Weeki Wachee, Florida

Weeki Wachee, Florida
City
US 19, SR 50 and CR 550 intersect at Weeki Wachee Springs and Buccaneer Bay US 19, SR 50 and CR 550 intersect at Weeki Wachee Springs and Buccaneer Bay
Location in Hernando County and the state of Florida Location in Hernando County and the state of Florida
Weeki Wachee, Florida Location in the United States
Coordinates:
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Hernando
Area
• Total	1 sq mi (2.7 km2)
• Land	1 sq mi (2.6 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation	33 ft (10 m)
Population (2000)
• Total	12
• Density	12/sq mi (4.4/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Area code(s)	352
FIPS code	12-75625
GNIS feature ID	0295700

Weeki Wachee is a city located in Hernando County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 12, a figure unchanged as of a 2004 estimate. The 12,000-acre (49 km²) Weekiwachee Preserve and the Weeki Wachee Springs park are located in the area. The park includes water rides, animal shows, mermaid costume shows, and manatee watching. The Weeki Wachee Gardens and Spring Hill, Florida communities are nearby.

Geography

Weeki Wachee is located at 28°30'56" North, 82°34'43" West (28.515445, -82.578565).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²), of which, 1.0 square mile (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.92% water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1970	76		—
1980	8		−89.5%
1990	53		562.5%
2000	12		−77.4%
2010	12		0.0%
Est. 2014	12		0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 12 people, 5 households, and 5 families residing in the city. The population density was 11.8 people per square mile (4.5/km²). There were 5 housing units at an average density of 4.9 per square mile (1.9/km²). All residents were White, as identified by the census; no one in Weeki Wachee was Hispanic or Latino, all though there is one Native American member of The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribe.

There were five households out of which two had children under the age of 18 living with them, two were married couples living together, three had a female householder with no husband present, and none was a non-family. No households in Weeki Wachee were made up of individuals, and none consisted of someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.40.

In 2000, five city residents were under the age of 18, none were between 18 to 24, two were between 25 to 44, two were between 45 to 64, and three were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every female there was one male. For every five females age 18 and over, there were two males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,625. Males had a median income of $50,625 versus $0 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,022. Seven of the population and one third of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, all of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Education

Weeki Wachee has two public schools which provide primary and secondary education to local children. Primary and Secondary Education

Public schools in Weeki Wachee are part of the Hernando County School Board school system, which oversees all public schools in Hernando County. The main public schools that serve the Weeki Wachee area are:

• K-8 Schools
  • Winding Waters

• High Schools
  • Weeki Wachee

Weeki Wachee Springs

Tourist attraction

Weeki Wachee Springs, the spring of the Weeki Wachee River, is a Florida tourist attraction where underwater performances by mermaids – women dressed in fancy outfits with fins about their legs – can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting. There are currently 15 female mermaid performers and 4 male performers. The attraction includes a Buccaneer Bay water park, animal shows, and boat rides. General Manager Robyn Anderson is also the town's mayor. The park is now an official Florida State Park and is owned and managed by the State Parks department. Other tourist attractions also include the tennis court where local tennis semi-pro, Michelle Zeiden, practices.

Deepest naturally formed spring in the United States.

From May 22 until August 30, 2007, the discharge level at Weeki Wachee spring dropped to a level that allowed for cave divers to gain effective entry into the cave system at the spring. The Karst Underwater Research team successfully executed exploration dives and the necessary in-water decompression to explore approximately 6,700 feet (2,000 m) in multiple passages at an average depth of 265 feet (81 m) Fresh Water (ffw) with a maximum depth of 407 ffw.

In popular media

Entrance to Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

• In 2005, English rock band Supergrass filmed the video for their song "Low C" at the Springs. They filmed a short documentary about the spring, their playing at a local bar, and swimming with the mermaids.
• Canadian rock band The Elwins mention the city in their single "Stuck In The Middle" from their album And I Thank You.
• Tennis semi-pro, Michelle Zeiden, was the first female athlete from Weeki Wachee to make it to "the big leagues".

External links

• Weeki Wachee Springs, official site
• Weeki Wachee Cave System
• National Geographic: "Mermaids" Fight to Save Florida Roadside Attraction