Do YOU like history?... well this place is laced with so much history that we'll just have to whet your appetite a little more...
1542 - First map of islands published in Spain
1790 - Pirates (the likes of "Jean Lafitte" and "Captain Kidd") utilize the Cedar Key area as a sanctuary and hideaway from other scoundrels and the law.
1812-1816 - British agents secure the Indians in the area as allies.
1816-1818 - First Seminole War, British agents occupy Atsena Otie Key.
1835-1842 - "Second Seminole War". U.S. Army establishes a military depot on Atsena Otie Key (then known as Depot Key). A detention camp for Indians is established on Seahorse Key.
1839 - Congress authorizes construction of the "Cedar Key Lighthouse" in hopes to bring settlers to the area and help drive the Indians away.
1842 - First permanent settlement established on Atsena Otie Key.
1853 - Island of Cedar Key deeded to "Judge Augustus Steele".
1854 - The Cedar Key Lighthouse is finally built on Seahorse Key.
1855-1859 - The "Faber Pencil Mill" is established on Atsena Otie Key. This is followed by additional lumber-dependent factories and mills. Commercial fishing is started in the Cedar Key area. Construction begins on Railroad from Fernandina Beach to Cedar Key. Present site of the Town of Cedar Key is laid out.
1861 - The "Florida Railroad" (from Fernandina Beach to Cedar Key) is completed on March 1st. War Between the States begins and Florida secedes from the Union.
1862 - Union blockade of Cedar Key begins January 16th.
1865 - War Between the States ends.
1867 - "John Muir" the naturalist, walks a thousand-miles from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico and Cedar Key.
1869 - 1879 - Prosperity returns to Cedar Key. Fishing Industry expands. New and bigger sawmills and pencil factories are located on Atsena Otie Key and Cedar Key. Shipbuilding becomes a major industry (located at Piney Point). Land sells for 50 cents an acre. Tourism becomes a major industry.
1880 - Florida Railroad becomes known as the Atlantic Gulf and Western Indian Transit Company. Yellow Fever breaks out--Snake Key Quarantined.
1881 - Ice plant moves from Tampa to Cedar Key but is forced to close down due to insufficient fresh water.
1884 - Only Customs House in Florida, besides Key West, locates in Cedar Key.
1886 - Mr. "Henry Plant" completes a railroad from the Atlantic Coast to Tampa and invests three million dollars to build and furnish The Tampa Bay Hotel.
1890 - Timber and seafood resources in the Cedar Key area are depleted.
1896 - On December 2nd, a hurricane preceded by a "tidal surge" hits the Cedar Key area and Atsena Otie Key. This is followed by a fire which destroys half of the Cedar Key business district. Within the next 10 to 15 years, the island of Atsena Otie Key is largely abandoned.
1900 - The existing railroad becomes known as the "Seaboard Airline Railway".
1909 - Oyster beds are exhausted. Fiber plant begins operations.
1923 -1924 - A paved road is constructed to Cedar Key.
1932 - The railroad is removed from Cedar Key to Archer. Bridge numbers 2, 3, and 4 are built.
1935 - Fire destroys the wooden dock (the Big Dock). A hurricane hits Cedar Key.
1939 - The "George T. Lewis" airstrip is constructed for military use.
1962 - "St. Claire Whitman Museum", opens. Tourism becomes major industry.
1965 - New concrete dock (the Big Dock) is built.
1966 - A new water system for the city is completed.
1974 - A new bridge is completed over the Number Four Channel.
1990 - City adopts Growth Management Plan.
1992 - We move from California to Cedar Key.
1997 - "Charles R. Nelson Mortgage, Inc.", opens for business on Dock Street.
2000 - "EZ Properties", opens for business on Dock Street.
2007 - Charles R. Nelson Mortgage, Inc. and EZ Properties move from Dock Street to new business location on State Road 24 in the Cedar Haven area of Cedar Key.
Present - YES, we're still here TODAY on the beautiful island of Cedar Key Florida
...that is, the elusive "Timing is Everything"... RIGHT?
Well, right now the real estate market is totally in your purchasing favor.
That's right...
