White Springs, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
White Springs, Florida
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| Town of White Springs | |
Adams Country Store, White Springs
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Location in Hamilton County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Hamilton |
| Settled (Jackson Springs) |
1831 |
| Incorporated (Town of White Springs) | 1885 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2) |
| • Land | 1.83 sq mi (4.74 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 112 ft (34 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 740 |
| • Density | 404.59/sq mi (156.22/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
32096
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| Area code(s) | 386 |
| FIPS code | 12-77400 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0293230 |
White Springs is a small town in North Florida located right on the Suwannee River. It became popular because of its special mineral spring water, which people used for baths. In 2020, about 740 people lived there. White Springs is known for its yearly Florida Folk Festival. It's a fun place for visitors, with old-fashioned charm, antique shops, and river activities.
Contents
Discovering White Springs: A Look at its Past
The Suwannee River used to be a border between different Native American tribes. When Spanish explorers first came in the 1530s, they saw that people from both sides of the river visited the spring. These tribes believed the water had healing powers. They thought the spring was a sacred place for healing, even during wars. Any tribe member could use the water without fear of attack. The spring water has a "rotten egg" smell. This comes from a gas called hydrogen sulfide dissolved in the water.
How White Springs Began
In 1831, some businessmen like Joseph Bryant and James T. Hooker started a settlement here. They called it Jackson Springs. Besides the spring, they planned to build a boat service across the Suwannee River.
The next year, Bryant Sheffield bought the spring and the boat service. He called the spring "White Sulpher [sic] Springs." Sheffield drank the mineral water himself. He said it could help with nervousness, kidney problems, and joint pain. In 1842, he built a hotel and a special house around the spring using wood from the area.
White Springs During the Civil War
During the Civil War, some Confederate soldiers found safety in the town. The family of future governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward moved to a nearby farm. They named it "Rebel's Refuge." At some point, the springs were renamed "White Sulphur Springs."
Growth After the War
After the Civil War, visitors slowly started coming back. In 1882, two merchants from Georgia bought the property. They divided the land into city lots. They sold these lots to other businesses. These businesses opened shops for the plantations and resorts near the spring. Many people seeking health arrived, first by stagecoach and then by railroad. The Town of White Springs officially became a town in 1885.
More hotels and boarding houses opened. A cotton gin brought buyers and sellers. People could buy fashionable clothes and hats. Fun activities included ballroom dancing, lawn tennis, and skating.
In 1903, the spring was surrounded by concrete walls. These walls helped stop river floods from getting into the spring. A tall, four-story wooden bathhouse was built around the spring. This building had doctors' offices, changing rooms, and even an elevator. At that time, the spring flowed with a huge amount of water. It was about 32,400 gallons per minute!
Changes Over Time
By the 1930s, bathing in mineral springs became less popular in the United States. The town started to become quieter. In 1950, the Stephen Foster Memorial Museum opened. It honors Stephen Foster, who wrote the famous song "Old Folks at Home" about the Suwannee River. The museum has beautiful gardens that go down to the river. A carillon with the world's largest set of tubular bells opened in 1957. It plays Foster's songs all day long. This place is now a Florida State Park.
Through the 1980s, the spring's water flow decreased. By 1990, it stopped flowing completely. Dr. Helen Miller, a former mayor of White Springs, worked to help restore the water. She was part of a group that wanted to bring the Floridan aquifer water levels back to how they were in 1980.
In 2022, a group with certain beliefs opened a temple in White Springs. This temple is dedicated to a Viking god named Njord. It is called "Njordshof," which means "Njord's temple" in the old Viking language.
Where is White Springs Located?
White Springs is in the southeastern part of Hamilton County. Its southern edge is along the Suwannee River. This river also forms the border with Columbia County.
The town has important roads passing through it. These include U.S. Route 41 and SR 136. US 41 goes northwest about 17 miles to Jasper, which is the main town in Hamilton County. It goes southeast about 12 miles to Lake City. SR 136 goes west about 3 miles to Interstate 75.
The total area of White Springs is about 1.83 square miles (4.74 square kilometers). Only a very small part of this area is water.
What's the Weather Like in White Springs?
