Yeehaw Junction, Florida
Encyclopedia
Yeehaw Junction is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Osceola County
, Florida
, United States
. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 240. The area was confused with Buenaventura Lakes
CDP in the 2000 census (see map on the left), and the correct data for the area was not recorded.
Yeehaw Junction is part of the Orlando
–Kissimmee
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
(SR 91), approximately 30 mile west of Vero Beach
and 30 miles north of Lake Okeechobee
. The nearest incorporated area is the ghost town of Kenansville
some 15 miles (24.1 km) north on U.S. 441 at the junction of Canoe Creek Road (Osceola County Road 523). The location was named after the Yeehaw station on the Florida East Coast Railway
, several miles to the east on SR 60.
tribe in origin and means "wolf", referring to wolves that inhabited the area. According to town historians and several original newspaper articles that are displayed at the Desert Inn and Restaurant
National Historical site, the town was originally named "Jackass Junction". This name was given to the four-corner site back in the early 1930s, when local ranchers rode on burros to visit the Desert Inn (then the local brothel). As the 1950s approached, the Florida legislature felt that a name change was due in light of the construction of Florida's Turnpike through the center of the community in 1957, resulting in renaming the town to its present-day name.
on the Atlantic
to Tampa
and St. Petersburg
on the Gulf Coast.
Because the population is not large enough to support its own schools, children in the community may choose to attend Osceola County School District
which may be over an hour bus ride for students (the nearest public school is located in St. Cloud
), or be bused to closer schools in Indian River County
or Okeechobee County
.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Osceola County
Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 240. The area was confused with Buenaventura Lakes
Buenaventura Lakes, Florida
Buenaventura Lakes is a census-designated place in northern Osceola County, Florida, United States, near Kissimmee. Its population was 26,079 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area...
CDP in the 2000 census (see map on the left), and the correct data for the area was not recorded.
Yeehaw Junction is part of the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
–Kissimmee
Kissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Yeehaw Junction is located at 27°42′00"N 80°54′16"W (27.7, -80.90444), at the intersection of US 441/SR 15, SR 60 and Florida's TurnpikeFlorida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
(SR 91), approximately 30 mile west of Vero Beach
Vero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
and 30 miles north of Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee
Lake Okeechobee , locally referred to as The Lake or The Big O, is the largest freshwater lake in the state of Florida. It is the seventh largest freshwater lake in the United States and the second largest freshwater lake contained entirely within the lower 48 states...
. The nearest incorporated area is the ghost town of Kenansville
Kenansville, Florida
Kenansville, Florida, USA, is an unincorporated community with a population of just under 1000, a large number of which are over the age of 50, located at the junction of Osceola County Road 523 and U.S. Highway 441 in Osceola County, Florida, just 12 miles north of Yeehaw Junction and 27 miles...
some 15 miles (24.1 km) north on U.S. 441 at the junction of Canoe Creek Road (Osceola County Road 523). The location was named after the Yeehaw station on the Florida East Coast Railway
Florida East Coast Railway
The Florida East Coast Railway is a Class II railroad operating in the U.S. state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad.Built primarily in the last quarter of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century, the FEC was a project of Standard Oil principal Henry Morrison...
, several miles to the east on SR 60.
History
The junction's name "Yeehaw" comes from the SeminoleSeminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
tribe in origin and means "wolf", referring to wolves that inhabited the area. According to town historians and several original newspaper articles that are displayed at the Desert Inn and Restaurant
Desert Inn and Restaurant
The Desert Inn and Restaurant is a historic site in Yeehaw Junction, Florida, United States. It is located at 5570 South Kenansville Road, next to SR 60. On January 3, 1994, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-References:* at * ** **...
National Historical site, the town was originally named "Jackass Junction". This name was given to the four-corner site back in the early 1930s, when local ranchers rode on burros to visit the Desert Inn (then the local brothel). As the 1950s approached, the Florida legislature felt that a name change was due in light of the construction of Florida's Turnpike through the center of the community in 1957, resulting in renaming the town to its present-day name.
Demographics
In 2010 Yeehaw Junction had a population of 240. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 89.2% non-Hispanic white, 1.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 2.9% reporting two or more races and 6.3% Hispanic or Latino.Present day
Today, Yeehaw Junction is known as a major stopping point for tourists on the Florida's Turnpike who want to purchase conditional discount tickets for various tourist attractions in the Orlando area. The Turnpike exit links with Florida State Road 60, an important traffic route going from Vero BeachVero Beach, Florida
Vero Beach is a city in Indian River County, Florida, USA. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2006 estimates, the city had a population of 16,939. It is the county seat of Indian River County...
on the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
to Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
and St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
on the Gulf Coast.
Because the population is not large enough to support its own schools, children in the community may choose to attend Osceola County School District
School District of Osceola County, Florida
The School District of Osceola County, Florida is a school district serving all of Osceola County, Florida. As of the 2008-09 school year, the district had 70 schools...
which may be over an hour bus ride for students (the nearest public school is located in St. Cloud
St. Cloud, Florida
St. Cloud is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. The population was 35,183 at the 2010 census. St. Cloud is closely associated with the adjacent city of Kissimmee and its proximity to Orlando area theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and Seaworld.St...
), or be bused to closer schools in Indian River County
Indian River County, Florida
Indian River County is a county located in the Treasure Coast region in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 112,947. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 128,594...
or Okeechobee County
Okeechobee County, Florida
Okeechobee County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 35,910. According to 2005 U.S. Census estimates, its population had grown to 39,836. The county seat is Okeechobee, Florida. The county comprises the Okeechobee, Florida Micropolitan Statistical Area.-...
.