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{{short description|Region in Florida}}[[File:Nature Coast of Florida map.png|thumb|right|Map of Florida's Nature Coast]]
{{Unreferenced|date=September 2007}}
{{Advert|date=December 2007}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2023}}
The '''Nature Coast''' is an informal, unofficial [[List of regions of the United States|region]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Florida]]. The broadest definition of the Nature Coast includes the eight counties which abut the [[Gulf of Mexico]] along the [[Big Bend Coast]] as defined by [[geologist]]s. From west to east the counties are [[Wakulla County, Florida|Wakulla]], [[Jefferson County, Florida|Jefferson]], [[Taylor County, Florida|Taylor]], [[Dixie County, Florida|Dixie]], [[Levy County, Florida|Levy]], [[Citrus County, Florida|Citrus]], [[Hernando County, Florida|Hernando]], and [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://floridanaturecoast.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111084804/http://www.naturecoastcoalition.com/|archive-date=November 11, 2019|title=Where would you like to go?|website=Florida Nature Coast|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.naturecoastcoalition.com/|title=Florida Nature's Coast|website=Nature Coast Coalition|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> (Note that the Big Bend Coast differs from the [[Big Bend (Florida)|Big Bend]] region of Florida.) The name "Nature Coast" was originally devised as part of a marketing campaign to promote tourism in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and parts of [[Marion County, Florida|Marion]] and Pasco counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marketing the Nature Coast |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/01/16/marketing-the-nature-coast/ |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}</ref>
[[Image:Map of Florida highlighting Nature Coast.svg|right|thumb|300px|Map of Florida's Nature Coast]]
The '''Nature Coast''' is a [[List of regions of the United States|region]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Florida]]. It comprises the inside curve or [[Big Bend (Florida)|Big Bend]] area of the western coast of the state and encompasses [[Citrus County, Florida|Citrus]], [[Dixie County, Florida|Dixie]], [[Hernando County, Florida|Hernando]], [[Jefferson County, Florida|Jefferson]], [[Pasco County, Florida|Pasco]], [[Levy County, Florida|Levy]], [[Taylor County, Florida|Taylor]], and [[Wakulla County, Florida|Wakulla]] counties. This region of Florida is culturally partially southern, with the [[Deep South]] culture extending to Levy County with the lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and sometimes Citrus county) often considered part of the [[Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida, Metropolitan Statistical Area|Tampa Bay Metropolian Area]]. Pasco County is sometimes considered part of the [[Florida Suncoast|Sun Coast]].


Many businesses and organizations incorporate "Nature Coast" in their names, but most of them do not explicitly define the region, or define a smaller region. For instance, the [[Nature Coast State Trail]], which is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails is located in Dixie, [[Gilchrist County, Florida|Gilchrist]] and Levy counties.<ref name=nature>{{cite web|title=Nature Coast State Trail |url=http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/nature_coast_trail.htm |publisher=State of Florida |access-date=May 18, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515231314/http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/north/trails/nature_coast_trail.htm |archive-date=May 15, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://floridanaturecoast.org/County/Levy/NatureCoastTrail/NatureCoastTrail.aspx|title=Nature Coast State Trail|website=Florida Nature Coast|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref> The Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve includes {{convert|800|sqmi}} of coastal water in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve |url=https://floridadep.gov/NatureCoastAP |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Florida Department of Environmental Protection}}</ref> The Nature Coaster website covers only Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.naturecoaster.com/nature-coast-area-map/|title=Nature Coast Area Map|website=NatureCoaster|access-date=May 22, 2018}}</ref>
== The history of the Nature Coast ==
The origin of the name "The Nature Coast": Devised in 1991 as part of a marketing campaign to lure vacationers to the nine county area, the name "Nature Coast" caught on quickly and describes the area formally known as the "Big Bend" of Florida.
[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cPoNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=snsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5428,3535265&dq=nature-coast St. Petersburg Times article, St. Petersburg Times - Feb 23, 1994]


The lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus County) are often considered part of the [[Tampa Bay Area]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JTTzIBlgPxgC&dq=is+citrus+county+considered+tampa+bay&pg=RA1-PA1 | title=Tampa Bay & Florida's West Coast Adventure Guide | isbn=978-1-58843-675-7 | last1=Walton | first1=Chelle Koster | date=2008 | publisher=Hunter Publishing }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://stateoftheregion.com/our-region/#:~:text=Our%20Region-,For%20the%20purpose%20of%20the%20Regional%20Competitiveness%20Report%2C%20the%20data,%2C%20Pinellas%2C%20Polk%20and%20Sarasota | title=Our Region }}</ref>
== Wildlife and Nature ==
Activities common in this area are: hunting, fishing, boating, bird watching, nature hiking and the like. Snorkeling spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Also diving and Manatee tours, predominate in areas such as Crystal River, Homosassa and Homosassa Springs.


