Welcome to Hudson Florida Vacation Rentals |
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Hudson Travel and Vacation Rental OverviewHudson is a census-designated place (CDP) located at the westernmost end of Pasco County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, Hudson's population was 12,765.
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Hudson Vacation Rental Homes |
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Gulfport Attractions and ActivitiesSurrounding areas:
Hudson Weather & ClimateThe Central West Coast just northwest of Tampa Bay, enjoys a semi tropical climate with warm Gulf breezes and plenty of sunshine - 361 days of sun per year. Although thunderstorms are frequent in summertime, they are short in duration and the sun quickly reappears behind the clouds. However, hot temperatures, along with the rain and the Gulf of Mexico help contribute to high humidity levels during this time, as well. June through September receives the most rain, with the rest of the year being pretty dry by comparison. Many believe the most pleasant weather is found during the winter months between November and March when the humidity becomes more bearable and winds from the Bay and Gulf help moderate the temperatures. Hudson Vacation Rentals, Homes, Condos, Villas and Beach Rentals Hudson is a great little town between Spring Hill and New Port Richey in the Central West region of Florida. This area, also known as the “Nature Coast,” lies along the Gulf of Mexico and boasts many different attractions. To the west is the waterfront part of town, and to the east are the beautifully landscaped homes of Beacon Woods. Some of the best fishing in the country can be found here – both salt water and fresh water. The gentle manatees, or “cow of the sea,” which are on the endangered species list, can be seen all along the coast. Other wildlife includes sea otter, turtles, alligators, deer, great blue herons and egrets. There are several state parks in the area that offer swimming, hiking and biking. There are numerous golf courses in and around the town of Hudson, and canoeing is popular in the nearby Weeki Wachi River. The city of Hudson lies at the very top of the Tampa Bay metropolis, and is 20 minutes to Tarpon Springs, 30 minutes to Clearwater and approximately 45 minutes to Tampa and St. Petersburg. A “jewel in the rough,” Hudson is definitely worth a look. The Story of HudsonThe village known as Hudson on the Gulf Coast of Pasco County is one of the most picturesque and naturally beautiful on the Gulf Coast Scenic Highway No. 19, and it also has an interesting history—it was frequently the landing place of Confederate blockade-runners when the Federal navy had all of the principal ports on our coast closed during the Civil War, and it was suspected that it was a rendezvous for rum-runners and smugglers during the prohibition era. Because access was difficult except by water there was little interference with these illicit operations. Nearby Bayport, however, was better known as a port used during the Civil War by blockade-runners and subsequently by evaders of the law. Among the earliest settlers were the pioneer Hudson family, who left Alabama in 1868 in a caravan of covered wagons.The only road in that section at the time was what was known as the Old Salt Road, so called because during the Civil War people from the interior came to the coast at that point to make salt, as the Yankees had all other sources of supply closed. The process of distilling salt from Gulf water was used at many points along the coast. Some West Pasco residents obtained their salt from Salt Springs behind Gulf View Mall. In 1881, the people of the area got together and built a log school house. In chilly weather the children would build a fire in the schoolyard, as the cracks between the logs let plenty of cold air into the little building.There was no place to hold religious services, so a pulpit was built in the old school house and that was used. The first sermon was preached by old "Uncle" Alderman Wilson. Services were held thereafter by circuit riders. John Paul was running a schooner from Bayport to Cedar Keys, and he was induced to make Hudson a port of call. The settlers sold their produce and bought their supplies in Cedar Keys, as that was the only port on the Gulf then having a railroad. A few years after the arrival of the earliest families a small fish business was established by Bush, Lang, Frierson, Knowles, Stevenson and Brady families. Fish were abundant in the adjacent waters, and the catches were large. The average price of roe mullet was one cent each. People would come from as far as fifty miles to buy fish which they would split, salt and pack in barrels. The average family would haul home five barrels. With the improvement of transportation and facilities for ice storage in the early 1900s, the fishing industry became the main interest by the Carl Hatchers and Knowles families. I. W. Hudson, Sr., profited by the sale of produce in Cedar Keys to the extent that he was able to buy 200 acres of land from the state at $1.25 an acre, and he employed H. C. Bush to survey and plat the town site. About 1890 J. B. and William Hudson established the first general mercantile business in Hudson. Their building extended from the river bank to the great spring, the anchorage of the freight boats. At the turn of the century, the Weeks brothers from Norman Park, Georgia, went into the turpentine business in the vicinity of Hudson. A tram road was built from Brooksville to Hudson to move turpentine and rosin to