Near Groveland in Lake County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Villa City

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, April 21, 2019

1. Restored Villa City Marker looking east on Lake Emma Road.

Inscription. On this site in 1885, George Thomas King, founder of Villa City, built an estate that was the showplace of the area. By 1895, the town had a post office, school, church, hotel, photographic studio, dispensary and 35 homes. The citrus based community flourished until the Big Freeze of 1894-95. A small warm spell after a devastating Dec. 29 freeze, filled the trees with sap. Snow then fell in the evening of Feb. 7, 1895. The frozen trees exploded when the warming sun returned. Their hopes and dreams broken, the settlers left. The last original house, the Gano House, was demolished in 1968, but the beauty of the area remains.

Erected 1995 by Villa City Homeowners Assn. Feb. 7, 1995 in cooperation with the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-354.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is February 7, 1895.

Location. 28° 37.11′ N, 81° 51.023′ W. Marker is near Groveland, Florida, in Lake County. Marker is on Lake Emma Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Groveland FL 34736, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Korean War Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles

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away); The History of Groveland High School (approx. 4.2 miles away); Clermont High School Sign (approx. 6.4 miles away); William Alfred Suggs (approx. 6.6 miles away); a different marker also named William Alfred Suggs (approx. 7 miles away); Jess Thomas (approx. 7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Groveland.

Villa City Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 24, 2011

2. Villa City Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 29, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,090 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 28, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 2. submitted on July 25, 2013, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.