Chiefland, Florida

A village of the Timucua people was once located south of the present city and at Manatee Springs. The area's economy is traditionally based on agriculture, primarily farming (peanuts, watermelons, hay); ranching (cattle, hogs); dairy (milk); timber (pulpwood, lumber, turpentine) and aquaculture (fishing, oystering, crabbing).

After Spanish Florida became the Florida Territory of the United States, it was platted in 1843, and when Florida officially became a U.S. state in 1845, the community turned into a permanent settlement by non-indigenous people and called "Charlie Emathla’s Town". In 1860, it was renamed "Hardeetown", after Isaac P. Hardee, who was a slaver that owned a large plantation that extended for miles and the community was eventually built on the land. The City of Chiefland was officially incorporated as a municipality in 1913.

In July 1927, a Black man named Albert Williams was shot and then lynched by a mob. He had allegedly assaulted a white turpentine operator over a debt he owed the white man, and "was shot to death by a mob".{{cite thesis |type=PhD |title=A Study of Mob Action in the South |first=John R. |last=Steelman | authorlink=John R. Steelman |publisher=University of North Carolina |year=1928 |page=268 |url=https://archive.org/stream/studyofmobaction00stee/studyofmobaction00stee_djvu.txt}}

The approximate coordinates for the City of Chiefland is located at {{Coord|29|28|54|N|82|51|44|W}} (29.481801, –82.862097).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|16.1|sqmi}}, all land.

Chiefland is at the junction of U.S. Highways Alternate 27, 19, and 98. US 129 was converted into a separate junction in the early 21st century. It is {{convert|30|mi|km}} southwest of Gainesville.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Chiefland has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

{{Weather box|width=auto|

|location = Chiefland, Florida (Usher Tower), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1956–present

