Yeehaw Junction, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Yeehaw Junction, Florida
settlement_type = Unincorporated area
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250x200px
image_caption = Desert Inn


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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Yeehaw Junction, Florida


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Osceola
government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
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established_date =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 14.6
area_land_km2 = 14.5
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 5.6
area_land_sq_mi = 5.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total =
population_density_km2 =
population_density_sq_mi =

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m =
elevation_ft =
latd = 28 |latm = 19 |lats = 51 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 21 |longs = 6 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
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blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-78975GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0295717GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Yeehaw Junction is an unincorporated community in Osceola County, Florida, United States. This area was confused with Lake Buenaventura (Buenaventura Lakes) CDP (census designated place) in the 2000 census. The correct data for this area was not recorded. [ [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/tiger2k/error2k.txt ERRATA FOR THE CENSUS 2000 TIGER/LINE(R) FILES] , United States Census Burea, October 2001. Accessed 2008-02-11.]

Geography

Yeehaw Junction is located at coord|27|42|00|N|80|54|16|W| (27.7, -80.90444). It is located at the intersection of US 441/SR 15, SR 60 and Florida's Turnpike (SR 91), approximately convert|30|mi|-1 west of Vero Beach and 30 miles north of Lake Okeechobee, Florida. The nearest incorporated area is the ghost town of Kenansville some fifteen miles north on U.S. 441 at the junction of Canoe Creek Road (Osceola County Road 523) The location was named after the Yeehaw station on the Florida East Coast Railway, several miles to the east on SR 60.

History

The Battle of Yeehaw Junction pitted the Confederate forces of General Stuart Josiah Culpepper against the Union forces of Major General Cameron Clinton Morgan on 21 March 1864 at Yeehaw Junction, Florida in a battle that would determine the possession of the strategically important Yeehaw Junction Corridor. This battle, won by Confederate forces, highlights the Principles of Maneuver, Mass, Economy of Force and Surprise, and the Tenents of Initiative and Synchronization. Additionally present were the violations of the Battlefield Operating System of Intelligence and the Principle of Security. This victory enabled the Confederates to secure the corridor and sustain the critical logistics pipeline from the "Storehouse of the Confederacy." It also conclusively demonstrated that superior technology, numbers and resources were not an effective substitute for good generalship and adherence to the Battlefield Operating System of Intelligence and the Principle of Security. One primary source was used, General Culpepper's memoir, The Fighting Gator of Yeehaw Junction. Secondary sources include Yeehaw Junction and the War in Florida by Jonathan Wheeler, and references provided by the University of Florida on the Internet.

According to town historians and several original newspaper articles that are displayed at the Desert Inn and Restaurant National Historical site, the town was originally named "Jackass Junction". This name was given to the four corner site back in the early 1930s, when local ranchers rode on burros to visit the Desert Inn (then the local brothel). As the 1950s approached, the Florida legislature felt that a name change was due-the construction of Florida's Turnpike through the center of the community in 1957 demanded such a change- and "Yeehaw Junction" was selected.Fact|date=February 2007

According to Dr. Ed Petuch of the Pangea Institute, who is trained as a paleontologist, the last known dire wolf in the State of Florida was killed near Yeehaw Junction, Florida in the 1920s. Fossils of the animal are found here once in a while, demonstrating that they were in these parts for quite some time. This would be quite astounding since the species has supposedly been extinct for several thousand years.Fact|date=August 2008

Yeehaw Junction today

Today, Yeehaw Junction is known as a major stopping point for tourists coming from South Florida on Florida's Turnpike who want to purchase conditional discount tickets for various tourist attractions in the Orlando area, complete with various billboards along the way. The Turnpike exit links with Florida State Highway 60, an important traffic route going from Vero Beach on the Atlantic to Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida on the Gulf Coast.

Because the population is not large enough to support its own schools children in the community may choose to attend Osceola county schools which may be over an hour bus ride for students (nearest Osceola public school is in St. Cloud), or be bused to closer schools in Indian River or Okeechobee Counties.

The Last Resort Hunt Club is located right down the road along with the Latt Maxy Groves.

References