On November 23, 2019, a State Historical Marker was placed to commemorate the once prominent town of Chipco and the Seminole Chief for which it was named. 

Two local professors, Karen and Eric Hannel, discovered the lost 19th-century town after three years of historical and archeological research. 

The fascinating unearthing is a window into Florida’s past, especially given that Chipco fiercely fought against the forced removal of Seminole from the state and was eventually considered a “friend of the whites.”

The town thrived when Tampa was still little more than a trading post and it boasted a school that doubled as a church on Sundays.  It also had a general store, a post office, a planing mill, and a grist mill, as well as a train depot. 

Chipco Historic Marker honors Seminole Chief

The local legend indicates that Chief Chipco and his small band of Seminole traded with locals and a friendship grew prompting the growing 1870’s community to eventually take Chipco’s name as its own.  By 1909 the town disappeared. 

The historical marker dedication took place November 23, 2019, near the former site of the town of Chipco (the midpoint of Jessamine Road between St. Joe Road and Blanton Rd (CR-41)).  Blanton Rd is just off of I-75 exit 293. 

The text of the marker was approved by the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida.  Drs. Hannel currently have an article under consideration documenting their extensive research into the town of Chipco.