myakka city: then & now

We are excited to share information about our very own Myakka City - directly from our local Manatee County Library archives! Click here to view on the county website, or keep reading below! 

"Myakka City was a planned town developed by Frank Knox, a retired judge from New Jersey, in 1915. Built on former farmland, the city was one of several attempts in the mid-1910s to develop new towns along the East and West Coast Railway in southeastern Manatee County. Myakka City is one of the few that remain. 

The city was named after the longtime moniker of the area, Miakka. The name, which referred to the area around the Miakka River (now known as the Myakka River), is believed to be a translation of the Hitchiti word for bodies of water. Knox and his development partners changed the spelling to differentiate their new town. As Myakka City grew, the surrounding area remained known as Miakka or Old Miakka. Within a year of the town’s grand opening, which coincided with the opening of the railroad, it had grown to include three stores, a wholesale warehouse, post office, hotel, schoolhouse, train depot, office building, two saw mills and a turpentine plant. Despite all this early progress, Myakka City was hit hard by the economic recession of the 1920s and 1930s and remained a relatively rural community."

As quoted in the referenced Manatee County Library article: "While experiencing several decades of slow growth, Myakka City remains one of the last communities in the county without major suburban sprawl. It is home to several agricultural businesses and is surrounded by large tracts of farmland and preserves."

We happen to agree! We are proud to know that while areas around us are growing quickly, and some would argue - too quickly, Myakka seems to be relatively untouched and left to its rural, beautiful, traditional charm. If you're hoping to find land and acreage in Florida, your chances of finding space to grow, homestead and/or raise a family or enjoy hobbies are much higher in rural areas. If you're looking to live in a neighborhood with a cul-de-sac - we have those, too! 

The community of Myakka continues  to outlast and thrive because of the mix of families who have lived in the area for generations and newcomers, looking for their slice of paradise. Make sure to contact us to learn more and take a look around our website to find more information about happenings, things to do & what makes Myakka special! And if you have additional questions, we are proud to be a Myakka family, and would love to give you extra insight into this wonderful community we are proud to call home.