Ritta Island, Florida facts for kids
Ritta Island is a small piece of land located in Lake Okeechobee, a very large lake in Florida. It's found near the southern edge of the lake. Even though it's an island, people used to live there a long time ago. The community was part of Palm Beach County, about 5 miles (8 km) east of a town called Clewiston.
Ritta Island: A Lost Community
Life on the Island
People first started living on Ritta Island around the year 1909. The island was officially checked out for people to build homes on in 1917. Life on the island was likely quiet, with residents living close to nature on the lake.
Why People Left
The island faced challenges from nature. In 1922, lots of heavy rain caused the island to flood. This made many people leave their homes. The biggest reason people stopped living on Ritta Island happened in 1928. A very strong hurricane hit the area. This powerful storm destroyed almost all the buildings and roads on the island. After the hurricane, the island was mostly abandoned, and people no longer lived there.
