Sandy is an unincorporated area in Manatee County, Florida, United States. The community was previously known as Sandy Branch and Stephen.

Sandy, Florida
Sandy is located in Florida
Sandy
Sandy
Sandy is located in the United States
Sandy
Sandy
Coordinates: 27°16′25″N 82°06′56″W / 27.27361°N 82.11556°W / 27.27361; -82.11556
Country United States
State Florida
CountyManatee County

History

edit

Sandy is a small agricultural community in the Myakka area located south of another small community, Edgeville. Earliest records of the community show that in 1883, a post office was established there with Thomas A. Stephens as postmaster. At that time, the community was called Stephen, likely in reference to the Stephens family. The post office was closed and moved to Pine Level within only a couple years.[1] Early newspaper records show that after the post office closed, the community became known as Sandy Branch, but by the late 1890s, it was more widely known as just Sandy.[2] In 1889, the post office reopened again under Postmaster Thomas A. Stephens, who also opened the first general store that year.[3]

By 1900, Sandy was home to 164 people.[4] By this time, the community had grown enough to warrant its own society section in the Manatee River Journal newspaper.

In 1913, a new building was constructed for Sandy School.[5] The same year, the post office was closed.[6]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Appointment of Postmasters, 1832 - September 30, 1971". National Archives. 2016-08-15. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
  2. ^ "Bradentown Manatee River Journal Archives, May 14, 1896, p. 4". NewspaperArchive.com. 1896-05-14. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  3. ^ "Bradentown Manatee River Journal Archives, Nov 7, 1889, p. 3". NewspaperArchive.com. 1889-11-07. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  4. ^ "Bradentown Manatee River Journal News Archives, Dec 6, 1900, p. 1". NewspaperArchive.com. 1900-12-06. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  5. ^ "Bradentown Manatee River Journal Archives, Jun 19, 1913, p. 5". NewspaperArchive.com. 1913-06-19. Retrieved 2020-04-24.
  6. ^ "8 Jun 1913, 37 - Pensacola News Journal at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2020-04-24.