{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox settlement <!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> <!-- Basic info ----------------> | official_name = Terra Ceia, Florida | nickname = | settlement_type = Unincorporated community | motto = <!-- images and maps -----------> | image_skyline = File:Terra Ceia FL UMC01.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = United Methodist Church in Terra Ceia | image_map = | mapsize = 250x200px | map_caption = Location in Manatee County and the state of Florida | pushpin_label = Terra Ceia | pushpin_map = USA Florida Manatee County <!-- Location ------------------> | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Florida | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Manatee <!-- Politics -----------------> | government_footnotes = | government_type = | established_title = <!-- Settled --> | established_date = | established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) --> | established_date2 = | established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) --> | established_date3 = <!-- Area ---------------------> | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = <!-- Population -----------------------> | population_as_of = 2010 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto <!-- General information ---------------> | timezone = Eastern (EST) | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = EDT | utc_offset_DST = -4 | coordinates = {{coord|27|34|45|N|82|34|50|W|region:US-FL_type:city|display=inline,title}}<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> | elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags--> | elevation_ft = 3 <!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> | postal_code_type = ZIP Code | postal_code = 34250 {{small|(originally 33591)}} | area_code = 941 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 12-71550<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 18, 2018|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 292127<ref name="GR3-u">{{cite gnis|292127|Terra Ceia|2026-02-27}}</ref> | website = | footnotes = | name = }}
'''Terra Ceia''' is an unincorporated community in Manatee County, Florida, United States that includes the {{convert|1932|acre|km2}} Terra Ceia Preserve.<ref>[http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/terraceia.html Terra Ceia State Park] Southwest Florida Water Management District</ref> It is located on '''Terra Ceia Island''' near the Southern shore of Tampa Bay near the intersection of US 19 and I-275, at the southern end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. It is surrounded by Tampa Bay to the north and west, Rubonia to the east, and Terra Ceia Bay to the south.
==Geography== The community is part of the Bradenton–Sarasota–Venice Metropolitan Statistical Area. The {{convert|1932|acre|km2|adj=on}} Terra Ceia Preserve is also located in the area and protected by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection. It offers fishing and hiking.<ref>[http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/terra_ceia_preserve_frog_creek.html Terra Ceia Preserve - Frog Creek] Southwest Florida Water Management District</ref>
==History== thumb|upright|A woman holding flowers at a farm on Terra Ceia Island, 1947
=== Early Inhabitants and Origins of Name === The first known inhabitants of Terra Ceia were the Timucuan Indians. These people lived quietly on the western shore of Terra Ceia. Proof of their existence can be seen in the shell mounds that dot the area. In 1539, Hernando De Soto and his men established a camp at the Indian mounds of Terra Ceia and rested there for six weeks before continuing their exploration of the southeastern United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunday Favorites: The History of Terra Ceia Island|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-the-history-of-terra-ceia-island-p19479-133.htm|website=thebradentontimes.com|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>
By the late 1700s, Terra Ceia became a temporary home to Cuban and Spanish fishermen who set up temporary camps and homes during their seasonal fishing expeditions. Records show that Spanish cartographers labeled the island Terra Ceia. One version of the origin story of the name says that this meant ‘Land of Rosia,’ a reference to Ranchero de Rosie, a Cuban fishing rancho located there at the time. Cuban fishermen utilized the ranchero to meet with native people for trading and to catch and prepare fish for shipment to Cuba. An alternative name explanation in the 1930s is that Terra Ceia is a misinterpretation of ‘terra cielo’ meaning heavenly land.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunday Favorites: The History of Terra Ceia Island, Part 2|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-the-history-of-terra-ceia-island-part-p19502-133.htm|website=thebradentontimes.com|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref> A subsequent 1970 explanation stated that Terra Ceia is a possible misspelling of ‘terra ceja’ which would translate to ‘land’s summit.’<ref>{{Cite web|title=The True Meaning of Palma Ceia|url=https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1058&context=sunlandtribune}}</ref>
=== 19th Century Settlers === In 1843, Joseph and Julia Atzeroth became the first permanent settlers on the island. Originally from Bavaria, Germany, the Atzeroth family came to Terra Ceia seeking a warm, southern climate that would improve Julia's liver disease. The Atzeroths built a small cabin on the north shore of Terra Ceia Bay and applied for 160 acres of land under the federal government's Armed Occupation Act of 1842.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The history of Terra Ceia|url=http://www.terra-ceia-via.com/story-of-terra-ceia.php|access-date=2020-05-13|website=Terra Ceia Village Improvement Association}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Upham |first1=Samuel C. |title=Notes from Sunland, on the Manatee River, Gulf coast of South Florida: its climate, soil and productions : land of the orange and guava, the pine-apple, date and cassava. |date=1881 |publisher=E. Claxton & Company |location=Philadelphia, PA |pages=18–21 |url=http://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/usf%3A45187#page/21/mode/1up |access-date=10 January 2023}}</ref> Other families began homesteading on Terra Ceia shortly after. A post office would open in Terra Ceia on February 11, 1891.<ref>{{Cite book|last=McInnis|first=M. T.|url=https://cdm16681.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16681coll2/id/5006|title=Speech by M.T. McInnis "Forgotten Communities of Manatee County"|year=1967|pages=16}}</ref> By 1897, 127 households resided in Terra Ceia, most of them growing citrus, vegetables (celery in particular) and flowers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sunday Favorites: The History of Terra Ceia Island Part 3|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-the-history-of-terra-ceia-island-part-p19520-133.htm|website=thebradentontimes.com|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>
=== 20th Century === During World War I 45 residents of the town would serve in the military. Of those who served: 23 were in the Army, 17 in the Navy, 3 in the Coast Guard and two in other branches.<ref>{{Cite web|title=WW1 Service Cards|url=https://www.floridamemory.com/discover/historical_records/wwi/|access-date=2020-07-16|website=Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida}}</ref> One resident would notably serve as an early aviator in the US military.<ref>{{Cite web|date=November 22, 1919|title=Percy B Armstrong|url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/192297|access-date=2020-07-15|website=Florida Memory: State Library and Archives of Florida}}</ref>
==== Interwar Era ==== In 1926, a storm surge washed over the island and made it hard to grow crops there. The Seaboard Airline railroad soon no longer provided service and the rail line and the depot was abandoned. The Great Depression caused the Bank of Terra Ceia to fail in 1931. The former bank building currently houses a post office, which has been operating since 1891.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article34870605.html|title=Manatee History Matters: Terra Ceia island was Heavenly Land for produce|access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fphsonline.com/|title=FPHSonline.com|website=www.fphsonline.com|access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-the-history-of-terra-ceia-island-part-p19502-133.htm|title=Sunday Favorites: The History of Terra Ceia Island, Part 2|website=thebradentontimes.com|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thebradentontimes.com/sunday-favorites-the-history-of-terra-ceia-island-part-p19520-133.htm|title=Sunday Favorites: The History of Terra Ceia Island Part 3|website=thebradentontimes.com|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Manatee County, Florida}}
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Category:Unincorporated communities in Manatee County, Florida Category:Sarasota metropolitan area Category:Unincorporated communities in Florida Category:Populated places on Tampa Bay Category:1843 establishments in Florida Territory Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1843