Withlacoochee State Forest

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Withlacoochee State Forest
Florida Forest Service

The Withlacoochee State Forest is 157,479-acre (637 km2) in the western central part in the U.S. state of Florida, near Lecanto, Inverness, Floral City, Brooksville, Ridge Manor, and Dade City. The forest was named for the Withlacoochee River, which passes through some of the major tracts within.

History

Withlacoochee State Forest was acquired by the federal government from private landowners between 1936 and 1939 under the provisions of the

U.S. Forest Service
managed the property until a lease-purchase agreement transferred the property to the Florida Board of Forestry in 1958.

Ghost towns within the community include

Croom, Rital, Richloam, Clay Sink, and others. Historic sites within the forest include the Etna Turpentine Camp Archeological Site and Richloam General Store and Post Office
.

Recreation

The World Wildlife Fund listed the Withlacoochee State Forest as one of the "10 Coolest Places You've Never Been in North America" by the World Wildlife Fund. Activities include miles of trails for hiking, bicycling, horseback riding and canoeing. It includes several separate land tracts with many natural communities and habitats for wildlife. These tracts consist of the Two Mile Prairie Tract, the Homosassa Tract, the Citrus Tract, the Juniper Creek Tract, the Croom Tract, and the Richloam Tract.

bald cypress, oak, maple, and others, providing dense canopy trails for visitors.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ 1936 Citrus County Map (University of South Florida; Maps Education Technology Clearinghouse)
  2. ^ 1936 Hernando County Map (University of South Florida; Maps Education Technology Clearinghouse)
  3. ^ 1936 Sumter County Map (University of South Florida; Maps Education Technology Clearinghouse)
  4. ^ Withlacoochee State Forest Trailhead Map (Florida Division of Forestry)
  5. ^ Services, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer. "Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services". www.fdacs.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  6. ^ "Withlacoochee State Forest". Florida Forest Service. Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Retrieved February 7, 2021.

External links