Sisco, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sisco
Ghost town
Sisco Location in Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Putnam

Sisco is what we call a ghost town in Putnam County, Florida, United States. A ghost town is a place where most people have left, and it's no longer a busy community. Sisco is found off U.S. Route 17, about 10 miles north of Crescent City.

The Start of Sisco

Sisco was first settled by a couple named Henry W. and Claire Sisco. They built their homes near the Palatka & Indian River extension of the Jacksonville, Tampa and Key West Railway. This railway was important for travel and moving goods back then.

In 1885, Mr. Sisco asked the government in Washington to open a post office in their new town. He gathered 41 signatures from people who wanted the post office. This shows that the town was growing and needed its own mail service.

Life in the Town

For about 40 years, Sisco was a small but active town. Its population changed over time, from around 150 people to sometimes as few as 60.

Even with its small size, Sisco had important services. It had a post office, a hotel for travelers, and a general store where people could buy supplies. There was also a steam sawmill, which was used to cut wood for building and other needs.

Steamboat Stop

During the 1920s, Sisco also had a special stop along Dunns Creek. This was a place where steamboats could stop to get wood and water. These boats often carried citrus fruits, which were a big product in Florida. The steamboat stop also served as a post office for nearby towns like Pomona and Cisco.

Why Sisco Became a Ghost Town

Sisco, like many other towns in Florida, became mostly empty after an event known as the Great Freeze. This was a period of very cold weather that severely damaged Florida's citrus crops. When the crops were ruined, many people who worked in the citrus industry had to leave to find work elsewhere. This led to towns like Sisco being abandoned.