Coleman, Florida

On June 8, 1840, Colonel W. J. Worth, Colonel Bennet Riley, and the Second Infantry and Eighth Infantry divisions transferred to Fort McClure to search the Lake Panasoffkee area for Seminole warriors. Three days later, the troops discovered an empty village.{{cite journal |last=Thomas Foreman |first=Carolyn |title=General Bennet Riley—Commandant at Fort Gibson and Governor of California |date=Sep 1941 |url=http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v019/v019p225.html |journal=Chronicles of Oklahoma |publisher=Oklahoma State University |volume=19 |issue=3 |page=241 |access-date=Apr 4, 2014 |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201060309/http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v019/v019p225.html |url-status=dead }}

By 1853, the "Fort McClure" community was renamed "Warm Springs".{{cite news |title=Rail Road Convention in Tallahassee |newspaper=Floridian & Journal |location=Tallahassee, Florida |pages=2 |date=Jun 18, 1853 |url=http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00079928/00216/2x?search=fort+mcclure&vo=22 |access-date=Apr 4, 2014}}

In 1882, it was officially incorporated as a municipality and renamed the "Town of Coleman" after Dr. B.F. Coleman.{{cite web |author=Daily Commercial Staff |title=Coleman rural, but correctional facility brings jobs |work=Newcomers Guide |publisher=Daily Commercial |date=Jun 25, 2006 |url=http://www.dailycommercialonline.com/specialsections/newcomers06dc/ |format=PDF |access-date=Apr 10, 2014}}

The main industries were citrus, cotton, and cattle, but they also grew celery, cauliflower, cucumbers, lettuce, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. According to Broward Mill, the past president of the Sumter County Historical Society, Coleman became known for its cabbage production in the early part of the 20th century and by 1923, was called the "cabbage capital of the world".{{cite book |author=United States Department of Agriculture |author-link=United States Department of Agriculture |title=Soil Survey of Sumter County, Florida |publisher=Soil Conservation Service |year=1988 |location=Washington, D.C. |pages=2–3 |url=http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00025741/00001/ |access-date=Apr 20, 2014}}

On June 20, 1908, the "City of Coleman" was incorporated as a municipality.{{Cite web|title=The City of Coleman|url=https://www.cityofcolemanfl.com/|website=www.cityofcolemanfl.com}}{{Cite web|title=FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO|url=https://www.flcities.com/docs/default-source/research-institute-reports/2020citiesbyincorporationwithinfo.pdf?sfvrsn=5009d6d5_0|website=www.flcities.com}}{{Cite web|title=MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY: City of Coleman|url=https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research-resources/municipal-directory|website=www.floridaleagueofcities.com}} However, it was officially reincorporated and chartered in 1925.

In 1926, the West Palm Beach branch of the Seaboard Air Line began operations in Coleman.{{cite news |last=Coll |first=Aloysius |title=Sumter County Citizens Want to Show Goods |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |location=St. Petersburg, Florida |date=May 23, 1926 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19260523&id=gw9PAAAAIBAJ&sjid=l0wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6380,7159160 |access-date=May 8, 2014}}

In 1966, the American Automobile Association (AAA) named Coleman the nation's biggest speed trap after the city's only police officer, Chief Ernest H. Barry, began lurking behind a billboard to catch speeding motorists. Barry arrested 369 motorists in just 5 months, all of them from out of town. In response, Governor W. Haydon Burns wrote a letter to Mayor J. F. Crawford, urging them to treat tourists as guests, after which Barry was fired.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090312085858/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,836596,00.html The Last Speed Trap?]

In 1992, Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) officials approved the purchase of {{convert|8.762|acre|ha}} on the northeastern shores of Lake Panasoffkee near Coleman for the purchase of environmental preservation. SWFWMD officials sought to preserve over 300 species and neighboring Lake Panasoffkee. Although some residents applauded the move, others, such as Sumter County Commissioner Jim Allen, felt that the agency would prevent public use of the land.{{cite news |last=Stephens |first=Henry A. |title=State set to buy lake land |newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner |location=Ocala, Florida |pages=8A |date=Nov 2, 1992 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19921102&id=uMBPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ZAcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6245,1721723 |access-date=May 8, 2014}}

The approximate coordinates for the City of Coleman is located at {{coord|28.800331|-82.068766|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}}.{{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|1.5|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

The city is in the South Central Florida Ridge section as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture.{{cite web | url=http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/mlra_fl.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101008050915/http://www.mo15.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/mlra_fl.html | archive-date=October 8, 2010 | title=MLRAs in Florida | NRCS MO15 }} Most of Coleman's soils are sandy and moderately well drained or somewhat poorly drained. Topsoils are acidic, but subsoils may be alkaline with frequent presence of limestone boulders. A somewhat poorly drained, mildly alkaline, sandy clay loam lies southeast of the built-up area.{{cite web | url=http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx | title=Web Soil Survey }}

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

{{US Census population

|1910= 387

|1920= 640

|1930= 786

|1940= 764

|1950= 849

|1960= 921

|1970= 614

|1980= 1022

|1990= 857

|2000= 647

|2010= 703

|2020= 642

|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 642 people, 299 households, and 175 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Coleman city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Coleman+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 703 people, 261 households, and 144 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Coleman city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Coleman+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, 647 people, 257 households, and 178 families resided in the city. The population density was {{convert|445.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The 301 housing units averaged {{convert|207.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 60.74% White, 36.17% African American, 0.15% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 2.16% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2.78% of the population.

Of the 257 households in 2000, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 19.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were not families. About 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.99.

In 2000, in the city, the population was distributed as 26.4% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,500, and for a family was $27,679. Males had a median income of $27,109 versus $16,429 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,186. About 19.9% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.3% of those under age 18 and 16.7% of those age 65 or over.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.cityofcolemanfl.com/ Official Website for the City of Coleman]
• [http://www.sumtertoday.net/towns/Coleman.htm Coleman History (Sumter Today)]

{{Commons category}}

{{Sumter County, Florida}}

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Category:Cities in Sumter County, Florida

Category:Cities in Florida