Walinwa was a community by
Lake Weohyakapka,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. The lake's name is translated as walk-in-water, and the settlement's name is a condensed form of those English words.
Turpentine
Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthene, terebinthine and (colloquially) turps) is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Mainly used as a special ...
was produced in the area.
In 1910, a
Seaboard Air Line Railroad connection was built to the town. In 1918, the community was also served by the
Kissimmee River Railway, a steam rail line in
Polk County,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
stretching 7.26 miles from Walinwa to
Nalaca in an area that developed with logging, sawmill, and turpentine industries. A Seaboard subsidiary it ran from Walinwa to Nalaca. The rail line extended from the Seaboard branch line connecting
Plant City and Walinwa. It also served the logging and mill town of
Sumica and the turpentine settlement of
Nalaka, Florida.
Kissimmee River Railway was incorporated December 3, 1917. It was operated by the
United States Railroad Administration. The turpentine town is noted in a historical marker for
SUMICA.
The Walk-in-the-Water Wildlife Management Area (WMA) abuts one part of the lake's shore.
References
Unincorporated communities in Polk County, Florida
{{PolkCountyFL-geo-stub