Weeki Wachee, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Weeki Wachee, Florida
|
|
|---|---|
US 19, SR 50 and CR 550 intersect at Weeki Wachee Springs and Buccaneer Bay
|
|
Location in Hernando County and the state of Florida
|
|
 Weeki Wachee, Florida
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Hernando |
| Founded | 1966 |
| Dissolved | June 2020 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.05 sq mi (2.73 km2) |
| • Land | 1.00 sq mi (2.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2) |
| Elevation | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 16 |
| • Density | 12.94/sq mi (5.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 (EDT) |
| Area code(s) | 352 |
| FIPS code | 12-75625 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0295700 |
Weeki Wachee is a small place in Hernando County, Florida, United States. It used to be a city but is now an unincorporated community. In 2020, only 16 people lived there.
The area is famous for the 12,000-acre (4,900 ha) Weeki Wachee Preserve. It is also home to the Weeki Wachee Springs park. This park has fun water rides, animal shows, and special shows with people dressed as mermaids. You can even see manatees there! Nearby communities include Weeki Wachee Gardens and Spring Hill.
Contents
History of Weeki Wachee
Weeki Wachee became a city in 1966. Its main goal was to help promote the famous mermaid attraction. However, it was a very small city with fewer than 15 residents.
Over time, there were worries about the city's money and how it was run. Because of these concerns, a bill was passed to end the city's official status. In June 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis signed this bill into law.
After the city was dissolved, Hernando County took over its financial matters. The good news is that the Weeki Wachee Springs park was not affected and still operates today.
Where is Weeki Wachee Located?
The former city of Weeki Wachee was located in the western part of Hernando County. You can find it at 28°30′56″N 82°34′43″W / 28.51556°N 82.57861°W.
If you travel on U.S. Route 19, Weeki Wachee was about 19 miles (31 km) north of Port Richey. It was also about 20 miles (32 km) south of Homosassa Springs. Using Florida State Road 50, Weeki Wachee was about 12 miles (19 km) west of Brooksville. Brooksville is the main city in Hernando County.
The United States Census Bureau reported that the city covered a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2). A small part of this area, about 0.050 square miles (0.13 km2), was water.
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 76 | — | |
| 1980 | 8 | −89.5% | |
| 1990 | 53 | 562.5% | |
| 2000 | 12 | −77.4% | |
| 2010 | 12 | 0.0% | |
| 2020 | 16 | 33.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, the U.S. Census counted 12 people living in Weeki Wachee. These people lived in five households, all of which were families. The population density was about 11.8 people for every square mile.
At that time, most residents were White. One person was a Native American member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. No residents were identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Weeki Wachee Springs Park
A Unique Tourist Attraction
Weeki Wachee Springs is a famous place in Florida. It's known for its amazing underwater shows. In these shows, performers dressed as mermaids swim and perform in a large aquarium-like setting. They wear special outfits with fins on their legs!
The park also has a water park called Buccaneer Bay. You can enjoy animal shows and fun boat rides there too. Weeki Wachee Springs is now a Florida State Park. This means it is owned and managed by the state's park department.
Exploring the Deepest Spring in the U.S.
Weeki Wachee Spring is also known for being a very deep natural spring. From May to August 2007, the water level dropped low enough for special cave divers to explore its underwater cave system.
A team of divers called Karst Underwater Research explored about 6,700 feet (2,000 m) of passages. They went to an average depth of 265 feet (81 m) underwater, reaching a maximum depth of 407 feet (124 m). This makes it one of the deepest explored natural springs in the United States!
See also
In Spanish: Weeki Wachee para niños
