Beck Hammock, Florida

Beck Hammock is an area located in eastern Seminole County, Florida. Seminole County is located in the central part of the state. This area is known as a “hammock” by local standards. "Webster’s Dictionary" describes a hammock as “a fertile raised area with hardwood trees.” This particular hammock was named “Beck Hammock” after the Beck family that settled in this area. In an obituary in the "Sanford Herald", the earliest mention of the family was Mrs. Jay Beck and it states she moved here from South Carolina in the late 1800s.

Originally, cattle were brought to this area by the Spanish around 1565. The cattle industry thrived in Florida by the 1800s. The Beck family was one of these ranching families. The first known appearance of the name “Beck Hammock” on a map was approximately 1928.

Today this area is under major redevelopment. Housing subdivisions and commercial properties are on what used to be orange groves and grazing land. The nearby airport is under expansion as well. When visiting this area in Seminole county the natural beauty is still evident. Surprisingly there are no street names or references to the original name of this location. The coordinates are approximately 28 . 46 N, 81. 12’ w. The current downloaded free satellites images are about 6 years old and the area has gone under major transformation since these pictures.

Sources:
*The Sanford Herald
*Seminole county museum of natural history
*Websters Dictionary