Citrus County Courthouse circa 1900
photo courtesy of the Florida Sate Archives
County was established in 1887 from Hernando County. It was named for the many
citrus trees and the citrus industry that was prevalent at the time. On the central
west coast of Florida, also known as the Nature Coast Citrus County enjoys a rather
mild climate well suited for agriculture.
The first county seat was in Mansfield, which was located near what is now county
road 491 and Cardinal Lane. Unfortunately, nothing of the town of Mansfield remains.
It is reported that Mansfield was never meant to be a permanent county seat, as no
courthouse was ever constructed. Eventually the county seat was moved to Inverness,
where it remains today.
Over the years I have seen many changes in Citrus County. New communities have
sprung up. New Hospitals, a mall, new schools, yet as with Hernando Coutny to the
south, its economy has changed from an agrarian and phosphate mining based economy
to that of a service based economy dependent upon tourism. Few of the original
families remain, but those that do are very proud of their pioneering status.
Some of the prominent names of the Citrus County's history are Barnes, Beville,
Cason, Davis, Hurst, Johnson, King, Rooks, Quinn, Mayes, Parker, among many others.
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