Weeki Wachee, Florida
Encyclopedia
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. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city continues to have a population of 12. The 12000 acres (48.6 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.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.92% water.
of 2011, there were 42 people, 9 households, and 12 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 of any race.
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 the city the population was spread out with five under the age of 18, none from 18 to 24, two from 25 to 44, two from 45 to 64, and three who 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, and the median income for a family was $50,625. Males had a median income of $31,250 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.
Of interest - One of the well know activities in Weeki Wachee is the annual Miss Weeki Wachee Pageant, Info found at http://www.WeekiWacheePageant.com.
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:
, the spring of the Weeki Wachee River
, is a Florida tourist attraction where underwater performances by mermaid
s – 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.
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 6700 feet (2,042.2 m) in multiple passages at an average depth of 265 feet (80.8 m) Fresh Water (ffw) with a maximum depth of 407 ffw.
Hernando County, Florida
Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 130,802. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 165,409 . Its county seat is Brooksville, Florida. The majority of the county's population is in Spring Hill, west portion of Hernando...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 12. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city continues to have a population of 12. The 12000 acres (48.6 km²) Weekiwachee Preserve and the Weeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee Springs is a natural tourist attraction located in Weeki Wachee, Florida, where underwater performances by "mermaids", women dressed with fins about their legs as well as other fancy outfits, can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River...
park are located in the area. The park includes water rides, animal shows, mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
costume shows, and manatee
Manatee
Manatees are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows...
watching. The Weeki Wachee Gardens and Spring Hill, Florida
Spring Hill, Florida
Spring Hill is a census-designated place in Hernando County, Florida, United States. The estimated population was 92,144 in 2007 by the United States Census. Spring Hill belongs to Florida's Nature Coast and is in the Tampa-St...
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
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it is water. The total area is 1.92% water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2011, there were 42 people, 9 households, and 12 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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 of any race.
There were five households out of which two had children under the age of 18 living with them, two were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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 the city the population was spread out with five under the age of 18, none from 18 to 24, two from 25 to 44, two from 45 to 64, and three who 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, and the median income for a family was $50,625. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $0 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.
Of interest - One of the well know activities in Weeki Wachee is the annual Miss Weeki Wachee Pageant, Info found at http://www.WeekiWacheePageant.com.
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 (Currently only K-5, it will add on a grade each year all the way to Grade 8)
- High Schools
- Weeki Wachee
Tourist attraction
Weeki Wachee SpringsWeeki Wachee Springs
Weeki Wachee Springs is a natural tourist attraction located in Weeki Wachee, Florida, where underwater performances by "mermaids", women dressed with fins about their legs as well as other fancy outfits, can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River...
, the spring of the Weeki Wachee River
Weeki Wachee River
The Weeki Wachee River is a river in Hernando County, Florida. It flows westwards from Weeki Wachee to the Gulf of Mexico at the Weeki Wachee estuary. The name is derived from the Seminole: uekiwv /oykéywa, wi:-/ "spring" and -uce /-oci/ "small", signifying either a small spring or an offshoot of...
, is a Florida tourist attraction where underwater performances by mermaid
Mermaid
A mermaid is a mythological aquatic creature with a female human head, arms, and torso and the tail of a fish. A male version of a mermaid is known as a "merman" and in general both males and females are known as "merfolk"...
s – 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.
Deepest naturally formed spring in the U.S.
From May 22 until August 30, 2007, the discharge level at Weeki Wachee spring dropped to a level that allowed for cave diversCave diving
Cave diving is a type of technical diving in which specialized equipment is used to enable the exploration of caves which are at least partially filled with water. In the United Kingdom it is an extension of the more common sport of caving, and in the United States an extension of the more common...
to gain effective entry into the cave system at the spring. The Karst Underwater Research
Karst Underwater Research
Karst Underwater Research is a 501 not-for-profit organization dedicated to collecting and reporting valuable scientific information from underwater karst environments where scientist are unable to go and providing this information to the public for future generations to better understand and...
team successfully executed exploration dives and the necessary in-water decompression to explore approximately 6700 feet (2,042.2 m) in multiple passages at an average depth of 265 feet (80.8 m) Fresh Water (ffw) with a maximum depth of 407 ffw.