Chiefland calls itself the “Gem of the Suwannee Valley” and was incorporated in 1929. Chiefland is located in the northwest corner of the county, where Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist counties adjoin (known as the “Tri-County area”). As growth in north Florida increased during the last quarter of the twentieth century, Chiefland became a local center for shopping.
Chiefland has three public schools: Chiefland High, Chiefland Middle, and Chiefland Elementary. The School Board of Levy County controls their operation and also supervises two charter schools: Nature Coast Middle School and Whispering Winds.
The College of Central Florida has plans for a $12 million permanent facility on 35 acres (14 ha) of donated and purchased land 5 miles (8 km) north of the city. The college currently operates the Levy Center in downtown Chiefland. The new location has been designated the Jack Wilkinson Levy Campus in honor of the former high school math teacher’s donation of $2.5 million to the campus.
LEVY COUNTY
Its scenic beauty, wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities make Levy County the perfect destination. With nearly one fifth of the county set aside for state and national wildlife areas, Levy is blessed with numerous parks, preserves, springs and wildlife refuges where visitors can discover rest and recreation in abundance. In fact, there are over 25 nature based recreational sites in Levy.
The historic Lower Suwannee River borders the county’s north end, while the meandering Withlacoochee winds through the southern part. Thanks to its unique location, Levy County has the distinction of a wide variety of environments, from dense hardwood forests and marsh lands to sand hills and Gulf Coast waters.
Florida boasts one of the largest concentrations of freshwater springs in the world — almost 400 total — and remarkably, nearly 200 of those are located within the Suwannee Basin. There are 18 “first-magnitude” springs in North Florida, so classified because they discharge 100 cubic feet of water per second. That’s a mind-boggling 64 million or more gallons of water per day! No wonder Levy County’s numerous springs are one of its most popular destinations for both serious scuba divers and those who just want to swim or snorkel in the crystal clear waters.