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Coordinates: 28°08′09″N 81°04′34″W / 28.13583°N 81.07611°W / 28.13583; -81.07611
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{{short description|Unincorporated community in Florida, United States}}
'''Holopaw, Florida''' is a small [[unincorporated community]] in [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]], [[Florida]], [[United States]]. It is located at the eastern end of the multiplex of highways [[US 192]] and [[U.S. Route 441|US 441]]. It has a population of fewer than 5,000 people and is part of the [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]–[[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]] [[Greater Orlando|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{page numbers needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Holopaw, Florida
| settlement_type = [[Unincorporated area|Unincorporated community]]
| pushpin_map = Florida
| image_seal = <!-- Maps -->
| motto = <!-- Images -->
| pushpin_label = Holopaw
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| coordinates = {{coord|28|8|9|N|81|4|34|W}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Florida}}
| subdivision_name2 = [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola]]


<!-- Government -->| established_date = <!-- Area -->
As with many towns in Florida, it was used for military training during [[World War II]]. The remnants of a landing field can still be seen today by a stand of trees, about 1 mile east of town.
| area_water_sq_mi = <!-- Population -->
| elevation_ft = 79
| population_density_sq_mi = <!-- General information -->
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| area_code = [[Area code 321|321]], [[Area codes 407 and 689|407, 689]]
}}
'''Holopaw''' is an [[Unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] in [[Osceola County, Florida|Osceola County]], [[Florida]], United States.<ref>{{GNIS|284194}}</ref> It is located at the eastern end of the multiplex of highways [[US 192]] and [[U.S. Route 441 in Florida|US 441]]. It has a population of fewer than 5,000 people and is part of the [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]]-[[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]] [[Greater Orlando|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].


Holopaw, a Creek Indian word meaning "Walkway" or "Pavement", was a stop along the Kissimmee Valley extension of the FEC railroad.
The community name derives from Indian term for "place where something is hauled". It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. Elevation is 75 feet. The climate is generally hot, muggy and buggy.


==History==
The latitude of Holopaw is 28.135N. The longitude is -81.076W.
The years 1911-1929 saw the Florida East Coast Railway building what was advertised as a second complete mainline to Miami. Known as the Kissimmee Valley Branch and heading southwest from the busy railroad town of New Smyrna Beach, the new route passed through Maytown-Pennichaw-Osceola-Geneva and was completed to Chuluota in 1912. The Chuluota-Bithlo-Holopaw-Okeechobee segment was completed in 1915. Finally wrapping around the big lake it terminated at Lake Harbor in 1929. Though it never achieved the status of 'a complete second mainline,' though it did post some impressive freight tonnage records in lumber and produce.


JM Griffin began a sawmill operation here in 1923, building streets and houses for his employees. Holopaw was a company owned town, with most employees renting their homes and frequenting the factory owned general store. The JM Griffin Lumber Company became the largest operation in the St Cloud area, employing over 500 people. It also featured one of the first all-electric sawmills in the country. The mill lasted until 1931, closing during the Great Depression. A new mill owned by the Peavy-Wilson Lumber Co. opened in 1935, employing more than one thousand timber, turpentine, and sawmill workers. At the town's peak it had more than 2,000 people.
[2009]
Businesses in Holopaw include a Citgo gas-o-mart at the intersection of highways 192 and 441,
the '''Holopaw Restaurant''' just west of highway 441 and '''Holopaw Corvette''' just south on highway
441 - which doesn't sell Corvettes but is instead a dealership for exotic motorcycles, esp
Russian "Ural" side-car rigs and Indian-made "Royal Enfield" brand.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural_motorcycle], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Enfield].


