Weeki Wachee is a city located in Hernando County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 12, a figure unchanged from the 2000 census. The 12,000-acre (49Â km2) Weeki Wachee 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 communities of Weeki Wachee Gardens and Spring Hill are nearby.
Geography
Weeki Wachee is located in western Hernando County at 28°30'56" North, 82°34'43" West (28.515445, -82.578565). Via U.S. Route 19, it is 19 miles (31 km) north of Port Richey and 20 miles (32 km) south of Homosassa Springs. Via Florida State Road 50, Weeki Wachee is 12 miles (19 km) west of Brooksville, the Hernando County seat.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8Â km2), of which 0.050 square miles (0.13Â km2), or 4.68%, are water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 12 people, five households, and five families residing in the city. The population density was 11.8 people per square mile (4.5/km²). There were five 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, although there was one Native American member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Tribe.
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 2000, five city residents were under the age of 18, none were between 18 and 24, two were between 25 and 44, two were between 45 and 64, and three 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. Males had a median income of $50,625 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.
Education
Weeki Wachee has two public schools which provide primary and secondary education to local children. 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
- High Schools
- Weeki Wachee
Weeki Wachee Springs
Tourist attraction
Weeki Wachee Springs, the spring of the Weeki Wachee River, is a Florida tourist attraction where underwater performances by mermaids â€" women dressed in fancy outfits with fins about their legs â€" can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting. There are currently 15 female mermaid performers and four 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. The park is now a Florida State Park and is owned and managed by the State Parks department.
Deepest naturally formed spring in the United States
From May 22 until August 30, 2007, the discharge level at Weeki Wachee spring dropped to a level that allowed for cave divers 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 6,700 feet (2,000Â m) in multiple passages at an average depth of 265 feet (81Â m) Fresh Water (ffw) with a maximum depth of 407 ffw.
In popular media
- In 2005, English rock band Supergrass filmed the video for their song "Low C" at the Springs. They filmed a short documentary about the spring, their playing at a local bar, and swimming with the mermaids.
- Canadian rock band The Elwins mention the city in their single "Stuck in the Middle" from their album And I Thank You.
References
External links
- Weeki Wachee Springs, official site
- Weeki Wachee Cave System
- National Geographic: "Mermaids" Fight to Save Florida Roadside Attraction