The weather in White Springs has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild. It has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain and has warm temperatures for most of the year.
| Climate data for White Springs 7N, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1999–2020 | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) |
85 (29) |
89 (32) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
102 (39) |
101 (38) |
103 (39) |
97 (36) |
94 (34) |
89 (32) |
85 (29) |
103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 65.6 (18.7) |
68.7 (20.4) |
74.7 (23.7) |
81.0 (27.2) |
87.3 (30.7) |
90.7 (32.6) |
93.0 (33.9) |
91.9 (33.3) |
88.7 (31.5) |
82.0 (27.8) |
74.3 (23.5) |
67.6 (19.8) |
80.5 (26.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 53.7 (12.1) |
57.0 (13.9) |
62.3 (16.8) |
68.5 (20.3) |
75.1 (23.9) |
80.2 (26.8) |
82.6 (28.1) |
82.0 (27.8) |
78.8 (26.0) |
70.7 (21.5) |
62.0 (16.7) |
56.1 (13.4) |
69.1 (20.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 41.8 (5.4) |
45.3 (7.4) |
49.9 (9.9) |
56.0 (13.3) |
62.9 (17.2) |
69.8 (21.0) |
72.2 (22.3) |
72.1 (22.3) |
68.8 (20.4) |
59.5 (15.3) |
49.7 (9.8) |
44.7 (7.1) |
57.7 (14.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 18 (−8) |
24 (−4) |
26 (−3) |
37 (3) |
46 (8) |
61 (16) |
56 (13) |
61 (16) |
53 (12) |
30 (−1) |
27 (−3) |
22 (−6) |
18 (−8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.62 (117) |
3.50 (89) |
4.21 (107) |
3.82 (97) |
3.48 (88) |
7.62 (194) |
5.87 (149) |
6.68 (170) |
5.21 (132) |
3.44 (87) |
2.23 (57) |
2.94 (75) |
53.62 (1,362) |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in White Springs?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 543 | — | |
| 1900 | 690 | 27.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,177 | 70.6% | |
| 1920 | 984 | −16.4% | |
| 1930 | 618 | −37.2% | |
| 1940 | 600 | −2.9% | |
| 1950 | 700 | 16.7% | |
| 1960 | 633 | −9.6% | |
| 1970 | 767 | 21.2% | |
| 1980 | 781 | 1.8% | |
| 1990 | 704 | −9.9% | |
| 2000 | 819 | 16.3% | |
| 2010 | 777 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 740 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Changes in White Springs
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White (NH) | 363 | 303 | 46.72% | 40.95% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 376 | 393 | 48.39% | 53.11% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 0 | 5 | 0.00% | 0.68% |
| Asian (NH) | 2 | 2 | 0.26% | 0.27% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some other race (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 10 | 21 | 1.29% | 2.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26 | 16 | 3.35% | 2.16% |
| Total | 777 | 740 |
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 740 people living in White Springs. There were 464 households and 282 families.
In 2010, the 2010 United States census showed 777 people living there. There were 316 households and 207 families.
Learning in White Springs: Schools and Library
The Hamilton County School District manages the public schools for White Springs. These are Hamilton County Elementary School and Hamilton County High School. Both schools are located outside the town limits in an unincorporated area of the county.
There used to be a South Hamilton Elementary School in White Springs. But it closed and joined a new school, Hamilton County Elementary School. This new school opened in August 2017.
The White Springs Public Library is part of the Suwannee River Regional Library System.
Historic Buildings in White Springs
Many of the original Victorian buildings are still standing. You can see them especially in the White Springs Historic District. This area was recognized as historic in 1997 by the National Register of Historic Places.
The Florida Folk Festival
The town and the state park host the yearly Florida Folk Festival. This event lasts for four days. It celebrates traditional Florida food, arts, and music. The festival first started in 1953. It is one of the oldest folk festivals that has happened every year in the United States.
Images for kids
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South Hamilton Elementary School (now closed)
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White Springs Post Office
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Historic Johns House
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Adams House in the historic district
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White Springs Town Hall and Police Department
See also
In Spanish: White Springs (Florida) para niños
