The early economy was based on farming, citrus growing, and tourism. The small town grew and was incorporated in 1883. Johns River, then up Dunn's Creek to the town. The primary route used when people from up north came to Crescent City was by steamer along the St. People began to buy lots and come down, some as tourists and some as permanent residents. Like most developers of Florida real estate then and now, he spent a lot of money advertising his lots in northern newspapers enticing visitors to the shores of Crescent Lake. Griffing had formed the Crescent City Real Estate Company. The plat and layout for what is now Crescent City were soon created on the west side of the lake. Johns River is still known as Dunn's Creek.
The creek that joins Crescent Lake to the St. Griffing's wife Jennie, thought the lake had a crescent shape, and Mrs. Griffing came to the area in 1876 and purchased large acreage on what was then known as Dunn's Lake. Johns River.īack then it was known as the Rio de San Juan and is the longest river in Florida.Ĭharles R. In the 1700s English landowners settled in South Putnam and throughout the area, establishing rice and indigo plantations along the shores of the St. They began to disappear after Spain colonized Florida in 1565. Like most Florida places, Native Americans were the first residents of the shores around today's Crescent City. Miami, South Florida, and Keys within 100 miles.