Hudson, whence it was moved to Tampa by boat. In 1905 the Brooksville and Hudson Railroad replaced the tram and regular service for passengers and freight was established. A spur was built to Fivay, three miles southeast of Hudson, where a small sawmill was operating. A short time later a group of Atlanta capitalists bought the small mill and replaced it with one of the largest mills in the state. This mill operated night and day for several years, until the timber supply was exhausted. This big industry had brought a lot of business to Hudson, and the town suffered a severe shock when the mill ceased operating. And when the railroad suspended service the businessmen of Hudson were greatly discouraged. Between the First and Second World Wars Hudson had an important sponge fishing industry, using several boats and employing quite a number of men. Some of the boats and crews were from Key West, others locally owned and manned; they made Hudson their home port, as they worked on the sponge beds on the West Coast. The catch was sold at the sponge exchange in Tarpon Springs, and at the peak fifteen boats and sixty men were employed, with Hudson as their home port. Then a blight struck the sponge beds, greatly reducing the catch; also, after the Second World War the importation of sponges from Greece upset the sale of sponges from waters in this vicinity. The Gulf Coast Scenic Highway (Old 19) passes through Hudson. The highway is within sight of the Gulf at Hudson and is probably the most scenic and beautiful highway in the state. This highway and fine state road to the great springs have brought prosperity to Hudson. The town is fast becoming a tourist resort and quite a number of houses have been built recently by retired people from harsher climes, who enjoy fishing, boating and swimming. Activitis & AttractionsTheme Parks Local conveniences & attractions:1. Grace Memorial Gardens2. Sea Pines Golf Course 3. St. Martin’s Episcopal Church 4. Links Golf Club 5. Harvest Baptist Church 6. Veterans Memorial Park 7. The Links Golf Club 8. Walgreens 9. Publix 10. Regional Medical Center Bayonet 11. Public Library 12. Winn-Dixie 13. Post Office 14. Beacon Woods Golf Club History of Hudson CityThis is the story of a town which sprang up amid the subtropical foliage and swamps on the Florida shores of the Gulf of Mexico, about thirty miles north of Tampa and St. Petersburg. In these surroundings was born Hudson, Florida in 1878. Economically, Hudson has had a checkered career. "This town grew slowly and then experienced a boom, then was prostrated. Man can learn a lot from the history of this place, no matter how often one is down, he can always come back if the proper effort is put forth.1" A surprising number of human beings that have known this land. There have even been a few famous ones. Diary records of Hernando De Soto and Ponce De Leon (1513), both Spanish explorers, state that they traversed the Pithlachascotee River and what is now northwest Pasco County. Before Isaac Hudson came here and founded the town, this subtropical land was the haunt of wild animals, and later (1700's) Seminole Indians... then swashbuckling pirates... careful Civil War blockade runners... and finally, determined settlers led by Mr. Hudson himself. Pirates were the first phantomlike group to haunt these shores, variously from the 1600-1800's. These real life pirates were seafaring men, who used the many inlets, coves and bayous of the future Hudson for cover-up during their illegal activities. These shadowy figures employed the vastness of the unpatrolled Gulf where there was little chance of getting caught. Cow River, Horse Island, Hudson Bay, Cedar Island, Bayonet Point, Fillmun's Bayou, Sleepy Lagoon... back then these landmarks for local boaters had no names at all. And yes, these buccaneers DID bury treasure. Horse Island is the spot mentioned most often as the burial place of wealth from the dim past. Fact or fiction? Old Hudson residents will attest to the fact that Horse Island used to bear the scars of much digging by treasure hunters. Why? Either these hunters were inspired by the old stories... or they were the descendents of the pirates themselves... or maybe even people who had a treasure map in order to locate the booty? We'll probably never know, but someone was doing an awful lot of digging on the island. "During the Civil War (1861-65), Florida was part of the Confederate States of America, fighting against the United States of America.2" The Confederacy used the Hudson coastal area for the exact same things that the pirates did earlier... to hide and carry out their stealthy maneuvers. Silent, goastlike bands of Southern fighters, working mostly at night, snuck vital supplies past Union gunboat patrols all along the Pasco coastline, with the goal of getting them to residents inland fighting at places like Vicksburg. Salt was a major necessity and it was procured at what would later be called 'Port Richey,' behind Gulfview Mall at the 'Old Salt Mine.' Remember, the area was still just a vast stretch of wilderness and water. Finally, some early White settlers from other parts of Florida came through the area in the 1860's-70's by the only path, the Old Salt Road in Port Richey. They used to fish at the coast and let salt water evaporate in pans. Timeuca and Seminole Indians have buried their dead here since the 1300's and 1700's respectively. An old Indian burial ground is located at Grace Memorial Gardens, on the west side of US 19 near Denton Ave., in Hudson. Events & Festivals |
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