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WHY
HERNANDO COUNTY
Hernando
County covers approximately 477 sq. miles, including the cities of
Brooksville and Weeki Wachee. Unincorporated areas include Spring Hill,
Ridge Manor, Ridge Manor West, Bayport, Aripeka, Lake Lindsey and Hernando
Beach. The county stretches 37 miles from East to West and 18 miles from
North to South. It is bounded on the west by the Gulf of Mexico and on the
north by the Chassahowitzka Swamp and the Withlacoochee State Forest.
With an
average January temperature of 60 degrees, year-round outdoor recreation
is the mantra in Hernando County. Hunting, fishing, camping, paddling,
birding, and hiking are just a few of the many recreational opportunities
enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Championship golf courses, paved
or wilderness bicycle trails, and the Croom Motorcycle Recreation Area
attract visitors from far beyond the County borders.
Known as
the “Business Gateway to Tampa Bay”, Hernando County is located
approximately 45 miles north of downtown Tampa, 50 miles west of Orlando,
100 miles south of the Ocala/Gainesville areas. With this geographic
location, Hernando County is strategically positioned in the middle of
three major growth areas in the State of Florida. In addition, the County
is well suited for export activities due to its proximity to Florida’s
major seaport and airport locations. With high quality of life appeal,
numerous land options and an outstanding workforce, Hernando County is an
excellent option for locating your business.
As part of
the Nature Coast, vast tracts of public land have been preserved in
Hernando County. These include the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife
Refuge, Chinsegut Hill National Wildlife Refuge, Withlacoochee State
Forest, Weeki Wachee Preserve, and the PK Ranch. Recreation also abounds
on the Withlacoochee and Weeki Wachee Rivers as well as at the Silver Lake
Recreation Area, and the first-magnitude Weeki Wachee Springs. The latter
were recently purchased by the State.
The major
industries in Hernando County are Distribution, Healthcare, Cement
Production, Manufacturing, Mining, Tourism, Dairy/Cattle Production,
Citrus Production, Forest Resources, and Construction.
Significant
employers include Oak Hill and Brooksville/Spring Hill Regional Hospitals,
Spartan Electronics, Florida Crushed Stone, Sims Machine & Controls, Cemex,
Accuform Signs and Joni Industries.
The largest
private employer in the county is the Walmart Distribution Center, which
is one of the largest buildings in the state, encompassing 1.5 million
square feet of warehouse space.
The County
has four high schools, including a new state of the art technical high
school, four middle schools and nine elementary schools. Additionally,
conveniently located in and near Hernando County are several secondary
education institutions offering a variety of programs and business
recruitment opportunities. The list of institutions includes: University
of South Florida, University of Tampa, University of Florida, St.
Petersburg College, Pasco Hernando Community College, St. Leo’s College,
and Eckerd College.
Hernando
County is a desirable location to work, live, and play. Offering a
variety of communities from waterfront to historic, Hernando County can
meet the needs of every lifestyle. The business opportunities coupled
with the Quality of Life make it a “Natural Choice”.
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