Brandon in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Limona

Founded January 12, 1876

Photographed By AGS Media, June 27, 2012

1. Limona Marker

Inscription. Lakewood Drive, part of old Seminole Indian trails, led to Fort Brooke and "Pease Creek". In 1876 Judge Joseph Gillette Knapp of Wis. settled and named Limona after citrus trees left by the Spanish. In 1877 the Elgin Watch Co. formed Limona Park Ass'n for a winter retreat. Surveyor E. E. Pratt wrote the land was "best in Florida... high, dry... beautiful lakes... clear soft water". Knapp established this cemetery, a church, school and in 1878 a post office. In 1881 he proposed Tampa Historical Society.

Erected 1989 by Friends of Limona and Lakewood Drive.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1876.

Location. 27° 57.134′ N, 82° 18.614′ W. Marker is in Brandon, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is at the intersection of Lakewood Drive and Limona Road, on the right when traveling north on Lakewood Drive. Marker is on the grounds of Limona Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Brandon FL 33510, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Brandon School (approx. 1.4 miles away); Brandon Masonic Lodge No. 114, F. & A.M. (approx. 1.6 miles away); Brandon Homestead (approx. 1.6 miles away); Hillsborough County's Confederate Monument

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(approx. 2 miles away); Brandon Family Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away); Memoria In Aeterna, 1911 (approx. 2 miles away); Iraq Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.6 miles away); Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 3.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Brandon.

More about this marker. The marker is capped with the old Seal of Hillsborough County, Florida.

The marker itself does not state the year it was erected, however, according to the Limona Village Chapel United Methodist Church website, the historical marker was erected December 28, 1989. The church operates the Limona Cemetery, where the marker stands.

Regarding Limona. The unincorporated town of Limona began as one of the first "snowbird" communities in Hillsborough County, with E. E. Pratt of the Illinois-based Elgin Watch Company selecting it as the site to establish a company retirement village. Pratt's decision was heavily influenced by Judge Knapp, who had written articles promoting the area in several newspapers outside Florida. Limona would remain a small, rural community with population ranging from about 400 in

Photographed By AGS Media, June 27, 2012

2. Limona Marker

Below sign for Lakewood Drive, the former Seminole Indian trail

1883, to 200 in 1911, then 500 in 1925.

With the hardships of the Great Depression, most of Limona's residents left town. The community's identity would never really recover. Its post office closed in 1964, by which time neighboring community Brandon was rapidly growing and encroaching on what was left of Limona.

In the 21st century, Limona is not a town, but a neighborhood of unincorporated Brandon. A few local establishments are named for the old town, including the cemetery and Limona Elementary School.

Also see . . . Limona. Detailed history of Limona: how it came to be, its successes and its travails, key events during its history, and what led to its demise. - An excerpt from the "Hillsborough County Historic Resources Survey Report". (Submitted on July 7, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)

Photographed By AGS Media, June 27, 2012

3. Limona Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 6, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,181 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 6, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 2, 3. submitted on July 7, 2012, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.