Cross City offers a rural Florida setting and access to recreation
Cross City is an Old Florida community of about 1,800 that offers a small-town setting. “The key word is rural,” says Dewey Hatcher of Hatcher Realty Services, who has sold dozens of homes in Cross City and services communities throughout the region. “There’s only four stop lights in all of Dixie County. You’ve got to want to be rural to live here.” Cross City, initially developed as a lumber town, offers appealing access to recreational attractions, making it the kind of place where residents won’t get bored. “You’ve got the Gulf and the Suwanee and Steinhatchee rivers,” Hatcher says. “Those are the areas that attract people.”
Sawmill in a community surrounded by mature pine trees
The community is surrounded by the natural resources that first made it a popular lumber-processing center about a century ago and continue to provide a foundation for its economy. “There are thousands of acres of pine trees,” says John Markham, a local Realtor for Hatcher Realty Services. Cross City Lumber and its sawmill are located in the heart of town.
Affordable traditional homes in an Old Florida setting
Cottage-style designs are prominent among the community’s collection of smaller, older homes. Midcentury ranch-style designs are common among the larger offerings. Homes are concentrated in the heart of town on narrow streets shaded by a variety of mature trees, most notably pines and cypresses draped with Spanish moss. These homes are spread throughout the community and comprise a portion of the acreage homes on the outskirts of town. Manufactured homes are also available, and the occasional custom home can be found. Home prices typically range from around $50,000 for an older fixer-upper to about $350,000 for a newer acreage home. The median sales price is just under $300,000. The community is far enough from the coast that flooding is not a concern, but wind damage can be a major risk during hurricane season.
Access to trails, rivers, state parks and coastal beaches
The rail line that used to transport products and people during its lumber heyday is now part of the multi-use Nature Coast State Trail, which runs for miles through natural landscape and nearby small towns. Residents also have access to the Cross City Mainline Loop and the Bowlegs Mainline Loop trails. Nearby Fanning Springs and Manatee Springs state parks blue-green spring waters that flow into the Suwannee River. The Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is a popular spot for floating and fishing, and The Steinhatchee Springs Wildlife Management Area offers hunting among its rural activities. Horseshoe Beach and its coastal attractions are about 20 miles away. Wandle Wheeler Park is a recreational destination in the heart of the community.
Putnam Lodge is a local attraction with a steakhouse
The Putnam Lodge was built by the Putnam Lumber Company in the late 1920s to house travelers related to the business of the day. The historic hotel remains a tourist attraction, and it also features a steakhouse that is the highlight of the community’s dining options, which are spread out along U.S. Route 19/98. The corridor offers a limited number of local shopping options. “Chiefland is going to have the majority of grocery stores, and it has restaurants on the water,” says Markham of the city that is “about a 20-minute drive” from the community. On the other hand, residents can get groceries without traveling. “They actually do Walmart delivery here,” Hatcher says.
Local district offers less-congested schools
The Dixie School District, which earns a B-minus from Niche, consists of four schools. Kinder Cub School, rated B-plus, is a charter institution in Cross City that serves students in pre-kindergarten through second grade. However, the typical pipeline is Old Town Elementary, also rated B-plus, Ruth Rains Upper Elementary and Dixie County Middle-High schools, both rated B-minus. The high school features a Career & Technical Education program. “There are a lot of people in-house, in Florida, who are looking to relocate to a place with less congestion,” Markham says. “It’s working families who want to put their kids in less-congested schools.”
Route 19/98 provides convenient travel in and out of town
Route 19/98 provides direct travel to nearby towns, as well as access to Gainesville, about 50 miles away. The regional roadway connects residents to Doctors’ Memorial Hospital in Perry, about 45 miles away, and the medical centers in Gainesville. Southwest 351 Highway offers a direct route to Horseshoe Beach along the Gulf Coast. There’s a public airport in Cross City, but the closest commercial service is available at Gainesville Regional Airport.
Written By
Matt Pallister