The railroad through Holopaw ceased operation in 1947 when a new cut-off opened between Fort Pierce and Port Mayaca. However, before it would be abandoned, the Peavy Wilson Lumber Company, operating a massive mill in Holopaw, leased the Holopaw-Pennichaw-Maytown trackage. So trains continued to roll from Holopaw northward pulled by the lumber company’s stable of steam locomotives. With greatly depleted forests, the lumber company quit in 1951 and the tracks removed soon afterwards.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mann|first=Robert W.|title=Rail's 'Neath the Palms|year=1984|publisher=Darwin Publications| location=Burbank California|isbn=0-933506-08-2|pages=18–20}}</ref>
There are also substantial operations involving cattle ranching, timber and citrus in the
area around Holopaw plus the Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area can be found just a few
miles east on highway 192. [http://sjr.state.fl.us/landmanagementplans/pdfs/2003_Bull_Creek_WMA.pdf]


Most residents left to seek employment elsewhere, and the postal service was discontinued in 1954.
Much of Holopaw can now be seen in ''Google Earths''' "street view".

==Ranching and wildlife==
There are also substantial operations involving cattle ranching, timber, and citrus in the area around Holopaw. The Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area is located a few miles east on US 192.<ref>[https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/herky-huffmanbull-creek/ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Herky Huffman/Bull Creek]</ref> West of there is the location of the [[Holopaw State Forest]],<ref>[https://www.fdacs.gov/Divisions-Offices/Florida-Forest-Service/Our-Forests/State-Forests/Holopaw-State-Forest Holopaw State Forest (Florida Division of Forestry)]</ref> which is across US 192 from the Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area.<ref>[https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/triple-n-ranch/wildlife/ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Triple N Ranch]</ref>

==Climate==

{{Weather box
|location = Holopaw
|single line = Y
|Jan high F = 73
|Feb high F = 74
|Mar high F = 78
|Apr high F = 82
|May high F = 87
|Jun high F = 90
|Jul high F = 91
|Aug high F = 91
|Sep high F = 89
|Oct high F = 84
|Nov high F = 79
|Dec high F = 73
|year high F =
|Jan low F = 47
|Feb low F = 50
|Mar low F = 52
|Apr low F = 56
|May low F = 61
|Jun low F = 69
|Jul low F = 71
|Aug low F = 72
|Sep low F = 71
|Oct low F = 65
|Nov low F = 56
|Dec low F = 50
|year low F =
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2
|Feb precipitation inch = 3
|Mar precipitation inch = 3
|Apr precipitation inch = 2
|May precipitation inch = 3
|Jun precipitation inch = 7
|Jul precipitation inch = 7
|Aug precipitation inch = 7
|Sep precipitation inch = 7
|Oct precipitation inch = 3
|Nov precipitation inch = 2
|Dec precipitation inch = 2
|year precipitation inch =
|source 1 = [http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=594963&cityname=Holopaw-Florida-United-States-of-America]
}}

==See also==
* [[Yeehaw Junction, Florida]]
* [[Bull Creek, Florida]]<ref>Ghosttowns Florida by Jim Pike</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_OrlandoSE.htm Abandoned and Little Known Airfields by Paul Freeman]
* [http://www.airfields-freeman.com/FL/Airfields_FL_OrlandoSE.htm Abandoned and Little Known Airfields by Paul Freeman]
* [http://www.terraserverusa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=11&LAT=28.13719&LON=-81.03870 Terraserver Image of the landing field]
* [http://www.terraserverusa.com/image.aspx?T=2&S=11&LAT=28.13719&LON=-81.03870 Terraserver Image of the landing field]
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{{coord|28|08|09|N|81|04|34|W|type:city_region:US-FL|display=title}}
{{coord|28|08|09|N|81|04|34|W|type:city_region:US-FL|display=title}}
{{Osceola County, Florida}}
{{Osceola County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}


[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Osceola County, Florida]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Osceola County, Florida]]
[[Category:Greater Orlando]]
[[Category:Greater Orlando]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Florida]]

[[Category:Former census-designated places in Florida]]
{{Florida-geo-stub}}

Latest revision as of 21:53, 15 April 2024

Holopaw, Florida
Unincorporated community
Holopaw is located in Florida
Holopaw
Holopaw
Coordinates: 28°8′9″N 81°4′34″W / 28.13583°N 81.07611°W / 28.13583; -81.07611
Country United States
State Florida
CountyOsceola
Elevation
24 m (79 ft)
Time zoneUTC-5
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code(s)321, 407, 689

Holopaw is an unincorporated community in Osceola County, Florida, United States.[1] It is located at the eastern end of the multiplex of highways US 192 and US 441. It has a population of fewer than 5,000 people and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Holopaw, a Creek Indian word meaning "Walkway" or "Pavement", was a stop along the Kissimmee Valley extension of the FEC railroad.

