Pasco County, Florida

A Harsh Green Desert Aripeka Historic District As Good as Gold Atlantic Coast Line Depot Blanton Methodist Church Chipco Township Christmas Day, 1835 Church Street Historic District City of San Antonio, Florida Clay Sink Cemetery, Baptist Church and School Concord Stagecoach Road Dade City Atlantic Coast Line Depot Dade City Cemetery Dade City Grammar School Double Branch Baptist Church and Cemetery Dupree Gardens Ehren African American Community / Mount Carmel Church And Cemetery Ehren Community Elfers Fivay Junction - Greenfield - Tucker Cemetery and Community Florida Honors and Remembers our POW’s and MIA’s Former St. Rita's Catholic Church Fort Dade Fort King Road GAR Hall Green Key Hercules Powder Company Camp #39 Holton Cemetery Hudson Cemetery Jones' Nursing Home Joseph J. "Joe" Herrmann 1912-2002/Edward J. "Eddie" Herrmann 1936-2017 Lake Jovita Lake Jovita Club Lanier Bridge Loyce Cemetery Mc Neil Homestead 1882 Moon Lake Gardens and Dude Ranch Moon Lake Gardens Stone Barn Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church Oakside Cemetery Odessa Oelsner Mound Old Elfers School Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church Owensboro Pasadena Church Pasco County Pine Hill Cemetery Price Park Prospect Community Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church Seven Springs Sims Park Site of Old Fort Dade Site of World War II Prisoner of War Camp St. Anthony of Padua Church St. Anthony School St. Joseph Community St. Mary's Episcopal Church The Baker House The Bradley Massacre The Great Endurance Run The Tucker Cemetery Townsend House Church & Cemetery Trilby Cemetery Trilby Methodist Church Vereen Methodist Episcopal Church, School and Cemetery Wesley Chapel West Elfers Cemetery Whitehouse Zephyrhills Army Airfield Zephyrhills Depot Zephyrhills Railroad Depot
Pasco County, Florida has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by indigenous peoples, particularly the Tocobaga and Seminole tribes. These tribes thrived in the region thanks to the abundant natural resources available, including fertile land and access to the Gulf of Mexico for fishing.

In the 16th century, Spanish explorers arrived in the area and established several missions. The area was then ceded to the United States in 1819 as part of the Adams-Onís Treaty, which ended Spanish control in Florida. However, it wasn't until the mid-19th century that settlers began to populate the region. Pasco County was officially established in 1887 and named after Samuel Pasco, a prominent Florida politician.

The late 1800s saw the rise of agriculture as the main industry in Pasco County. Farmers cultivated crops such as citrus, tobacco, and vegetables, utilizing the county's fertile soil. The arrival of the railroad in the early 1900s further boosted the agricultural economy and allowed for the transportation of goods to other markets.

In the mid-20th century, Pasco County saw significant population growth and development. With the construction of the State Road 54 and Interstate 75, the county became more accessible, leading to the establishment of residential communities and commercial centers. Today, Pasco County is known for its rapidly expanding population and diverse economy, with sectors such as healthcare, education, tourism, and manufacturing playing a significant role in its growth.
Brief timeline of the history of Pasco County, Florida:

  • 1887 - Pasco County is established on June 2.
  • 1889 - Dade City is established, becoming the county seat.
  • 1901 - Land O'Lakes is founded by Charles and Mollie Johnson.
  • 1905 - Zephyrhills is incorporated as a town.
  • 1921 - New Port Richey is incorporated as a city.
  • 1924 - The first courthouse is built in Dade City.
  • 1931 - The first bridge connecting the county to Pinellas County is completed.
  • 1945 - Port Richey is incorporated as a city.
  • 1952 - The second courthouse in Dade City is completed.
  • 1956 - The first hospital, Pasco General Hospital (now called Bayfront Health Dade City), opens.
  • 1974 - The new Pasco County Government Center is built in New Port Richey.
  • 1981 - The Suncoast Parkway (State Road 589) opens, providing a direct route from Pasco County to Tampa.
  • 1991 - Land O'Lakes High School wins the National Football Championship.
  • 2000 - Pasco County population reaches over 344,000.
  • 2004 - Pasco-Hernando State College is established.
  • 2018 - Pasco County celebrates its 131st anniversary.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Pasco County, Florida.