The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-04-10
ORIGIN OF NAMES OF FLORIDA
CITIES


cities OF the state of Florida abounds
with romantic interest. The early
Spanish settlers took care that their
mother tongue should appear prom
inently on the map. says the Fort
Pierce Tribune. The first Americans,
the Indians. have given many of the
most beautiful and distinctive places
names, descriptive of the landscape
or commemorative of some event that
took place in the vicinity Many towns
bear the name of their founders or
early proprietors. Others have names
Unidentified with the United States.
The origin of these place names
has been traced by the United States
Geological Survey. with the assistance
of history students within the state.
The state itself was named by
Ponce de Leon, the word meaning,
the ford or flowery land" 1t is said
he chose the name, first because he
landed on the festival which the
Spaniards call Pascua de Flares, or
Pascua Florida. Feast of Flowers"
which corresponds to Palm Sunday.
Apalachcola has a Hichiti Indian
name, meaning people on the other
side"
Chuluota has an Indian name, the
word meaning beautiful view"
Citra was so named because of the
abundance OF orange groves in the
region.
Cedar Key took its name from a
group of islands in the harbor.
Chokoloskee is Indian named, the
word meaning ''red houses"
Daytona was named for w. D.
Day of Ohio its founder.
DeFuniak Springs was given the
name of a resident of Nashville, Tenn.
DeLand owes its name to H. A. De-
Land, a manufacturer of Fairport,
New York, who founded it.
Dade City was named for Major
Francis l.. Dade of the Seminole war,
for whom counties in Georgia, Mis-
souri, and Alabama were also called.
Eden was so named by the first
settler. Thomas z. Richards of New
Jersey, who sailed the inland waters,
looking for a place to locate.
Eustis Is a geographical namesake
Of Gen. Henry L. Eustis.
Fort Pierce derived its name from
the military post established there
during the Indian wars by Major
Franklin Pierce, later president of the
United States.
Fort Myers, which was first a mill
Iary post. was named for Capt. Abra-
ham Myers.
Fernandina was named for a
spaniard. Fernandez.
Green Cove Springs derived its
name from a large sulpher spring, sup
posed by some to be the fountain of
youth of Spanish and Indian legends.
Gainesville was so called in honor
Of Gen. Z. p. Gaines, for whom towns
In Georgia. New York, Texas and
Arkansas were also named.
InterIachen was named for city
In Switzerland.
Key West was named for it's loca-
ton on one of the most westerly keys.
The name of Bone Key, on which
the city is situated, cayo huese, mean
ing "bone reef" so called because of
the bones found on the island.
Lake City took its name from its
location near ten lakes.
Lake Helen was given the name of
the daughter OF it's founder, H. A.
DeLand.
Madison is one of the numerous
of President James Madi-
son.
Micanopy was named for chief
of the Seminoles. whose name sig
nifies chief of chiefs"
Miami has the name of noted
Indian tribe The meaning of the
word is uncertain. The name has been
given to counties in Indiana, Kansas
and Ohio. town in Oklahoma and Mis-
souri, and a river in Ohio.
Monticello is one of the. numerous
places in the country named from the
home of President Jefferson in Alber-
marle county. Virginia.
New Smyrna derived its name from
the native place of the wife of DR..
Andrew Turnbull, a colonist.
Orlando has a Spanish name mean
ing ,"Sea of Justice"
Ocala was named from an Indian
village. the word meaning green" or
fertile land"
.,.o, 80 no,,,aI e-ox, ~ -