Welcome to the Boomtown of the 1890s
Founded in 1887, Dunnellon became a wild boomtown in 1889, when the first hard-rock phosphate in the state of Florida was discovered here. As the phosphate mining industry “boomed” and more people settled here, residents sought a more structured form of government. The town of Dunnellon, named for a local lawyer-turned-banker John F. Dunn, was incorporated in 1891 in the southwest corner of Marion County.
2023 Board of Directors
Judy Terwilliger
Wanda Nagovich
Dave Fowler
Joanne Black
Geff Gascay
Michelle Wooten
Eric Sokolsky
Cindy Canter
David Rojas
Ruff Pennington
Julie Mancini
2023 Board of Directors
Judy Terwilliger
Joanne Black
Michelle Wooten
David Rojas
Wanda Nagovich
Joe Faino
Eric Sokolsky
Dave Fowler
Geff Gascay
Ruff Pennington
Julie Mancini
Cindy Canter
Dunnellon’s Historic Train Depot
Dunnellon was platted as a railroad town in 1890. The train depot you see today was built along South Williams Street by the Atlantic Coast Line in 1908. Dunnellon became a hub for the railroad used to transport phosphate to processing plants in other parts of the state. The railroad’s emergence also led the local timber industry to thrive.
Two Atlantic Coast Line Railroad lines and one Seaboard Air Line Railroad used to pass through Dunnellon, carrying passengers, phosphate, timber, produce and cargo. Decades of stories exist of youngsters crowding the station to get a glimpse of what the trains were carrying. Today only one ACL line exists, used by the Florida Northern Railroad, carrying freight to the power plant in Red Level in Citrus County.
There are approximately 70 restored buildings in Dunnellon’s Boomtown Historic District today.
Visit: http://www.dunnellondepot.com/ for more information.
Dunnellon Today
Dunnellon’s two rivers, the Rainbow and the Withlacoochee, and its extensive trail system provide the backbone for ecotourism, which brings tourists here to enjoy activities such as fishing, kayaking, tubing, diving, hiking, biking, horseback riding and bird watching. The historic downtown is host to opportunities for shopping for antiques and art, and eating out at many of the town’s quaint family owned restaurants. Whether you enjoy fun in the sun, history and heritage, or shopping and eating, Dunnellon is the perfect place for your next adventure.
Chamber Membership
According to Jeri Vespoli, chamber and business development consultant at Collaborative Marketing Services, “Local chambers of commerce are businesses joined together to improve their value, visibility, and credibility; share news, ideas, and best practices; [. . .] and become better connected with the markets they serve and the resources they need to serve them.”
Being a member of the Dunnellon Chamber and Business Association has many benefits that can boost your business.