Terra Ceia, Florida

United Methodist Church, in Terra Ceia

Terra Ceia is an unincorporated census-designated place in Manatee County, Florida, United States that includes the 1,932 acres (7.82 km2) Terra Ceia Preserve.[1] It is located on Terra Ceia Island on the Southern shore of Tampa Bay near the intersection of US 19 and I-275, at the southern end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Geography

The community is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area. The 125-acre (0.51 km2) Terra Ceia Preserve - Frog Creek is also located in the area and protected by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. It offers fishing and hiking.[2]

Terra Ceia is located at 27°34′45″N 82°34′50″W / 27.57917°N 82.58056°W / 27.57917; -82.58056Coordinates: 27°34′45″N 82°34′50″W / 27.57917°N 82.58056°W / 27.57917; -82.58056 (27.57917, -82.58056).[3]

History

Terra Ceia was at one time mostly an agricultural community settled in the 1840s. Terra Ceia was known for its rich soil on the island. At Terra Ceia Citrus, vegetables, celery and pepper and flowers were grown here. Terra Ceia at one time was known internationally. It food was so famous that asters that were grown here were used the William Taft's inaugural parade. In 1897 the town was listed with a population of 120 homeowners. The town's main commercial district developed along Terra Ceia Bay when at the time most shipping was down by water. Businesses and homes lined a waterfront road where businesses were built on docks for easy boat access. The town lost its bay side commercial district when the railroad arrived in the 1910s and the center of town moved further inland. With the coming of the railroad most likely resulted in a spike of population and by 1913 the local newspaper reported there was 700 residents here. Land at the time was valued at $500 - $1,000 a acre. (Worth exactly $12,133.13 and at the maximum $24,266.26 in 2016). At the town's peak there was a general store, a bank, a packing house, and a railroad depot. In 1926 a tidal wave washed over the island and made it hard to grow crops there. The Seaboard Airline railroad soon no longer provided service and the rail line and the depot was abandoned. In 1931 the Bank of Terra Ceia failed because of the Great Depression. The former bank building now houses the post office.[4]

Terra Ceia has had a post office since 1891.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Terra Ceia State Park Southwest Florida Water Management District
  2. ↑ Terra Ceia Preserve - Frog Creek Southwest Florida Water Management District
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. ↑ "Manatee History Matters: Terra Ceia island was Heavenly Land for produce". Retrieved 2016-06-30.
  5. ↑ "FPHSonline.com". www.fphsonline.com. Retrieved 2016-06-30.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 7/7/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.