When was Cedar Key founded?

When was Cedar Key founded?

Originally founded in 1842 as a resort for wealthy planters the island became the center for pencil manufacturing. There are many juniper trees on the island, which were used by the pencil companies and were misidentified as cedars, hence the name ‘Cedar Key’.

Is Cedar Key the second oldest city in Florida?

The Tiny Town Of Cedar Key, Florida Happens To Be The State’s Second-Oldest Town. Nestled away on the Gulf Coast you’ll find a tiny archipelago that is brimming with unspoiled nature, old Florida charm, and some of the freshest clams around—this is where you’ll find Cedar Key.

Who founded Cedar Key?

President Herbert Hoover
At the start of the twentieth century, fishing, sponge hooking and oystering had become the major industries, but around 1909, the oyster beds were exhausted. President Herbert Hoover established the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge in 1929 by naming three of the islands as a breeding ground for colonial birds.

Is Cedar Key open now?

One North Central Florida hot spot is back open after almost a month of being closed to visitors. When weekend destinations started closing around the state because of COVID-19, crowds flocked to Cedar Key. …

What county is Cedar Key?

Levy CountyCedar Key / County

Are there alligators in Cedar Key?

When to Visit Cedar Key To maximize the variety of species you’ll see, spring is an excellent choice, (late March and April). Horseshoe crabs are mating, Alligators are commonly sighted in the Lower Suwanee River NWR, and dolphins are active off shore.

Where does old Florida still exist?

Small, quiet, and located right on the Gulf of Mexico, the island of Cedar Key represents everything that you think of when you hear the term “Old Florida.” It is located about an hour south of Gainesville, and not very far from our good friends at the Villages of Citrus Hills.

What is the history of Cedar Key Florida?

The Florida legislature chartered the “City of Atseena Otie” in 1859. Cedar Key quickly became an important port, shipping lumber and naval stores harvested on the mainland. By 1860 two mills on Atsena Otie Key were producing ‘cedar’ slats for shipment to northern pencil factories.

How old is the oldest body in Cedar Key?

The only ancient burial found in Cedar Key was a 2,000-year-old skeleton found in 1999. Arrow heads and spear points dating from the Paleo period (12,000 years old) were collected by Cedar Key historian St. Clair Whitman and are displayed at the Cedar Key Museum State Park.

Why was Cedar Key so important to the Civil War?

Cedar Key was an important source of salt for the Confederacy during the early part of the war. In October 1862 a Union raid destroyed sixty kettles on Salt Key capable of producing 150 bushels of salt a day. The Union occupied the Cedar Keys in early 1864, staying for the remainder of the war.

What happened to the Cedar Keys in 1842?

A hurricane with a 27-foot (8.2 m) storm surge struck the Cedar Keys on October 4, 1842, destroying Cantonment Morgan and causing much damage on Depot Key. Some Seminole leaders had been meeting with Army officers at Depot Key to negotiate their surrender or a retreat to a reservation in the Everglades.