Withlacoochee River – Its History and Ours!

Your Cooperative is named after the majestic river that flows through eight counties, five of which are in our service area.  These counties are Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion, Pasco, Polk, and Sumter.  It is also one of the few rivers in the world that flows south to north.  Originating in the Green swamp, the Withlacoochee River winds for 141 miles before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico near Yankeetown.

The name “Withlacoochee” is derived from one of Florida’s Native American tribes, the Creek.  It means “Little Big Water”, which makes sense as both floods and droughts have caused the water levels to rise or drop many times over its history.  Another meaning is “crooked river”, which accurately describes the twists and turns it makes on its way towards the Gulf of Mexico.

WREC was first organized on August 20, 1941, and the rivers name was chosen as it was a ……….