Lake City

Residents like to think of Columbia County as the "other Florida"--a pristine natural environment that combines the warmth of a small community with the conveniences of urban life. Some still consider this county and Lake City, its largest community, Florida's best-kept secret. In some ways it is; yet more than half the visitors who drive into Florida pass through Columbia County. Those who stop to take a look, will notice lovely rural countryside, where local farmers grow peanuts, corn, soybeans and watermelons. And although the area claims plenty of clean air and rural charm, it's growing, nevertheless. The county's population doubled over the last quarter century.

Home Sweet Home

The new home market in the Lake City area is exceptionally strong, says the Lake City Board of Realtors. More new homes than existing homes are currently on the market. Three popular new home developments are Woodcrest, Emerald Lakes and Huntington. New or newer homes of approximately 1,400 to 1,600 square feet with three bedrooms and two baths are available in the $75,000 to $89,000 range. Lake City offers lots of very affordable homes. In fact, most sales activity and inventory of new and existing homes is occurring in the $55,000 to $90,000 price range. If you want a condominium, choices are few, but single family homes are plentiful. They represent 98 percent of the region's housing stock; condos represent only about 2 percent.

Vital Stats

Statistics are for Columbia County unless otherwise noted.

Population: 52,956
Median age: 35.8
New citizens: 1,120 yearly
New job creation: N/A
Unemployment rate: 4.2 percent in August, 1999
Price level index: 92.26 percent (Florida average: 100 percent)
Per capita income: $16,401
Median household effective buying income: $28,359

Rain & Shine

Columbia County is located in northeastern Florida; its northern border is on the Georgia state line. That means there's plenty of Florida's famed sunshine here, along with seasonal variations that create especially pleasant autumns and springs.

The average January temperature is 55.6 degrees Fahrenheit; the August average is 81 and the year-round average is 69. Nearly 50 inches of rain falls annually, which keeps the environment lush for virtually the entire year.

Job Market

The total civilian labor force includes almost 25,000 people. More than 21 percent are employed in service industries, and more than 26 percent are employed by various governmental units. Forestry has long been a staple of Columbia County's economic base and it remains the leading "cash crop," though manufacturing and retail provide more than a third of Columbia County jobs.

Major private-sector employers (and their numbers of employees) are: TIMCO-Lake City (772), Homes of Merit (680), PCS Phosphate (375), Shands at Lake Shore (343), Lake City Medical Center (305) and Anderson-Columbia Company (302).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Columbia County is at the intersection of Interstates 10 (east/west) and 75 (north/south), making its location the crossroads of Florida. This positioning provides easy accessibility to other areas for residents; plus, more than half of the millions of tourists who stream into Florida by car and bus each year pass through the county. Many are headed to Walt Disney World and other major central Florida attractions, just three hours south.

Moreover, Lake City is only 45 miles from the Gainesville Regional Airport, which is served by five airlines and averages about 50 flights daily. The Lake City Municipal Airport offers excellent private and charter facilities with an 8,000-foot asphalt runway. In addition, Amtrak makes regular passenger stops in Lake City.

Great Outdoors

Residents love and appreciate their natural wonderland. Eco-tourism brings many adventursome visitors. Whether local or tourist, you can go diving in a crystal clear spring, canoe along the legendary Suwannee River, enjoy some of the state's best fishing, or hike or bicycle along trails that invite you back to nature. Regardless, it won't take long to find that there's a lifetime of outdoor pleasure amidst this county's friendly warmth.

Environmentally and ecologically, there's excitement in this region's rural counties. The most popular spots include 13 natural springs, all of which offer swimming; many are also superb snorkeling and scuba diving spots. There's great cave diving at Little Rivers Springs in Branford and Peacock Springs in Live Oak. At Branford's Troy Spring you can discover the submerged hull of a Civil War Confederate steamboat. If you prefer floating on the water, try tubing at Ichetucknee Springs State Park, which features three miles of slowly flowing spring water.

The breathtaking Suwannee River is another natural magnet for outdoor lovers. You can meander for hours by canoe, jet ski or camp or picnic at nearby riverside parks. Fishermen will love finding their favorite spots on Alligator Lake, Lake Jeffery and Watertown Lake--all near Lake City. The Santa Fe River, which is 17 miles south of Lake City, is a sensational spot for largemouth bass and the redbreast sunfish. Much of northern Columbia County is dominated by the Okefenokee Swamp. A large east-central section of the county is part of the Osceola National Forest. Also nearby--part of it in the national forest--is the Florida Scenic Trail. And in the southern part of the county, residents can enjoy the wonders of Oleno State Park.

