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Citrus County Route 490

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Following reaching Lecanto on Citrus County Route 491 I turned west on Florida State Road 44 to the Homosassa Trail which is part of Citrus County Route 490.


Citrus County Road 490 an approximately 8 mile highway from FL 44 in Lecanto west to Homosassa.  From the very start of CR 490 at FL 44 there is a sign indicating that the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins State Historic Park is 8 miles away.



CR 490 on Homosassa Trail is a somewhat narrow and winding roadway.  About one mile west of FL 44 the route of CR 490 crosses over the current northern extension project for FL 589/Suncoast Parkway.






FL 589/Suncoast Parkway is currently being extended 13 miles north from the present terminus at US 98 to FL 44.   The current extension of FL 589/Suncoast Parkway follows the general path of CR 491 to the west.  While the new extension of FL 589/Suncoast Parkway won't include a junction with CR 490 there will be a new interchange at CR 482 on Cardinal Street.  In the long term FL 589/Suncoast Parkway is expected to be extended to US 19/98 in Crystal River but it has yet to be funded.





Entering Homosassa Springs the route of CR 490 on Homosassa Trail curves it's way to a junction with US 19/98.










Although CR 490 is signed as "To" along US 19/98 the route is actually concurrent through Homosassa Springs.


At Halls River Road CR 490 has a junction with it's alternate CR 490A.  CR 490A utilizes Halls River Road westward to reach the Homosassa River.  East of US 19/98 and CR 490 the route of CR 490A apparently continues east to CR 491 on Grover Cleveland Boulevard but it is likely it doesn't exist as there appears to be no signage.


While CR 490 is multiplexed on US 19/98 it meets Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.  Homosassa Springs is a zoo that is built around the namesake springs which are a popular viewing area for manatees.







Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park features various other animals such as alligators, a hippo named Lu, black bears, cougars, flamingos and many others.








Although it isn't presently signed CR 490 continues west from US 19/98 on Yulee Drive towards Homosassa.


Westward on Yulee Drive CR 490 isn't signed.  At Fishbowl Drive CR 490 turns left on Yulee Drive into Homosassa.



The definition of CR 490 apparently continues all the way west to the Homosassa River on Cherokee Way.  Eastbound the first CR 490 reassurance shield is located at Yulee Drive and Fishbowl Drive.


Entering Homosassa the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins are just north of CR 490/Yulee Drive.  The Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins are a small State Historic Park which was owned by former state delegate David Yulee.  The Yulee Sugar Mill was part of a 5,000 acre sugarcane plantation (unfortunately run with slave labor) which operated from 1851 up until 1864 when it was destroyed during the Civil War.






The photo below is from 2014 at the western terminus of CR 490 overlooking a small island on the Homosassa River.


CR 490 was originally part of FL 490 which essentially was on the same corridor.  FL 490 definitely ended at the Homosassa River at one point but it appears to have been an extension to the route.  This 1964 State Road map shows FL 490 existing between FL 44 west to US 19/98.   FL 490 appears on late 1980s topographical maps, CR 490A appears to have been created when it's parent route was relinquished.

1964 Florida State Road Map


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Joseph said…
David Levy Yulee was one of the first senators from Florida. He was the first Jewish Senator in the United States.

Levy County is named for him as is the town of Yulee in Nassau County
7:55 PM
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