Cedar Key & Steinhatchee
North Gulf Coast of Florida

Cedar Key is an island located off the west coast of Florida, approximately 125 miles north of Tampa. It is small, actually it’s very small - its phone directory is only four pages but that just adds to the charm of this little island. The community has a laid back and unhurried feel that you just don’t come across very often these days. The town remains largely undeveloped, preserving its unique character and feel of bygone times.

A KEY PORT...
Cedar Key was originally a way station for Spanish treasure galleons that stopped in the area to pick up water on the journey from Mexico back to Spain. One of the settlers listed in Florida's first census after it became an American Territory is David Yulee Levy, who went on to become Florida’s first elected member of Congress. He was instrumental in developing the Florida Railroad Company, which laid the 155 miles of track between Cedar Key and Fernandina Beach on the Atlantic coast. A key port in the early frontier days, Cedar Key handled the produce that was shipped from the mouth of the Mississippi River, transferring it to the railroad for the trip across Florida to Fernandina beach. From there it was dispersed up the eastern side of the country, thus avoiding a dangerous trip by sea around the southern tip of Florida, especially during the hurricane season.

FROM FACTORY TOWN TO FISHING VILLAGE...
Cedar Key's population expanded to over 10,000 and became home to factories operated by the Faber and Eagle Pencil Companies. The area's abundance of cedar trees and the good rail links led the area to become one of the world’s major sources of pencil cedar. On 23rd September 1896, a hurricane destroyed the town and all that remains on the site of the old town is a graveyard. The town was rebuilt on neighboring Way Key; the factories which decimated the cedar trees never returned and the economy declined as the population drifted off, leaving the town to become a small fishing village.

A CULTURAL & CULINARY HAVEN...
Now a haven for artists and writers, Cedar Key enables them to get away from the distractions of modern-day living and immerse themselves in the tranquil and unspoilt environment. Visitors are encouraged to explore the historic streets, visiting the varied shops and galleries or venturing into one of the many fine restaurants serving seafood fresh from the local waters. Highlights on the local calendar include the Old Florida Celebration of the Arts in April and the October Seafood Festival.

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE STRAYS...
The town is home to a population of homeless dock cats; they come in all shapes and sizes and are fed and looked after by the townspeople – look out for the donation jars that are used to pay for food and veterinary fees when they become ill or require to be neutered.

WILD LIFE HABITAT...
The area supports a diverse ecosystem, from salt marshes to Indian shell mounds. One noted area is the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge - a river-delta estuary that provides a constant flow of nutrients from the river. This, combined with the numerous offshore islands, creates an ideal wildlife habitat for swallow-tailed kites, bald eagles, West Indian manatees, Gulf sturgeon, white-tailed deer and eastern wild turkeys.

CATCH YOUR OWN DINNER...
Just further up the coast you come to Steinhatchee, a town caught in a time warp. Unpaved roads lead through the rich wooded country, past cracker stile houses with rocking chairs on the verandas. This is where the Steinhatchee River empties into the Gulf at Deadman’s Bay and the nutrients that are carried with it make this an excellent place for scalloping during the season. Scallop charters are easy to come by and you can have your catch cooked for you in many of the no-frills seafood restaurants in the town.

Browse rental properties available in Cedar Key & Steinhatchee: