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Winter Springs, Tuskawilla came to be when a New York merchant made a fortune in lumbering and trade with the Spanish. The holdings from
 Spanish land grants included the land, later named Winter Springs. Henry Gee, a wealthy landowner and slave driver, and his son, John Henry Gee, persuaded the territorial governor part of the old land grant along Lake Jesup. The lake's wharves were as far down as steam boats could land frieght for wagons to haul to Maitland and Orlando. Many farmer brought their crops to the lake's wharves. W.W. White, whose warf near Clinton Springs had everything the settlers needed, was one of the most successful merchants at Lake Jesup. Soon, Lumbering crews, sawmills, and turpentine stills moved were being built in the south, as well as the movement of cattle along the spring-fed lakes. Fewer than 600 people were residents of the area when it was incoorperated as North Orlando in 1959. Now, Winter Springs is home to over 33,487 plus people, and has the largest area of the county's seven cities. |
