belongings behind. New farmers then moved into these empty houses. Sadly, wildfires later destroyed many of these original homes.

People described the early residents of Palmdale as very resourceful. They were known as "Crackers," a term for tough, independent Florida pioneers. They were very loyal to their families, homes, and country.

Getting Around in Old Palmdale

In the early days, there was a special route called the "Tin Lizzie Trail." A "Tin Lizzie" was a nickname for the old Ford Model T cars. This trail was made of two dirt roads. It connected Palmdale to nearby towns like Arcadia and Lakeport. During the rainy season, people used the longer "high road." In the dry season, they took the more direct "low road."

What People Did in Palmdale

Most people who moved to Palmdale came to farm. They grew crops and raised animals. Adrian M. Link, for example, had large citrus groves and raised chickens. One person even called Palmdale "The Garden of Eden." He tried growing blueberries, but birds ate them all!

Some of Palmdale's first families included the Reans, Delaneys, Rosses, and Harts. There was also a Mr. Thompson who ran a store near the railroad camp.

For a long time, there were no churches in Palmdale. People held church services in their homes. The first Baptist church was built in the 1950s.

H.C. Delaney opened the first general store and post office. Later, Peck Stalls ran the post office for 36 years! After he sold the store, the post office moved into its own building.

Looking for Oil

In the early 1920s, Palmdale had a short period of growth. People held big political meetings at Fisheating Creek. Hundreds of people would come for barbecues and speeches. A train from Moore Haven even brought people to these events.

In 1921, the Palmdale Land Company started drilling for oil. They were sure they would find it. They drilled in two spots, Gopher Gulley and Harness Pond. The Harness Pond well went down 2,800 feet, but they found no oil. The company left, and geologists later said the well wasn't deep enough.

New Businesses and Fun Places

The Lykes Brothers bought land in the area. They opened up parts of Fisheating Creek for the public to enjoy. You can go canoeing, horseback riding, and fishing there. They also offer RV and tent camping.

In the 1970s, John and Audrey Hartman started Hartman Nursery. This nursery became famous worldwide for its "tissue culture." This is a way of growing new plants from tiny pieces of other plants, almost like cloning. Their son, Robert Hartman, continued this work. In the 1980s, he shipped millions of plants around the world. Forbes Magazine even called Hartman Nursery a successful cloning business.

Palmdale is also home to Gatorama. This attraction was built in 1957 by Cecil Clemons. It features some of Florida's largest alligators and crocodiles. It also has the biggest group of American crocodiles raised in captivity in North America.

Recent Events

On October 21, 2016, a fire destroyed the historic Palmdale Cracker restaurant. This restaurant and general store was a very important gathering place. It was one of the few historic landmarks in that part of Glades County.

In May 2016, the Palmdale Horse Club was started. They offer a 5-mile horseback trail ride through the Palmdale woods. They plan to offer AirBnB stays starting in 2024.

Where is Palmdale?

Palmdale is located at 26°57′N 81°19′W.