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 87

|Feb record high F = 88

|Mar record high F = 92

|Apr record high F = 100

|May record high F = 102

|Jun record high F = 105

|Jul record high F = 103

|Aug record high F = 100

|Sep record high F = 99

|Oct record high F = 96

|Nov record high F = 92

|Dec record high F = 86

|Jan avg record high F = 78.8

|Feb avg record high F = 81.3

|Mar avg record high F = 84.3

|Apr avg record high F = 88.6

|May avg record high F = 93.3

|Jun avg record high F = 95.5

|Jul avg record high F = 96.0

|Aug avg record high F = 94.9

|Sep avg record high F = 92.6

|Oct avg record high F = 89.2

|Nov avg record high F = 84.1

|Dec avg record high F = 79.7

|year avg record high F = 97.3

| Jan high F = 66.4

| Feb high F = 69.7

| Mar high F = 74.9

| Apr high F = 80.3

| May high F = 86.1

| Jun high F = 88.7

| Jul high F = 89.4

| Aug high F = 89.0

| Sep high F = 86.9

| Oct high F = 81.4

| Nov high F = 73.6

| Dec high F = 68.2

|year high F = 79.6

|Jan mean F = 55.3

|Feb mean F = 58.5

|Mar mean F = 63.0

|Apr mean F = 68.4

|May mean F = 74.5

|Jun mean F = 79.3

|Jul mean F = 80.7

|Aug mean F = 80.8

|Sep mean F = 78.5

|Oct mean F = 71.5

|Nov mean F = 62.7

|Dec mean F = 57.4

|year mean F = 69.2

| Jan low F = 44.1

| Feb low F = 47.2

| Mar low F = 51.0

| Apr low F = 56.6

| May low F = 62.9

| Jun low F = 69.9

| Jul low F = 72.0

| Aug low F = 72.5

| Sep low F = 70.2

| Oct low F = 61.7

| Nov low F = 51.8

| Dec low F = 46.7

|year low F = 58.9

|Jan avg record low F = 24.9

|Feb avg record low F = 27.7

|Mar avg record low F = 32.7

|Apr avg record low F = 40.5

|May avg record low F = 50.1

|Jun avg record low F = 63.0

|Jul avg record low F = 67.6

|Aug avg record low F = 67.5

|Sep avg record low F = 60.9

|Oct avg record low F = 43.7

|Nov avg record low F = 33.1

|Dec avg record low F = 28.7

|year avg record low F = 23.2

|Jan record low F = 9

|Feb record low F = 17

|Mar record low F = 22

|Apr record low F = 28

|May record low F = 42

|Jun record low F = 44

|Jul record low F = 59

|Aug record low F = 57

|Sep record low F = 44

|Oct record low F = 28

|Nov record low F = 17

|Dec record low F = 12

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.61

| Feb precipitation inch = 3.25

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.81

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.97

| May precipitation inch = 2.78

| Jun precipitation inch = 8.03

| Jul precipitation inch = 8.32

| Aug precipitation inch = 9.87

| Sep precipitation inch = 5.82

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.17

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.22

| Dec precipitation inch = 3.25

|year precipitation inch = 57.10

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 7.2

| Feb precipitation days = 7.0

| Mar precipitation days = 6.9

| Apr precipitation days = 5.1

| May precipitation days = 6.2

| Jun precipitation days = 13.3

| Jul precipitation days = 15.8

| Aug precipitation days = 16.1

| Sep precipitation days = 10.4

| Oct precipitation days = 6.3

| Nov precipitation days = 5.1

| Dec precipitation days = 6.0

| year precipitation days = 105.4

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|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=tbw

| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = May 24, 2021

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00089120&format=pdf

| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = May 24, 2021

}} }}

{{US Census population

|1930= 421

|1940= 572

|1950= 843

|1960= 1459

|1970= 1965

|1980= 1986

|1990= 1917

|2000= 1993

|2010= 2245

|2020= 2316

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,316 people, 905 households, and 564 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Chiefland city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Chiefland+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 2,245 people, 948 households, and 598 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Chiefland city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Chiefland+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,993 people, 796 households, and 511 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|509.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 931 housing units at an average density of {{convert|238.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 60.36% White, 34.27% African American, 0.65% Native American, 1.66% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.65% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.76% of the population.

In 2000, there were 796 households out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.1% were married couples living together, 23.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.05.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 31.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 71.3 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $17,331, and the median income for a family was $23,750. Males had a median income of $25,000 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was $10,676. About 33.3% of families and 36.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 46.0% of those under the age of 18 and 24.4% of those aged 65 or over.

Manatee Springs State Park is located {{convert|6|mi|0}} west of town; the crystal-clear water is a "first-magnitude" spring that flows directly into the Suwannee River. The park offers a full slate of activities, including camping. Manatees can be seen in the spring year-round, but especially in late fall and winter, where the constant {{convert|72|F}} temperature of the spring is much warmer than river water.

The Annual Watermelon Festival is the largest event of the year and dates back to 1954. It is held each year on the first Saturday of June and is maintained by the Chiefland Women's Club.{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Things to do around Chiefland|url=https://www.chieflandchamber.com/by-land.php#festivals|url-status=live|website=Greater Chiefland Area Chamber of Commerce|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321090047/http://chieflandchamber.com:80/by-land.php |archive-date=2020-03-21 }}

The Levy County Quilt Museum, founded by the Log Cabin Quilters club, is the only registered quilting museum in the state of Florida. Twice a year quilters organize a Quilt Show for local quilters to exhibit their work at the museum. The museum is open throughout the year and the collection contains unique items like a quilt made from the ties of two former Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford. Open on Tuesday—Saturday, the museum is free to enter and is located just off of Highway Alt 27 on CR 134.{{Cite web|last=Museum|first=Levy County Quilt|title=Welcome to Levy County Quilt Museum|url=https://levycountyquiltmuseum.org/|access-date=2021-04-24|website=Levy County Quilt Museum|language=en-US}}

Chief Theatre, home to the Suwannee Valley Players, is located off of Main Street and E, Park Avenue in downtown Chiefland. The theatre was built in 1948 as a movie theater till 1984. In 1998, the building was purchased and reopened as a Playhouse due to a historic preservation grant.{{Cite web|author=WCJB Staff|title=Chief Theatre in need of donations to remain open|url=https://www.wcjb.com/content/news/Chief-Theatre-in-need-of-donations-to-remain-open-571305771.html|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.wcjb.com|date=17 June 2020 |language=en}} The Suwannee Valley Players, the oldest community theater troupe in Levy and its adjacent counties, has performed at Chief Theatre for over 37 years. The local theater group presents a new play around every 3 months, these plays include well known titles such as The Importance of Being Earnest and Into the Woods to original plays written by local writers.{{Cite web|title=Chief Theatre: Home of the Suwannee Valley Players Community Theatre|url=https://www.chieftheatre.org/index.html|access-date=2021-04-24|website=www.chieftheatre.org}}

