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1895 Map of Citra

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Citra
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1929
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1929

About this map

Orange Lake and the surrounding wetlands dominate this late-19th-century landscape on the border of Alachua and Marion Counties. The region is characterized by expansive seasonal water bodies like Black Sink Prairie, Hawthorn Prairie, and Goneski Prairie, illustrating the unique hydrology of central Florida before modern drainage and development altered these basins. Two major rail lines, the Florida Southern R. R. and the Florida Central and Peninsular, provide the primary infrastructure for the citrus and mining economies.

Phosphate extraction is a visible industry here, particularly around Anthony, where the French Phosphate Mines, Baker Mine, and Excelsior Mine are clustered. These operations, alongside small rail-stop settlements like Citra, Reddick, and McIntosh, show a frontier transitioning into an industrial and agricultural hub. Local genealogists can trace early post offices and settlements including Island Grove, Boardman, and Sparr during this formative period of development.