History

[edit]

The years 1911-1929 saw the Florida East Coast Railway building what was advertised as a second complete mainline to Miami. Known as the Kissimmee Valley Branch and heading southwest from the busy railroad town of New Smyrna Beach, the new route passed through Maytown-Pennichaw-Osceola-Geneva and was completed to Chuluota in 1912. The Chuluota-Bithlo-Holopaw-Okeechobee segment was completed in 1915. Finally wrapping around the big lake it terminated at Lake Harbor in 1929. Though it never achieved the status of 'a complete second mainline,' though it did post some impressive freight tonnage records in lumber and produce.

JM Griffin began a sawmill operation here in 1923, building streets and houses for his employees. Holopaw was a company owned town, with most employees renting their homes and frequenting the factory owned general store. The JM Griffin Lumber Company became the largest operation in the St Cloud area, employing over 500 people. It also featured one of the first all-electric sawmills in the country. The mill lasted until 1931, closing during the Great Depression. A new mill owned by the Peavy-Wilson Lumber Co. opened in 1935, employing more than one thousand timber, turpentine, and sawmill workers. At the town's peak it had more than 2,000 people.

The railroad through Holopaw ceased operation in 1947 when a new cut-off opened between Fort Pierce and Port Mayaca. However, before it would be abandoned, the Peavy Wilson Lumber Company, operating a massive mill in Holopaw, leased the Holopaw-Pennichaw-Maytown trackage. So trains continued to roll from Holopaw northward pulled by the lumber company’s stable of steam locomotives. With greatly depleted forests, the lumber company quit in 1951 and the tracks removed soon afterwards.[2]

Most residents left to seek employment elsewhere, and the postal service was discontinued in 1954.

Ranching and wildlife

[edit]

There are also substantial operations involving cattle ranching, timber, and citrus in the area around Holopaw. The Herky Huffman/Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area is located a few miles east on US 192.[3] West of there is the location of the Holopaw State Forest,[4] which is across US 192 from the Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Area.[5]

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Holopaw
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 73
(23) 		74
(23) 		78
(26) 		82
(28) 		87
(31) 		90
(32) 		91
(33) 		91
(33) 		89
(32) 		84
(29) 		79
(26) 		73
(23) 		83
(28)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 47
(8) 		50
(10) 		52
(11) 		56
(13) 		61
(16) 		69
(21) 		71
(22) 		72
(22) 		71
(22) 		65
(18) 		56
(13) 		50
(10) 		60
(16)
Average precipitation inches (cm) 2
(5.1) 		3
(7.6) 		3
(7.6) 		2
(5.1) 		3
(7.6) 		7
(18) 		7
(18) 		7
(18) 		7
(18) 		3
(7.6) 		2
(5.1) 		2
(5.1) 		48
(122.8)
Source: [1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Holopaw, Florida
  2. ^ Mann, Robert W. (1984). Rail's 'Neath the Palms. Burbank California: Darwin Publications. pp. 18–20. ISBN 0-933506-08-2.
  3. ^ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Herky Huffman/Bull Creek
  4. ^ Holopaw State Forest (Florida Division of Forestry)
  5. ^ Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Triple N Ranch
  6. ^ Ghosttowns Florida by Jim Pike

28°08′09″N 81°04′34″W / 28.13583°N 81.07611°W / 28.13583; -81.07611

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Holopaw,_Florida&oldid=1219123051"