Lake City

City of Lake City, Florida
—  City  —
Columbia County courthouse in Lake City
Seal
Location in Columbia County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 30°11′23″N 82°38′23″W / 30.18972°N 82.63972°W / 30.18972; -82.63972Coordinates: 30°11′23″N 82°38′23″W / 30.18972°N 82.63972°W / 30.18972; -82.63972
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Columbia
Settled	1830
Incorporated	1859
Government
- Type	Council-Manager
- Mayor	Stephen M. Witt
- City Manager	Wendell Johnson
Area [1] 1
- City	11.1 sq mi (28.7 km2)
- Land	10.6 sq mi (27.4 km2)
- Water	.5 sq mi (1.3 km2)  4.69%
Elevation 3	194 ft (59 m)
Population (1 July 2006)[2] 2
- City	11,953
- Density	944.8/sq mi (364.8/km2)
- Metro	67,007
	2006 Estimates
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	32024-32025, 32055-32056
Area code(s)	386
FIPS code	12-37775[3]
GNIS feature ID	0305917[4]
Website	http://www.lcfla.com/

Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, ^[5] Florida, in the United States. In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 11,953.^[2] In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an estimated 2006 population of 67,007.^[6] The city's Sesquicentennial will occur in 2009, and a celebration is planned.

History

The site of Lake City was a Seminole village named Alpata Telophka, meaning "Alligator Town". By 1830, a white American town called Alligator was established, adjacent to the Seminole town. The city was incorporated and changed to its current name in 1859. The name was changed because the mayor's wife, who had recently moved to the town, refused to hang her lace curtains in a town named Alligator. Local bodies of water include Lake DeSota, Lake Isabella, Alligator Lake, Lake Hamburg, Gwen Lake, Lake Harper and Watertown Lake.

The American Civil War Battle of Olustee took place near Lake City in February 1864. It was the only major battle in Florida during the war. Union casualties were 1,861 men killed, wounded or missing; Confererate losses were 946 killed, wounded or missing.

In 1880, Lake City Chief of Police, Gottschalk “Gus” Potsdamer had a heated dispute with Columbia County Sheriff, John C. Henry. The conflict escalated into a fistfight and Henry was fatally wounded by Potsdamer, who was tried for murder, convicted and sentenced to life in prison at the state prison near Live Oak.^[7] Potsdamer's conviction was controversial, with some reports stating that Sheriff Henry started the trouble and was beating Potsdamer over the head with a pistol when Potsdamer got loose and killed him. Potsdamer was very popular and had a reputation as a City Marshall who always enforced the law fairly. Potsdamer's friends appealed the conviction through the legal system, won, and Potsdamer was released after two months of incarceration. He eventually moved to Live Oak, became a respected businessman, and was elected Suwannee County Sheriff in 1889.^[8]

By the early 20th century, Lake City had become an important railroad junction, served by the Seaboard Air Line, Atlantic Coast Line, Georgia Southern, and the Florida Railroad.

The population in 1950 was 7,467 people and forestry (turpentine, lumber, pulpwood) had become important to the local economy.

In 1958, the Columbia Amateur Radio Society was formed. This was a group of amateur radio operators that enjoyed the ability to communicate all over the world. This radio club still exists today.^[9]

In 1984, the controversial Meade Ministries religious group (then called End Time Ministries, and considered by many experts to be a cult) began its move to Lake City and the surrounding county.^[10] Members of the group, now over 2000 strong, have since become a significant economic factor in the area, starting many businesses and dominating some neighborhoods. ^[11]

Lake City's Centennial was celebrated in 1959 with parades, fireworks and a 58-page book documenting one hundred years of progress, “A Century in the Sun”. The citizens of the town dressed in period attire, complete with whiskers. A good-natured clash arose between the men with additional facial hair and the women who did not like it.^[12]

Geography

Lake City is located at 30°11′23″N 82°38′23″W / 30.189640°N 82.639654°W / 30.189640; -82.639654.^[13] Lake City is near the intersection of Interstate highways I-10 and I-75. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 mi² (28.7 km²). 10.6 square miles (27 km²) of it is land and .5 square miles (1 km²) of it is water. The total area is 4.69% water.

Demographics

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there are 9,980 people, 4,043 households, and 2,429 families residing in the city. The population density is 944.8/sq mi (364.9/km²). There are 4,536 housing units at an average density of 429.4/sq mi (165.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 59.32% White, 37.46% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.82% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 4,043 households out of which 28.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.5% are married couples living together, 20.4% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.9% are non-families. 33.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.34 and the average family size is 3.01.

