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White Springs, Florida
Adams Country Store, White Springs
Adams Country Store, White Springs
Location in Hamilton County and the state of Florida
Location in Hamilton County and the state of Florida
Country  United States
State  Florida
County  Hamilton
Incorporated 1885
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)
 • Total 740
 • Density 404.59/sq mi (156.22/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
32096
Area code(s) 386
FIPS code 12-77400
GNIS feature ID 0293230

White Springs is a town in Hamilton County, Florida, United States, on the Suwannee River. The population was 777 at the 2010 census, down from 819 at the 2000 census. Home of the annual Florida Folk Festival, it is a tourist destination noted for historic charm, antique shops and river recreation.

History

The Suwannee River was once the boundary between the Timucuan tribe to the east and Apalachee tribe to the west. When Spanish explorers visited the area in the 1530s, it was inhabited by the former, who believed its springs possessed healing powers. The Indians considered the springs as a sacred healing ground. Any tribe member could bathe and drink the mineral waters without fear of being attacked. The spring water flows through rocks embedded with sulfur crystals and acquires the "rotten egg" smell. The settlement was incorporated in 1831 as Jackson Springs by businessmen Joseph Bryant, James T. Hooker, his brother William B. Hooker, John Lee, and James D. Prevatt. In addition to the spring, they planned to build a ferry across the Suwannee River.

Bryant & Elizabeth Sheffield bought tracts for a cotton plantation in 1835, and took over the ferry operation the following year. Mr. Sheffield drank the mineral waters and touted their ability to cure nervousness, kidney troubles, and rheumatism, among other problems. They constructed a hotel and spring house from logs. The spring called Upper Mineral Springs was very popular and became Florida's first tourist attraction.

During the American Civil War, some Confederate soldiers found refuge in the town from Union troops. The family of future governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward, whose Jacksonville farm was burned by Union forces, moved to a nearby farm which they named Rebel’s Refuge. At some point, the springs were renamed White Sulphur Springs. Following the civil war, the tourist business slowly returned. In 1882, the Georgia merchants Wight and Powell purchased the property and platted city lots. They sold parcels to other retailers to open businesses catering to plantations and resorts around the spring. Crowds of health seekers arrived, first by stagecoach and then railroad. White Springs was incorporated in 1885. Hotels and boarding houses popped up; a cotton gin attracted buyers and sellers; and fashionable clothing and hats were offered for sale. Leisure activities included ballroom dancing, lawn tennis, and skating.

WhiteSpringsBathHouse
Bathhouse surrounding White Springs

In 1903, the spring was enclosed by concrete and coquina walls that included multiple water gates and galleries to prevent water intrusion from river flooding. A four-story wooden bathhouse was constructed around the spring. The structure was designed by the Jacksonville architectural firm McClure & Holmes for owner Minnie Mosher Jackson, and included doctors' offices for patient examination and treatment, dressing rooms, space for concessions, and an elevator. At the time, water flow was calculated at 32,400 gallons per minute, or nearly 47 million gallons per day.

During the 1930s, mineral springs fell out of favor and the town began to fade. In 1950, the Stephen Foster Memorial Museum opened to commemorate songwriter Stephen Foster, composer of the world-renowned song of the Suwannee River, “Old Folks at Home.” The museum is surrounded by formal gardens which extend to the banks of the Suwannee River. A carillon containing the world’s largest set of tubular bells, opened in 1957 and plays Foster's songs throughout the day. The facility is a Florida State Park.

Present

Through the 1980s, water flow at the spring declined to the point when it ceased flowing in 1990. The mayor of White Springs, Dr. Helen Miller, is vice chairman of Florida Leaders Organized for Water (FLOW), a group which proposed the Floridan Aquifer Sustainability Act of 2013. The legislation seeks to restore the Floridan aquifer to 1980 levels.

Today, many of the original Victorian buildings survive, particularly within the White Springs Historic District, established in 1997 by the National Register of Historic Places.

The town and state park are the site of the annual Florida Folk Festival, a four-day celebration of traditional Florida food, arts, and music. The event, first held in 1953, is one of the oldest continuous folk festivals in the United States.

Geography

White Springs is located at 30°19′54″N 82°45′22″W / 30.33167°N 82.75611°W / 30.33167; -82.75611 (30.331647, -82.756008).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km2), all land. White Springs is on the Suwannee River. The town is crossed by U.S. Route 41 (SR 25 and 100) and SR 136.

Demographics

Historical population
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

2020 census

White Springs racial composition
Race Num. Perc.
White (non-Hispanic) 303 40.95%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 393 53.11%
Native American 5 0.68%
Asian 2 0.27%
Other/Mixed 21 2.84%
Hispanic or Latino 16 2.16%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 740 people, 382 households, and 218 families residing in the town.

Education

White Springs public library
White Springs Library

The Hamilton County School District operates the public schools serving White Springs, Hamilton County Elementary School and Hamilton County High School, both in an unincorporated area of the county.

South Hamilton Elementary School in White Springs formerly served the city; it was consolidated into a new elementary school, Hamilton County Elementary School, located in an unincorporated area south of Jasper. Its opening was scheduled for August 2017.

The Suwannee River Regional Library System operates the White Springs Public Library.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: White Springs (Florida) para niños

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