Blanton Town

Real Estate 1842- 1920's

(Copyright © 2009 by Jeff Cannon as part of the Pasco Cemeteries web page)

Sale of Public Lands.
In 1820, public land sales boomed throughout the state. The Act of April 20, 1820 authorized land to be sold for a minimum of $1.25 per acre and tracts as small as 80 acres. Public lands initially offered for sale by District Land Offices were sold at pre-announced, scheduled public auction. If any land remained unsold, the parcels would be available for purchase at the minimum price on a first-come-first-served basis. This replaced the credit system. As early as 1852 there were public land sales in the east Pasco County area, then apart of Hernando County. The Civil War interrupted many of these land purchases for a time and many purchases were delayed because of the Civil War, as a result the records pertaining to these public land sales are absent of any transaction during the Civil War.

Armed Occupation Act of 1842.
Under the terms of the Florida Armed Occupation Act, approved 4 August 1842, men able to bear arms were entitled to apply for 160 acres of land in certain unsettled areas of Florida, and these settlers were given patents to the land upon fulfillment of their conditions of 5 years settlement and improvement. A permit to settle shows the name of the applicant, his marital status, the month and year he became a resident of Florida, and a description of the land. Many of the earliest, best and braviest settlers were squatters and lived upon land they that did not yet own or never owned! In some cases these pioneers settled on property several years before they made their purchase or moved to an adjoining piece, which better suited their needs before making their purchase. This was common throughout Florida and can often cause confusion in research and can often answer many unanswered questions. Land records are important to historical research.

In 1845 Florida became a new state in the Union and as a result an original survey of the entire state was ordered. Pictured above is the original survey of the Blanton area. Notice that two roads were in this area in 1845 when the survey was conducted, one leading south east towards Dade City where settlement had already occured.

We are trying to find methods to map the early Blanton settlement. One of these methods is shown in the map above, which goes well beyond Blanton Town settlement. Sections 7, 8, 18, 19, and 30 of township 24 south, range 21 east are all done. Click on the map above, when the new window opens simply scroll your cusor over the shaded area's for the names of the settler for each piece of property. Each property owner is indicated by their own color of shading on the map. This map includes both homestead and public land sales, however it does not include private sales. (Special thanks to Sarah Cope for her work on this map)

The Homestead Act of 1862 allowed settlement of public lands and required only residence and improvement and cultivation of the land. Any person, a citizen or person intending to become a citizen, 21 years of age or older, and the head of a household could make an application. With five years residence and improvements/ cultivation, only a $15.00 fee was required to get 160 acres. While similar to the previous Armed Occupation Act the Homestead Act allowed settlement in areas not previously allowed. The Homestead Act was repealed in 1976 and no longer could one acquire land through settlement since land was becoming scarce and privitized leading to the great real estate crisis that we see today and prices soaring through the roof.

1911 Real Estate Brochure

In June 1911 Boynton and Snyder Real Estate in Dade City published a small real estate brochure highlighting property that they were offering for sale around the area. Included in this brochure were several pieces of Blanton property ranging in size from twenty to the three hundred acre sawmill site believed to be the Chipco Sawmill site, some lands cleared and some with improvements or crops. Here one can see the profits that were being made through the sale of real estate early on and one can certainly see the extreme prices being paid today. Many of the early settlers who homesteaded 160 acres for a $15.00 fee were selling portions of their property for good profits, while still retaining a large section for their livelihood.

Boynton and Snyder Real Estate Brochure, 1911

Blanton Real Estate 1920's

The 1920's were also thriving time for real estate in the Blanton area. During this time Blanton resident Dr. E. E. Schmidt published a small promotional brochure highlighting the many reasons to purchase real estate in Blanton to make it your home! Dr. Schmidt was proud of his Blanton home and the crops that grew well. Transcribed below with several photographs is the 1920's promotional brochure for Blanton Town.

This Wonder Spot ... is right in the center of the mountains of Pasco County. The Atlantic Coast Line R.R. runs right in front of this subdivision, which is the prettiest spot in all Florida -- BAR NONE. Every lot overlooks four large and beautiful lakes, all connected, spring fed, clear as a crystal, deep, and filled with the finest and largest game fish. Boating, bathing, fishing and hunting are ideal . No better anywhere.

In fact, This is a Sportsman's Paradise!
Hundreds of Black Bass weighing from 15 to 20 pounds have been caught right in front of this sub division. The purest and best soft water can be had on this Florida mountain, which is over 300 feet above sea level, by simply digging a well 20 feet deep. This mountain and subdivision overlooks lakes, hills, valleys, orange groves and meadows. For miles and miles around in every direction the scenery from Lake View Park cannot be equaled anywhere in Florida and is simply indescribable. It must be seen to be appreciated. Every lot has from 10 to 18 budded orange trees on it and all are in full bearing.
Dr. E. E. SCHMIDT, Owner, BLANTON, FLA.

This desirable home of 5 large rooms, bath, toilet and large living room, equipped with water and ascetylene gas, set back among mammoth oak and camphor trees, with banana plants, orange and many other fruit trees and a two-story garage, will also be sold.

Health Conditions are Absolutely Perfect!
If you are looking for an ideal location where health conditions are absolutely perfect and where there are no sand flies and no mosquitoes to annoy an pester you both night and day, THIS IS THE PLACE! Here you have cool and refreshing breezes all summer long. The nights are always cool sufficiently, so you can use a light covering every night. On account of the extremely high elevation of Lake View Park, Citrus trees, limes, lemons, avocados and bananas are never injured by cold. It is warmer here in winter than places 200 miles farther south which do not have the elevation and water protection we have on this subdivision. Here you will find fifteen different kinds of oranges and all in full bearing, including most of the tenderest and most tropical of all fruits such as the avocado, mango, papaya, lemon, lime, bananas, guavas, etc. and hundreds of beautiful roses, flowers, vines and shrubs. Here is where you will also see the most valuable tree in the whole world. Dr. Schmidt's famous Everbearing Avocado tree, which is known the world over as the heaviest bearer and best avocado in existence. When this tree was two years old it bore 25 fruit, when three years old it ore 800, when four years old it bore 1371, when five years old it bore 2108 and at six years old it is loaded with bloom. NOTE: the sign to the right of Dr. E.E. Schmidt and which reads, "The Dr. E.E. Schmidt Fuerte Avacado Tree- Value $75,000- Considered by experts as the most wonderful tree in Florida- Southern Nusries Inc.- Bartow, Florida."

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This page was created by Jeff Cannon and last revised on August 19, 2009