Suwannee, Florida facts for kids
Suwannee is a small, quiet community in Florida, United States. It's not officially a city, but a special kind of town called an unincorporated community. Suwannee is found in Dixie County.
This community sits right on the Suwannee River, very close to where the river flows into the Gulf of Mexico. It's at the southern tip of a part of Florida known as the Big Bend. You can reach Suwannee by taking County Road 349 from Old Town, which is about 23 miles away.
Suwannee: A Fishing Village
Suwannee is mostly known as a fishing village. About 300 people live there. It's a great spot for all kinds of fishing. You can catch freshwater fish in the Suwannee River. Or, you can head out into the Gulf of Mexico for saltwater fishing.
Suwannee's Interesting Past
Long ago, in the 1800s, the area where Suwannee is now was very important. It was a busy place for moving goods. Things like cotton and tobacco from farms in the Suwannee Valley would come here. Then, they would be loaded onto ships.
Small paddle steamers, like the ones on the Mississippi River, used to travel the lower parts of the Suwannee River. These boats carried important goods. They moved cotton, tobacco, peanuts, and wood products. These items went from inland farms to large sailing ships. The sailing ships waited at the river's mouth.
One famous boat was the Belle of the Suwannee. Captain Robert Bartlett was its commander. It was known as the best boat in the fleet. During a time of war, some ships tried to sneak supplies past naval patrols. Several of these ships were burned or sunk. But many others managed to get past the government ships.
Nature and Wildlife Around Suwannee
Suwannee is surrounded by beautiful nature. It is right next to the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is a protected area for animals and plants. It's a great place to explore.
You can even go canoeing or kayaking into the refuge. There are special launch spots in Suwannee for these boats. It's a fun way to see the local wildlife and natural beauty up close.
