1909 and completely renovated and restored 100 years later, continues to serve today as the home of the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce. Additional services were added to the community, including the Suwannee River Water Management District that was established in 1972, and the Suwannee Valley Transit Authority, established the same year to provide transportation services to disadvantaged and rural citizens.
In 1978, Ted Bundy, perhaps America’ s most infamous serial killer in recent times, was captured after a vicious murder spree. The remains of his last victim, twelve-year old Lake City native Kimberly Leach, were found in the northwestern part of Suwannee County after eight weeks of searching. The trial for Kimberly’ s murder began in November of 1979 in the Suwannee County Courthouse, but was soon moved to Orlando due to media coverage. Bundy was found guilty of Leach’ s murder and sentenced to death. His total number of victims will never be known, but estimates range from twenty-nine to over one hundred. After exhausting his appeals and confessing to thirty murders, Bundy was executed in Florida in 1989.
The 1980s were a time of economic expansion as President Ronald Reagan’ s“ Reaganomics” shifted into high gear around the country. The Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park was opened to the public in 1983- 1984 by the Suwannee County Development Authority after having been first owned by the county. Bought by the Cornett family in the 1990s, this park continues to attract tens of thousands from around the United States to hear the biggest names in country, folk, bluegrass, rock, and a variety of other types of music.
Since 1990, Suwannee County has continued to grow, not only in population, but in the number of businesses and services provided to the community. Stores such as Publix, Walmart, Holiday Inn Express, and Lowe’ s have made their homes here. Older buildings, such as the old jail and library, some former public schools, and business structures, were torn down to make way for new buildings and additional parking. New elementary, intermediate, and middle schools were completed in Live Oak, and a
Suwannee Springs
City Hall, Early 1900s
new elementary school was built in Branford, during this time. Services have been increased by the addition of new libraries in Live Oak, Branford, and recently, Dowling Park. A 911 Addressing System, and later an Enhanced 911( E911) System was implemented in the early 1990s to provide faster emergency response. A new Suwannee County recreational center, called the Sportsplex, was completed in 1997 to provide additional recreational facilities to the community. This center continues to expand to meet a growing need.
Suwannee County continues to grow as retirees from south Florida move from the hustle and bustle of busy urban living to the more relaxing nature of the county’ s rural feel. Ecotourism attracts thousands of visitors from around the world each year, many to travel down the famed Suwannee River or explore the more than 70 springs that make the county the“ Cave Diving Capital of the World”. Annual music festivals held by the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park north of Live Oak attract the biggest names in their respective genres.
2026-2027 | SUWANNEE CHAMBER IMPACT 19