Crystal River, Florida

Crystal River, Florida
—  City  —
US 19-98 enters Crystal River
Nickname(s): Manatee Haven
Location in Citrus County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°54′2″N 82°35′37″W / 28.90056°N 82.59361°W / 28.90056; -82.59361Coordinates: 28°54′2″N 82°35′37″W / 28.90056°N 82.59361°W / 28.90056; -82.59361
Country	United States
State	Florida
Area
– Total	6.3 sq mi (16.3 km2)
– Land	5.7 sq mi (14.8 km2)
– Water	0.6 sq mi (1.5 km2)
Elevation	7 ft (2 m)
Population (2000)
– Total	3,485
– Density	553.2/sq mi (213.8/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP codes	34423, 34428, 34429
Area code(s)	352
FIPS code	12-15775[1]
GNIS feature ID	0281135[2]

Crystal River is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,485 at the 2000 census. (4,044 in 1990). According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 3,539. [1] The city was incorporated in 1903 and is the self professed "Home of the Manatee".[2]. Crystal River Preserve State Park is located nearby, and Crystal River Archaeological State Park is located in the city's northwest side. Crystal River is at the heart of the Nature Coast of Florida. The City is situated around the magnificent Kings Bay, which is spring-fed so keeps a constant temperature year round, it is the second largest natural aquifer in Florida, after the Everglades. Kings Bay is home to over 400 manatees during the winter when the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico cools and is the only place in the United States where people can legally interact with them in their natural conditions. Tourism based on watching and swimming with manatee is the fastest growing contribution to the local economy. In 2005 there was a movement to dissolve the city however this did not succeed and the City has since grown by annexure. As of 2007 the city police department was replaced by the Citrus County Sheriff's Office.^{[citation needed]} Crystal River is home to a mixed coal and nuclear power plant, the Crystal River 3 Nuclear Power Plant which is a major contributor to local real estate taxes.

Geography

Kings Bay is fed by a springs system, it is connected to the Gulf of Mexico by the Crystal River.

Crystal River is located at 28°54′02″N 82°35′37″W / 28.900670°N 82.593699°W / 28.900670; -82.593699.^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km²). 5.7 square miles (15 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (9.09%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 3,485 people, 1,498 households, and 927 families residing in the city. The population density was 611.8 people per square mile (236.1/km²). There were 1,956 housing units at an average density of 343.4 per square mile (132.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.76% White, 12.88% Black or African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. 3.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,498 households out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the city the population was spread out with 19.0% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 27.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,207, and the median income for a family was $47,250. Males had a median income of $39,357 versus $25,417 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,866. About 3.5% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

• Art Fleming, original host of Jeopardy!.
• Ted Williams, famed baseball player was a resident at the time of his death.
• Mike Hampton, Baseball player, attended Crystal River High School.^[4]
• Wendi Richter, female professional wrestler.^[5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23. 
4. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=115399
5. ^ Peeples, Lisa (July 5, 1989). "Crystal River woman is at top of her sport". St. Petersburg Times. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HP8NAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R3gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3189,6458793&dq=wendi-richter. Retrieved 2009-01-09. 

External links

Media related to Crystal River (city), Florida at Wikimedia Commons

• City of Crystal River
• Crystal River News historical newspaper for Crystal River openly accessible in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library
• Citrus County Visitors & Convention Bureau
• Springs Coast Watershed - Florida DEP