Activities common in this area include hunting, fishing, boating, [[bird watching]] and nature hiking. [[Snorkeling]] spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Diving and [[manatee]] tours are available, predominantly in areas such as [[Crystal River, Florida|Crystal River]], [[Homosassa]] and [[Homosassa Springs, Florida|Homosassa Springs]]. The Nature Coast is home to wildlife including deer, [[feral pig|wild pig]]s, [[roseate spoonbill]]s, [[alligator]]s, [[raccoon]]s, [[opossum]]s, snakes, [[great blue heron]]s, [[egret]]s, turtles and at least 19 endangered species.
The Naturecoast is home to wildlife such as:
Deer, wild pigs, roseate spoonbills, alligators, raccoons, opossums, snakes, great blue herons, egrets, turtles and countless others, including at least 19 endangered species.


There are 50 [[golf course]]s in the area.
== Additional information and facts about The Nature Coast ==
The NatureCoast covers 8 different counties and 1 partial county (Dunnellon is a part of [[Marion County, Florida|Marion County]]). It encompasses {{convert|980000|acre|km2}}.
There are also 50 Golf Courses located within these counties


===Culture===
==Attractions==

====Citrus====
===Citrus===
:[[Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge]], partly in Hernando County
:[[Crystal River Archaeological State Park]]
:[[Crystal River Archaeological State Park]]
:[[Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge]]
:[[Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge]]
:[[Crystal River Preserve State Park]]
:[[Crystal River Preserve State Park]]
:Hitters Hall of Fame
:[[Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park]]
:[[Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park]]
:[[Lake Rousseau]]
:[[Lake Rousseau]]
:[[Ted Williams]] Baseball Museum
:[[Withlacoochee State Trail]]
:[[Withlacoochee State Trail]]
:[[Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Historic Site]]
:[[Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Historic Site]]


====Hernando====
===Hernando===
:[[May-Stringer House|The Heritage Museum]]
:[[May-Stringer House|The Heritage Museum]]
:[[Weeki Wachee Springs]]


====Jefferson====
===Jefferson===
:[[Letchworth Mounds]]
:[[Letchworth Mounds]]


====Levy====
===Levy===
:[[Cedar Key Museum State Park]]
:[[Cedar Key Museum State Park]]
:[[Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve]]
:[[Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve]]
Line 43: Line 37:
:[[Manatee Springs State Park]]
:[[Manatee Springs State Park]]
:[[Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park]]
:[[Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park]]
:[[Goethe state Forest]]
:[[Goethe State Forest]]
:[[Devil's Hammock Wildlife Management Area]]


====Marion====
===Marion===
:[[Rainbow Springs State Park]]
:[[Rainbow Springs State Park]]
⚫
:[[Silver Springs State Park]]


====Pasco====
===Pasco===
:Pioneer Florida Museum
:[[Pioneer Florida Museum and Village]]
:[[Starkey Wilderness Preserve]]
:[[Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park]]
:[[Conner Preserve]]


====Taylor====
===Taylor===
:[[Forest Capital Museum State Park]]
:[[Forest Capital Museum State Park]]


====Wakulla====
===Wakulla===
⚫
:[[Bald Point State Park]]
:[[Bradwell Bay Wilderness]]
:[[Bradwell Bay Wilderness]]
:[[Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park]]
:[[Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park]]
Line 64: Line 60:
:[[Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park]]
:[[Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park]]


==External links==
==See also==
{{Portal|Florida}}
* http://www.nmia.com/~allwayst/Florida'sNatureCoastSteinhatchee.html
* [[Florida Suncoast]] - to the south
* http://naturecoastcoalition.com/index.htm The Visual Spectrum (Publishers)
* [[Forgotten Coast]] - to the north and west