Chiefland is located in the northwest corner of the county, where Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties adjoin (known as the "Tri-County area"). As growth in north Florida increased during the last quarter of the twentieth century, Chiefland became a local center for shopping. A {{convert|202000|sqft|m2|abbr=on}} Walmart Supercenter was opened in 1995, and increased traffic along US 19/98 support a variety of national fast food franchises plus Best Western and Days Inn motels. Georgia-Pacific was a large employer, operating a mill in Chiefland from 1955 to 1978. Agriculture is still a major factor in the local economy, but there has been a big shift to a service economy. There are three incarceration facilities in the area: Cross City Correctional Institution & Work Camp; Lancaster Correctional Institution & Work Camp; and Levy Forestry Camp. They provide a total of over 800 jobs.[http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region3/index.html Florida Department of Corrections website: Region II & III facilities] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613000200/http://www.dc.state.fl.us/facilities/region3/index.html |date=June 13, 2008 }}

File:Chiefland Middle High School.JPG]]

Chiefland has two public schools: Chiefland Middle High School, and Chiefland Elementary. The School Board of Levy County controls their operation and also supervises two charter schools: Nature Coast Middle School and Whispering Winds. Other schools under the board's jurisdiction are in the town of Bronson, the city of Williston, the city of Cedar Key, and Yankeetown.

{{update section|date=June 2023}}

The College of Central Florida has plans for a $12 million permanent facility on {{convert|35|acre}} of donated land by the Mann family. The location is {{convert|5|mi|0}} north of the city. The college currently operates the Levy Center in downtown Chiefland. The new location has been designated the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus in honor of the former high school math teacher's donation of $2.5 million to the campus.

Levy County provides Chiefland with a local public library. The Luther Callaway Public Library is a depository library that receives publications from the State of Florida for public use.{{cite web|title=Florida Department of State|url=https://dos.fl.gov/library-archives/research/florida-information/government/state-resources/government-documents/florida-state-publications-depository-program/depository-libraries/|website=Division of Library and Information Services|access-date=22 April 2016}} The library was dedicated in 1985 to Luther Callaway who was postmaster for almost 30 years and a school teacher.Carolyn Cohens Levy County, Arcadia Publishing, 2009. In November 2019, two vacant parcels of land were donated by Luther Callaway's family in hopes of expanding the library facilities.{{Cite web|title=Chiefland City Attorney Assigned to Draft Revised Noise Ordinance; Land Donated for Library Expansion – Spotlight|date=26 November 2019 |url=https://spotlightonlevycountygovernment.com/index.php/2019/11/25/chiefland-city-attorney-assigned-to-draft-revised-noise-ordinance-land-donated-for-library-expansion/|access-date=2021-04-24|language=en-US}} The library is also supported by the "Friends of the Luther Callaway Public Library (FLCPL) Board of Directors group. FLCPL supports the library through fundraising efforts in order to support library programs and resources.{{Cite news|date=October 9, 2010|title=Friends of the Chiefland library board to meet|work=Chiefland Citizen|url=https://www.chieflandcitizen.com/content/friends-chiefland-library-board-meet|access-date=April 24, 2021}}

{{update section|date=June 2018}}

The State of Florida has approved a 28-bed hospital in Chiefland to serve the needs of western Levy County, Dixie County, and Gilchrist County. The Suwannee Valley Community Hospital is expected to cost $27 million, and Ameris Health Systems is leading the effort. The first drawing of the facility was rendered in March 2008.

• Fanning Springs, Florida

{{Reflist}}

• [https://cityofchiefland.com/ City of Chiefland website]
• [https://www.chieflandchamber.com/ Chiefland Chamber of Commerce website]

{{Commons category|Chiefland, Florida}}

{{Levy County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Levy County, Florida

Category:Cities in Florida

Category:1929 establishments in Florida

Category:Populated places established in 1929