Live Oak is a small city in North Central Florida not far from the Georgia border.

Understand

Flooding in downtown Live Oak in 1964

History

Around the beginning of the Civil War, while a railroad was being built in northern Florida, an oak tree that provided workers with shade gave the new town its name. The tree was chopped down to make way for what is now a grocery store.

As the town grew around the new railroad depot, it became part of the Confederacy's rail network, and work was done on the railroad to shield it from the advance of Union troops. In 1865, a new railroad line was completed to connect Live Oak to Georgia to the north in order to ease the Confederates' supply chain problems, increasing settlement in Live Oak despite their surrender that same year.

Live Oak was elected seat of Suwannee County just after the war and was incorporated in 1878, and again — this time as a "city" — in 1903. The local sulfur springs brought economic boom to the city and two years after its incorporation as a city, it was the largest city in interior Florida. However, multiple factors, including the failure of cotton-growing, the Great Depression, and two world wars took their toll on the city, its population falling by several hundred as other parts of the state grew rapidly.

Historic house in Live Oak

African-American Willie J. Howard was lynched in Live Oak in 1944 by Phil Goff and several other white men, who made Howard jump off a bridge. However, the subsequent media attention led to increased concern among many Americans. Racial tensions again rose in 1952 when Ruby McCollum, a Black woman, shot Clifford Adams, Jr., a state legislator-elect, although the conviction of murder was overturned due to her mental health.

Following a second period of rapid population growth from the Great Depression to 1960, during which the population of Live Oak more than doubled, its population has since stabilized below 7,000. Poverty remains a concern in Live Oak, with almost a quarter of the population living below the poverty line.

Climate

Live Oak has suffered from storms and hurricanes, having been badly flooded during Hurricane Dora in 1964 and Tropical Storm Debby in 2012. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cool. Precipitation is high throughout the year, except for the months of May, November, and December.

Get in

There is an airport, Suwannee County Airport, near the city, but the main regional airports are in major cities some distance from Live Oak, most importantly Orlando International Airport.

By car

I-10, a major U.S. interstate that crosses the U.S. from west to east, bypasses Live Oak to the north. US-129 (Ohio Ave) connects I-10 to the city of Live Oak. Many of the amenities and hotels are on US-129 near I-10.

See

• 1 Suwannee County Historical Museum (Union Depot and Atlantic Coast Line Freight Station), 208 N Ohio Ave (junction with Haines St). Historic site of a freight station built in the early 20th century during Florida's boom amid Flagler's development of the state and railroad network. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and became the site of a museum, with local history exhibits and a Timucuan (Native American) model village. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Suwanee County Courthouse, 200 S Ohio Ave (junction with Warren St). Built over a fifteen year period from 1889 to 1904 by Benjamin Smith and Hugger Brothers, the courthouse building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. It is designed in the Renaissance Revival architectural style. (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Old City Hall (City of Live Oak Police and Fire Department), 212 N Ohio Ave. Built during the first decade of the 20th century, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. It was designed by Paul Walker and James Peavy in Italian Villa architectural style. (updated Dec 2021)
• 4 Ellaville (just off US-90 several miles west of Live Oak). On the Suwannee River is a ghost town founded by businessman, slaveholder, and ultimately state governor George Drew. His mill employed a few hundred people and the town's population reached a thousand after the American Civil War, thanks to its location on the state railroad network, and having a steamboat dock. Following years of deforestation, crises including a fire and floods, and the Great Depression, the post office closed and former Governor Drew's mansion was vandalized and burned. (updated Dec 2021)

Do

• 1 Suwannee River State Park, 3631 201st Path (east of, and across the river from, Ellaville), ☏ +1 386 362-2746. 8AM–sunset. A canoeing destination on the famous Suwannee River with a campsite and several hiking trails. $5 per vehicle. (updated Dec 2021)

Eat

• 1 Dixie Grill, 101 Dowling Ave, ☏ +1 386 364-2810. 6AM–2PM. (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Pomodoro, 114 E Howard St, ☏ +1 386 330-0132. Tu–Fr 11AM–7PM, Sa 4–7PM. Italian deli. (updated Dec 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Econo Lodge, 6811 N US-129, ☏ +1 386 362-7459. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $87+ per night (2021). (updated Dec 2021)
• 2 Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 6694 US-129 N, ☏ +1 386 362-2600. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. $132+ per night (2021). (updated Dec 2021)
• 3 Quality Inn & Suites, 6819 US-129, ☏ +1 386 362-6000. (updated Dec 2021)

Go next

• Lake City, to the southeast, is a similar-sized city.
• The Florida Panhandle to the west.