Not far from Gainesville is the small community of Florahome, once known as the center of a profitable truck-growing region. This population center actually had its genesis in 1899 when the Etoniah Canal and Drainage Company drained the prairie at the edge of town, making vast fertile acres available for farmland. Today, these drained mucklands support farming and timber enterprises. The only activity that resembles industry is peat mining, which is still agriculturally oriented. In spite of the fact that the local peat company has changed ownership several times, the enterprise has thrived for more than 50 years. New residents will find a variety of home styles and sizes in Florahome, where a close-knit community atmosphere and the pleasures of small-town living have remained relatively unchanged.