Florida Guide > Florida History
Hillsborough to High Springs: what's in a name?
Hillsborough River
Hillsborough River was formerly known as Locktsapopka by the Native American. In Muskogee, Papka is a place where you would eat and Lokchia means acorns. So thus Locktsapopka ia place where you would eat acorns. It is in Hillsborough County.
BELLE GLADE
Belle Glade is ib Palm Beach County. The original name was a rather uninspiring Hillsborough Canal Settlement.
When they were ude to get a post office it was demanded that the city gave it a new name. Remembering that a holidaymaker had described the city as The Belle of the Glades they adapted it to Belle Glades and so it is now.
Haines City
Rather closer to home is Haines City and this was formerly known as Clay Cut. Subsequently it was changed to Haines City after a railway official. Railways were a vital part of Florida' s economy.
CHATAHOOCHEE
This sounds like a Native American name and it is. Stolen from the name of a river in Georgia, Chato is Muskogee for rock and huchi means marked.
APALACHICOLA
Apalachicola is in Frankland County. It is thought that this was named by the Native Americans known as Hitchiti and broken down Okli is people and Apalahchi means on the other side, So put together it is the folk that live on the other side.
fort myers
Fort Myers is on the Gulf Coast of Florida and many of us have visited or stayed there. It is simply named after General Abraham Myers who was an officer in the army. Fort Myers is in Lee County.
Aripeka is in Pasco County and is the first one we have looked at that are named by the Native Americans known as the Miccosukee. There was a chief who was named Aripeka and he took the name from from the Muskogee for heap at the base at the root. This pile would have been a pile of scalps; a badge of honour for this tribe.
BOCA CIEGA
Boca Ciega is in Pinellas County. The literal translation for this is Blind Mouth. One of the theories is that the Spanish so named it since this is what it looks like at the entrance top the river.
HIGH SPRINGS
High Springs is in Aluchua County. This is rather intriguing since ther is not a spring there. However there once was a spring at the top of the hill and though that no longer exists, the name lives on.
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