Secretary Ertel Designates Main Street Wauchula as Florida Main Street Program of the Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

Secretary of State Michael Ertel announced today that Main Street Wauchula has been designated the January 2019 Florida Main Street Program of the Month. Communities are selected based on their development achievements and participation in the Florida Main Street Program.

"Main Street Wauchula continues to stand out as one of our most successful programs," said Secretary Ertel. "The program has been an integral part in Main Street Wauchula's positive transformation since 1995." 

Main Street Heritage Park, Wauchula, FL

In its formative years, Wauchula was a booming center of commerce that thrived economically off citrus and vegetables. Open-range cattle ranching then replaced local agriculture as its most profitable industry. In 1886, the Florida Southern Railway built a track through the area that extended from South Florida to current day Bowling Green, Kentucky. The railway company is responsible for giving the town the name "Wauchula," which is said to be derived from the Miccosukee word Wa-tu-la-ha-kee, meaning "call of the Sandhill crane." With the advent of the railway station, the town grew rapidly and became incorporated in 1902 and became the county seat in December 1921.

Main Street Wauchula became a designated Main Street community in 1995. Since its designation, the organization has helped transform the town with the addition of new businesses and many successful projects including the creation of Heritage Park. Located in the heart of downtown, Heritage Park is equipped with a fountain and benches for people to gather. Numerous events are held at Heritage Park throughout the year including monthly movies and fitness classes. With the help of Main Street Wauchula, the Downtown Wauchula Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in August 2018.

"As always, we are working hard to balance preservation of our rich history while modernizing our marketing techniques and getting people to Main Street Wauchula," said Executive Director Jessica Newman. "One way we are doing that is through a new walking tour. At each historic Wauchula landmark on the tour, a plaque with a scannable QR code will provide more information on the site."

For more information about Main Street Wauchula visit mainstreetwauchula.com or facebook.com/mainstreetwauchula. For more information on the Florida Main Street program visit floridamainstreet.com or facebook.com/FloridaMainStreet.

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About Florida Main Street

Florida Main Street is a program administered by the Division of Historical Resources under the Florida Department of State, which currently oversees 47 communities throughout the state. By implementing the National Main Street Center's Four-Point Approach®, Florida Main Street encourages economic development within the context of historic preservation through the revitalization of Florida's downtowns - the community's heart and soul.