Aripeka is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in the U.S. state of Florida, along coast of the Gulf of Mexico at the border dividing Pasco and Hernando counties. The ZIP Code for the community is 34679, but it was originally assigned as 33502. As of the 2020 census, the population was 320.
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Aripeka, Florida | |
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Census-designated place (CDP) & Unincorporated Community | |
![]() The historic former Aripeka Post Office on the Pasco County side of the town | |
![]() Location of Aripeka in Hernando County and Pasco County, Florida. | |
![]() ![]() Aripeka ![]() ![]() Aripeka | |
Coordinates: 28°25′56″N 82°39′51″W | |
Country | United States |
State | Florida |
Counties | Pasco, Hernando |
Area | |
• Total | 1.02 sq mi (2.64 km2) |
• Land | 0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2) |
• Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2) |
Elevation | 5 ft (2 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 320 |
• Density | 389.29/sq mi (150.40/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP Code | 34679 (originally 33502) |
Area code | 727 |
FIPS code | 12-01875[2] |
GNIS feature ID | 0293914[3] |
Aripeka is located at 28°25′56″N 82°39′51″W on both sides of Hammock Creek, a small tidal inlet to the Gulf of Mexico. Similar in geophysical structure to Hernando Beach, Bayport, and Pine Island, Florida, Aripeka is surrounded by marshland, mostly within Hernando County. The Pasco-Hernando county line is located at the South Hammock Creek Bridge.
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
2020 | 320 | — | |
U.S. Decennial Census[4] |
The community of Gulf Key was settled in this area in 1873 and a post office by that name was established in 1883. The post office was known briefly as, "Argo". It was replaced by the Aripeka post office in 1895. Aripeka is named for an early nineteenth-century Seminole chief, who is thought to have lived nearby. The town was divided when Pasco County separated from Hernando County in 1887. The post office, which was originally in Hernando County, moved across the Pasco County line in 1921. According to the historical marker in the town, Babe Ruth visited Aripeka to fish. On June 3, 1993, the Pasco County Historic Preservation Committee dedicated the town a State Historic Site.
The main road through Aripeka is County Road 595, named Aripeka Road in Pasco County and Osowaw Boulevard in Hernando County. This road was part of the original Dixie Highway and suffers frequent flooding in the heart of town due to its close proximity to the water. CR 595 leads southeast 1.8 miles (2.9 km) to U.S. Route 19 and northeast 4 miles (6 km), also to US 19.
Municipalities and communities of Hernando County, Florida, United States | ||
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County seat: Brooksville | ||
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Unincorporated communities |
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Municipalities and communities of Pasco County, Florida, United States | ||
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County seat: Dade City | ||
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Unincorporated communities |
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Ghost towns |
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Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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