In the city the population is spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 37 years. For every 100 females there are 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $26,161, and the median income for a family is $31,920. Males have a median income of $27,369 versus $21,290 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,697. 20.5% of the population and 16.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 27.8% of those under the age of 18 and 16.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Columbia County Courthouse

Economy

Lake City and Columbia County, Florida are known as "The Gateway to Florida" because Interstate 75 runs though them, carrying a large percentage of Florida's tourist and commercial traffic. Lake City is the northernmost sizable town/city in Florida on Interstate 75 and the location where I-10 and I-75 intersect. Interstate 10 is the southernmost east-west major interstate highway and traverses the country from Jacksonville, Florida to Santa Monica, California.

Agricultural products of the area include tobacco, corn, peanuts, cotton, melons, timber and pulpwood.

Lake City is the location of the Osceola National Forest's administrative offices.

The Lake City Municipal Airport is a local center of business. The airport is classified as a General Aviation facility, but two on-site operations are somewhat unique. TIMCO is an aircraft modification and rehabilitation operation for large (B-727, 737) civilian and military aircraft. The United States Forest Service uses C-130 transport aircraft in support of its forest fire-fighting operations in the southeast US.

Since 2000, four companies have begun large operations in Lake City: Hunter Panels, New Millennium, Target Distribution Center and United States Cold Storage.^[14]

The top employers in Lake City are:^[15]

Historic Henderson House

Recreation

Olustee Battle Festival

Every February since 1976, Lake City has hosted the Olustee Battle Festival and reenactment of the Battle of Olustee. The 31st Annual event was February 13 & 14th, 2009.^[17] The Miss Olustee Pageant is held two weeks prior to the Battle Festival. Highlights include:

• Memorial service at Oak Lawn Cemetery: to honor those who died from both sides (Friday morning)
• Olustee Festival & Craft Show: Arts, Crafts, Foods, Exhibits, & two stages with continuous live entertainment Friday and Saturday.
• Battle of the Ironclads, the Monitor and the Merrimac: Friday night on Lake DeSoto.
• Dancing: Friday night-Trails End Dance; Saturday afternoon-Street Dance; Saturday night-Blue-Grey Square Dance
• Running Races: Blue-Grey 5-K and 1 Mile Kids Fun Run early Saturday morning
• Olustee Festival Parade: Saturday mid-morning
• Olustee Battle Reenactment: Hundreds of re-enactors come from all over the country to participate in this historical event
• Columbia County Historical Museum: "Angels of Mercy" drama Friday afternoon; museum open all weekend
• Olustee Battlefield State Park: open 9am-6pm all weekend

Alligator fest

The city was originally named Alligator, after Halpatter Tustenuggee, the Seminole known as Chief Alligator in what is now Columbia County. The Festival tries to educate and entertain by demonstrating how Native American, European and Black settlers survived in the frontier wilderness. Programs are scheduled to demonstrate how to load and fire black powder rifles, tan hides, cook using primitive methods, make flint tools and utilize native materials to build shelter. The social life of Native Americans will be shared through their music and dancing.^[18]

The first fest was held in 1995 at Olustee Park in downtown Lake City. After 2000, the event was not held for two years while the park was completely rebuilt, after which the city refused permission to use the park, citing previous landscape damage. The location was shifted to Wilson Park for two years, then moved to the campus of Lake City Community College. In 2009, the city's Sesquicentennial Celebration gives special meaning to the weekend festivities on October 9th-11th, and the old Memorial Stadium will be the site.^[19]

"Normal" recreational facilities

9 Soccer Fields—26 Ball Fields –- 7 Tennis Courts –- 8 Raquet Ball Courts –- 1 Skating Rink –- 2 Golf Course –- 4 Local Parks –- 1 Bowling Alley –- 6 screen Movie Theater –- 1 Public Swimming Pool –- 1 YMCA –- 1 Amateur Theatre –- 3 State Parks –- 2 Auto Racing Tracks –- 2 Country Clubs—Hunting - Fishing—Water Sports

Notable natives

• Pat Summerall - NFL placekicker, television sportscaster
• Gerard Warren - NFL defensive tackle
• Jasin Todd - former Shinedown guitarist
• Jerome Carter - NFL safety
• Martha Mier - pianist and Composer

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lake City, Florida

• City of Lake City Official Site
• Lake City Weather dot Com LIVE Weather Conditions here in Lake City
• Lake City Journal community news online
• Columbia Amateur Radio Society Established in 1958 and all are still welcome to join!
• Suwannee Online Suwannee Area
• Lake City Online
• Lake City Reporter newspaper
• Lake City Real Estate Market
• Lake City Community Example - Lake City Community
• Florida Index, historical newspaper for Lake City, Florida fully and openly available in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library
• Lake City is home of Be On The Look Out For Corporation
• Lake City Classifieds

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