2013 Winter Newsletter

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: CITRUS COUNTY

Citrus County was established on June 2, 1887, when Pasco and Citrus were carved from the historical Hernando County. The county‘s name came from a ro- bust citrus industry, which would grind to a halt with the Big Freeze in 1894/95. Coincidentally, about the same time, hard rock phosphate was discovered just over the county line, and mining took its place in the economy of the county. Found predominantly on the east side of the county mining ran its course for the next several decades. During this era, the sleepy village of Floral City grew to a population of over 10,000, bigger than Miami at the time. By World War I,

Hon. Geoffrey Greene

phosphate lost its market and went by the wayside, and so Floral City returned to its former status. Thereafter, Citrus returned to its agricultural roots until the mid 1960s, when the retirement migra- tion to Florida discovered Citrus County. Since then, county population has increased to 141,236 (2010 census). The majority of that population resides in unincorporated Citrus County. Connected via Suncoast Parkway to the Tampa Bay area, the county is in the heart of Florida‘s Nature Coast. Progress Energy (recently merged in 2012 with Duke Power) and their power generating facilities at Crystal River remains the county‘s largest employer and taxpayer.

Our county boasts seven rivers within its bounda- ries, most of which are spring fed, including 3 first magnitude springs. The Withlacoochee River forms the north and east boundaries, with the Gulf of Mexico on the west. Rich natural re- sources make eco-tourism is an important part of the local economy. Probably our best known win- ter visitor is the endangered Florida Manatee. Particularly in Crystal River and other area rivers and at our state park in Homosassa Springs,

2012 Tax Roll At-A-Glance

Real Property Parcels

155,693

Tangible Accounts

8,704

Just (Market) Value

$13,233,991,902

Taxable NS Value

$9,043,459,879

Highest taxable value (TPP+RP)

$2,322,295,720

Progress Energy of Florida

thousands are drawn each year to experience a close up encounter with this gentle creature.

There are two cities in this county. The City of Inverness in eastern Citrus County is the county seat, and the only other incorporated place is the City of Crystal River in western Citrus County. Both have populations of less than 10,000 each. Several urbanized areas have grown up around the larger retire- ment communities including Beverly Hills, Citrus Springs/Pine Ridge, Citrus Hills and Sugarmill Woods in Homosassa. Building a stronger tax base for the future is a major thrust of all elected leadership in Citrus County. Active economic development efforts are seeking to complete the Suncoast Parkway through the county, and studies are underway to examine the feasibility of establishing a Port in northwest Citrus County. Diversification of the economy is considered necessary for the long term economic future of Citrus County. Hon. Geoffrey Greene was first elected in 2008 | Number of Employees: 52 | Total Square Miles: 773, 25% of which is water | Website: www.citruspa.org

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Winter 2013 Newsletter of the FCIAAO