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Silver Springs, Florida

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Not to be confused with Silver Springs.
Silver Springs
Silver Springs Park
Silver Springs Park
Location of Silver Springs, Florida
Location of Silver Springs, Florida
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyMarion County
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
34488-34489

Silver Springs is a U.S. populated place and spring in Marion County, Florida, just to the east of the city of Ocala. It is part of the Ocala Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Silver Springs is the site of one of the largest artesian spring formations in the world, producing nearly 550 million gallons of crystal-clear water daily. Silver Springs forms the headwaters of the Silver River, the largest tributary on the Ocklawaha River, a part of the St. Johns River system.

History

Steamboat and railroad at Silver Springs in about 1901.

Since at least the mid 19th century, the natural beauty of Silver Springs has attracted visitors from around the country. Glass bottom boat tours of the springs began in the late 1870s. In the 1920s, Carl Ray and W.M. Davidson made the land around the headwaters of the Spring into something resembling the attraction that is there today, now known as the Silver Springs Nature Theme Park. The attraction features native animal exhibits and glass bottom boat tours of the springs. Downstream from the attraction is the Silver River State Park.

Also located in Silver Springs is a water park, Wild Waters (opened in 1978). The T. W. Randall House, on the National Register of Historic Places, is located to the northeast. Several defunct tourist attractions were once located in Silver Springs, including the Western-themed Six Gun Territory (closed 1984), and the Prince of Peace Memorial (closed in the mid-1970s).

Fishing is not allowed on the Silver River [1]

Notable residents

Transportation

The main road through Silver Springs is Florida State Road 40 which runs east and west from Rainbow Lake Estates to Ormond Beach in Volusia County. Florida State Road 326 terminates at SR 40, as does Florida State Road 35, which becomes Marion County Road 35 north of SR 40 before terminating at SR 326. Marion County Roads 314 and 314A are also important north-south county roads that run west and into the Ocala National Forest.

  • Silver River State Park
    Silver River State Park
  • T. W. Randall House
    T. W. Randall House


Six Gun Territory, closed 1984



References

  1. ^ Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes :->2001->Ch0372->Section 27 : Online Sunshine
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