== References ==
==References==
{{reflist}}
:Robert Painter, Writer & Photographer (1995)
:information provided from State Of Florida and department of tourism (2006)
:Literature from the Homossassa State Park, brochures and pamphlets (2005-2007)
:Citrus County Chamber and Naturecoast Chambers Of Commerce including information and literature provided by: Cedar Key Chamber, Citrus County Chamber, Dixie County Chamber, Dunnellon Area Chamber, Greater Dade City Chamber, Greater Hernando County Chamber, Perry-Taylor Chamber, Wakulla County Chamber Historical Wakulla County Courthouse (records and information), West Pasco Chamber, Citrus County Tourist Development Council, Levy County Development Authority and Economic Development Council, Hernando County Tourist Development Council, Wakulla County, Taylor County, literature and information (2004-2006)


==External links==
{{FloridaPortal}}
* [http://www.naturecoastcoalition.com/ Nature Coast Coalition] List of attractions and events
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20161216163047/http://www.floridasnaturecoastconservancy.org/ Florida's Nature Coast Conservancy]


{{Florida}}
{{Geography of Florida}}
{{North Florida}}


[[Category:Regions of Florida]]
[[Category:Regions of Florida]]
[[Category:Central Florida]]

[[fr:Nature Coast]]
[[Category:North Florida]]
[[Category:Coasts of Florida]]
[[he:חוף הטבע]]

Latest revision as of 07:56, 12 December 2024

Map of Florida's Nature Coast

The Nature Coast is an informal, unofficial region of the U.S. state of Florida. The broadest definition of the Nature Coast includes the eight counties which abut the Gulf of Mexico along the Big Bend Coast as defined by geologists. From west to east the counties are Wakulla, Jefferson, Taylor, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco.[1][2] (Note that the Big Bend Coast differs from the Big Bend region of Florida.) The name "Nature Coast" was originally devised as part of a marketing campaign to promote tourism in Levy, Citrus, Hernando, and parts of Marion and Pasco counties.[3]

Many businesses and organizations incorporate "Nature Coast" in their names, but most of them do not explicitly define the region, or define a smaller region. For instance, the Nature Coast State Trail, which is officially designated as part of Florida’s Statewide System of Greenways and Trails is located in Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties.[4][5] The Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve includes 800 square miles (2,100 km2) of coastal water in Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.[6] The Nature Coaster website covers only Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco counties.[7]

The lower southern end (Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus County) are often considered part of the Tampa Bay Area.[8][9]

Activities common in this area include hunting, fishing, boating, bird watching and nature hiking. Snorkeling spots are found in the rivers along the Nature Coast. Diving and manatee tours are available, predominantly in areas such as Crystal River, Homosassa and Homosassa Springs. The Nature Coast is home to wildlife including deer, wild pigs, roseate spoonbills, alligators, raccoons, opossums, snakes, great blue herons, egrets, turtles and at least 19 endangered species.

There are 50 golf courses in the area.

Attractions

[edit]

Citrus

[edit]
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, partly in Hernando County
Crystal River Archaeological State Park
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
Crystal River Preserve State Park
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Lake Rousseau
Withlacoochee State Trail
Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Historic Site

Hernando

[edit]
The Heritage Museum
Weeki Wachee Springs

Jefferson

[edit]
Letchworth Mounds

Levy

[edit]
Cedar Key Museum State Park
Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve
Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge
Fanning Springs State Park
Manatee Springs State Park
Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park
Goethe State Forest

Marion

[edit]
Rainbow Springs State Park
Silver Springs State Park

Pasco

[edit]
Pioneer Florida Museum and Village
Starkey Wilderness Preserve
Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park
Conner Preserve

Taylor

[edit]
Forest Capital Museum State Park

Wakulla

[edit]
Bradwell Bay Wilderness
Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
Ochlockonee River State Park
San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge
Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad Trail State Park

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Where would you like to go?". Florida Nature Coast. Archived from the original on November 11, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  2. ^ "Florida Nature's Coast". Nature Coast Coalition. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  3. ^ "Marketing the Nature Coast". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  4. ^ "Nature Coast State Trail". State of Florida. Archived from the original on May 15, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2012.
  5. ^ "Nature Coast State Trail". Florida Nature Coast. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2023-07-09.
  7. ^ "Nature Coast Area Map". NatureCoaster. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  8. ^ Walton, Chelle Koster (2008). Tampa Bay & Florida's West Coast Adventure Guide. Hunter Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58843-675-7.
  9. ^ "Our Region".
[edit]
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