Did you know the City of Fruitland Park was once named Gardenia?

Fruitland Park was originally named after the Fruitland Nurseries of Augusta, Ga. However, at that time there was already a town in Florida named Fruitland, so the U.S. Postal Service refused to permit the name Fruitland Park. In 1884, the town was officially renamed "Gardenia," but the railroad had printed timetables using the name Fruitland Park and refused to recognize the name Gardenia. Hence, the name Fruitland Park persisted on everything but the mail. Four years later, postal officials relented, and the name Fruitland Park was reestablished as the city's official name.

Reprinted from Quality Cities March/April 2005

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