Citrus Springs, Florida

Citrus Springs is located in northern Citrus County at 28°59′37″N 82°27′42″W (28.993539, -82.461692).[4] It is bordered by Pine Ridge to the south and Hernando to the east. U.S. Route 41 (North Florida Avenue) runs through the CDP, leading southeast 15 miles (24 km) to Inverness, the Citrus County seat, and north 3 miles (5 km) to Dunnellon in Marion County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Citrus Springs has a total area of 21.2 square miles (54.8 km²); all land.[3]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 4,157 people, 1,834 households, and 1,333 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 195.4 people per square mile (75.5/km²). There were 2,003 housing units at an average density of 94.2/sq mi (36.4/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.70% White, 2.24% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.37% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.46% of the population.

There were 1,834 households, out of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.61.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.0% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 18.6% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 36.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $29,758, and the median income for a family was $35,000. Males had a median income of $27,143 versus $18,686 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,845. About 5.0% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

Citrus Springs was developed by the Mackle Brothers, prominent Florida real estate developers working under The Deltona Corporation to be used as a subdivision consisting of over 34,000 homesites. (Elkcam Boulevard, a prominent street in Citrus Springs, is "Mackle" spelled backwards.) The area currently has two elementary schools (Citrus Springs Elementary School and Central Ridge Elementary School, opened fall 2008) and one middle school (Citrus Springs Middle School). There are plans for an 80-acre (320,000 m²) high school campus complete with public park, but construction is not planned in the near future.[5]

Phosphate mining played a major part in the history of Citrus County until the end of World War II, when phosphate mining largely moved overseas. The first newspaper of Citrus County was called the Phosphate Times. Many abandoned mines exist in the Withlacoochee River basin, with a concentration of those within Citrus Springs. Some of those areas can be seen at one of Citrus Springs' two golf courses, El Diablo. Many of those mines were part of the Dunnellon Phosphate company, headed by Capt John L. Inglis, a veteran of the Civil War. Areas in northeastern Citrus Springs were part of a proposed but unbuilt portion of the Cross Florida Barge Canal to aid the transportation of the mineral.

The Withlacoochee State Trail, a 46-mile (74 km) bike riding trail which was converted from the railroad lines built in the early 1900s, runs through Citrus Springs, in places parallel to US 41.

The CDP is served by Citrus County Schools.[6] Residents are divided between Citrus Springs Elementary and Central Ridge Elementary.[7] All residents are zoned to Citrus Springs Middle School.[8] Portions of the CDP are zoned to Citrus High School, Crystal River High School, and Lecanto High School.[9]

• Citrus County Visitors & Convention Bureau
• Citrus Springs Civic Association directory