Good Sports

Florida has produced some of the best-known athletes in the world, like Steve Spurier, Bobbie Bowden and Lake City's own Pat Summerall. They are among 150 of Florida's sports heroes profiled in fascinating exhibits at the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, located in Lake City on U.S. 90, west of I-75. Columbians also like to see their stars in action, and with the University of Florida just 45 miles away, they have an opportunity to watch some of the best Division 1-A competition in the country. Closer to home, there are two auto-racing tracks, 16 ballfields, eight racquetball courts, seven tennis courts, two skating rinks, two semi-private golf courses and a municipal swimming pool.

Hunters enjoy the Big D Plantation quail preserve, with sporting clays and paintball facilities, just south of Lake City. Other county favorites include a tennis club, the Suwannee Valley Zoo, a half-dozen state and local parks and on and off-road bike trips offered by Suwannee Bicycle Tours at White Springs.

Hot Times in the City

The people of Lake City hold their history and heritage in high regard. This philosophy provides fascinating benefits to new and established residents alike. For example, the Lake Isabella Historic Residential District in Lake City features 183 buildings; some date back to 1866, and 146 are of historical interest. One of the most striking is the Queen Anne style Horace Duncan House, built in 1907 and reflecting a time when Columbia County was a key contributor to Florida's growth. The Columbia County Historical Museum collects, preserves and displays artifacts. Some date back to the county's prehistoric era. Its admission-free exhibits are housed in a renovated historic home, circa 1860s.

You'll discover yet another facet of county heritage at the Olustee Battlefield State Historic Site, about 14 miles east of Lake City on U.S. 90. An interpretive center showcases exhibits that tell the story of an 1864 Confederate battlefield victory. For more than 20 years the Olustee Battle Festival and Re-enactment has marked the event each February. The three-day celebration involves the entire community and both Baker and Columbia counties. The actual battle site is in Baker County's part of the Osceola National Forest, but almost on the county line. The festival includes stock car races, a golf tournament, a craft and collectibles fair, fireworks, a parade, a concert and, of course, the highlight--the thrilling "battle" among Civil War enthusiasts and re-enactors.

A group of Lake City area artists and their patrons operate a cooperative, non-profit gallery. Located downtown, the Main Street Gallery and Cultural Center has as one of its primary goal to bring visual arts to the town and its surrounding geographic area. Members take turns teaching classes, minding the gallery, doing the maintenance chores and promoting art in the community.

A few miles northwest of Lake City, just inside the Hamilton County line, the Stephen Foster State Folk Culture Center at White Springs is popular both with visitors and with residents of this northern section of the state, which is often referred to as the original Florida. Folk crafts are displayed year-round, and the composer who brought national and international fame to the area is memorialized at this wooded site on the Suwannee River. (Foster spelled the river wrong, but he's been forgiven.)

Shop 'til You Drop

Lake City has a varied array of shopping, from Gleason's Corner Mall -- anchored by Goody's and J.C. Penny's -- to the still vibrant Lake City downtown area. Other shopping venues include Westfield Square and a Wal-Mart Super Center. The diversity of the offerings draws people from throughout Columbia as well as surrounding counties, making Lake City a busy North Florida retail hub. To find that special treasure, visit Webb's Antique Mall. It's huge.

A mile or two south of the Columbia County line, in the Alachua County town of High Springs, antiques are big business, too. Several antique malls and a number of independent shops convert this former farming town to north Florida's antique boomtown. Two other popular Florida haunts for antique treasure seekers are Havana, in the Panhandle, and Micanopy, in south Alachua County.

Nightlife

There are more than two dozen restaurants in the area, including many popular national chains. The offerings range from down-home barbecue at Ken's or Sonny's to fresh local seafood or family-style favorites. Some restaurants have lounges that appeal to the small late-night set. There's a theater group in the county, plus cultural offerings from Lake City Community College, a six-theater cineplex, and video games and bowling at Lake City Bowl.

For more extensive cultural offerings, residents take an easy 30- or 40-minute drive down I-75 to Gainesville. Although Gainesville isn't a big city, its a sizable community with rich cultural offerings because of its position as a university town.

College Scene

Lake City Community College offers both a two-year degree program and a variety of job-skill programs. The University of Florida, the state's largest university, is just 45 miles away. The University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Florida A&M University and Florida State University also attract many students from Columbia County.

Just for Seniors

As a retirement location, Columbia County offers a unique package that includes its convenient location, delightful climate, lovely setting and surprising affordability that delights arrivals from northern urban areas or even central and southern sections of Florida.

About 13 percent of county residents are age 65 or older. Special senior services--some free and some fee-based--are available via Florida's Department of Elder Affairs or provisions of the federal Older Americans Act. Call the county's Elder Helpline at 904/755-0235 for comprehensive information on public and private programs and referral to an agency that will meet any special needs. Services currently available in the county include homemakers, respite care, personal care and home-delivered meals.