Located on Florida's Gulf Coast, Citrus County boasts a rich and diverse landscape, where modern amenities are found side by side the traces of "old Florida" that remain. Opportunities to experience the natural beauty of "the real Florida" are plentiful, and the singular history of the region, including the prehistoric creatures, native cultures, and early settlers who called the region home, is accessible in the county's wide variety of historic sites and public resources. From the countless disappointments of Spanish conquistadors searching for riches in the region to the establishment of Fort Cooper during the Second Seminole War, from the hardy pioneers who carved an existence from the Florida wilderness to the thousands of others who took part in the boom-and-bust of industry, the unique story of Citrus County continues to unfold. Today, newcomers to the area find homes in the county's planned communities, while vacationers are drawn to "Mother Nature's Theme Park." Restored and preserved for future generations, significant historic structures such as the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum are receiving new life and the county's past is becoming recognized as a vital treasure.