The Healthiest Spot on Earth - Freedom Magazine Presents The History of Clearwater Part II

“The business of raising tropical fruits promises to remunerate those engaged in it, and those seeking proper locations were pleased with the advantages which this peninsula offered, surrounded on three sides by water, and with a large body of good rolling pine land, with means of transportation by the waters of the Gulf, settlers were led to seek its promising offers and commenced to come in.

“The writer of this article, when on his way to this place, made a short stay at Cedar Keys, and inquired what was the prospect of business between Cedar Keys and this coast. The reply was that it would possibly reach two skiff loads a week. Now we have two schooners plying between these places, and several smaller boats irregularly. We have good schools, churches well attended, and the most orderly population I have ever known.

“One fact speaks decidedly; within the past five years there has been but one Grand Jury case in this western section of Hillsborough County. Within five years more the young orange groves, which have been planted with other fruits that will be in bearing, will make the residents of this section independently rich. Our lands are good, and can be made rich. Our climate is almost unequalled. Our population is industrious and moral. These will insure prosperity. With the finest cotton, sugar cane, tropical fruits and rice, we have only to persevere for a few years and become independent.”