This 1847 Survey map delineates land that lies on Tampa Bay, north of Ruskin, in roughly the area where today's Apollo Beach is located. Note the marking of salt marshes on the western edge of the map, and the rather extensive forestation (indicated by tree marks) inland. This can give an idea on the character of the land before many settlers arrived.

The first official survey of Florida was performed around 1824. The original survey notes and plats have been preserved and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has made these General Land Office (GLO) Early Records available to the public in electronic format. If you wish to explore the records, they can all be found at this web site: http://www.labins.org/survey_data/landrecords/landrecords.cfm.

This 1910 Subdivision Plan was filed with Hillsborough County to intiate land sales in Ruskin. Note that the street names running east and west are named for well-known (by the standards of 1910) authors and philosophers. For reference. College Avenue is in its current location. 4th Street is today's US 41. Bellamy Avenue is today's Shell Point Road.

This 1843 survey, conducted when Florida was still a territory of the United States, indicates the basic delineation of Township 32S, Range 19E, lands including the eastern parts of today's Ruskin and much of Sun City Center, south to today's Hillsborough County line. This initial survey was conducted using a beginning point in Tallahassee with Townships running North and South from that point, and Ranges East and West from that point. No proprietary rights can be attached to this map. This map and many historical survey maps can be found: http://www.labins.org/survey_data/landrecords/landrecords.cfm

This survey was from the initial survey of East Florida lands commissioned when Florida was still a Territory of the US Government. All of Florida was surveyed into Townships (running north and south) and Ranges (running east and west) with all measurements begun with meridians established in Tallahassee, FL. This survey map, completed in 1843, shows the basic outline of lands, south of Bull Frog Creek and north of Today's Ruskin Inlet, encompassing today's modern Apollo Beach area between Ruskin and Gibsonton. No proprietary rights can be attached to this map. This map and many historical survey maps can be found: http://www.labins.org/survey_data/landrecords/landrecords.cfm

This important survey map of Township 30S, Range 20E, includes the Alafia River basin. Importantly, notice the dashed line in the map at the western edge of the map. This is from an 1843 of the US Military Reservation for Fort Brooke, originally 16 miles square and encompassing land on the western edge of this plat. That was surveyed in 1843 by A. M. Randolph. The section lines were added in 1852 by Charles Hopkins. No proprietary rights can be attached to this map. This map and many historical survey maps can be found: http://www.labins.org/survey_data/landrecords/landrecords.cfm

This 1930 survey map was drawn to include 2 additional islands at the mouth of the Alafia River which were omitted in the original survey of 1852. The two islands are one labeled J. W. Williams in Section 23, and Pepper Key in both Sections 22 and 27. No proprietary rights can be attached to this map. This map and many historical survey maps can be found: http://www.labins.org/survey_data/landrecords/landrecords.cfm

This 1852 survey map of Township 30S, Range 19E includes the area surrounding the the mouths of the Alafia River and Bull Frog Creek and would include all of today's Gibsonton. This survey was commissioned by the State of Florida in response to the Federal Swamp Act of 1850 permitting Florida to sell "swamp" land. A survey of those lands was necessary before any sales could occur. This survey, completed by Deputy Surveyor, Charles F. Hopkins, was completed in April, 1852. No proprietary rights can be attached to this map. This map and many historical survey maps can be found: http://www.labins.org/survey_data/landrecords/landrecords.cfm

1853 Survey Map of Bullfrog Mound, surveyed by C. F. Hopkins. The island, cited at the mouth of the Bull Frog Creek, south of the Alafia River, is not present on modern maps. Map was produced in 1907 and was housed at the Office of the Surveyor General in Tallahassee, FL. No proprietary rights can be attached to this map. This map and many historical survey maps can be found: http://www.labins.org/survey_data/landrecords/landrecords.cfm

Recording of a tour of Shell Point Road by Mac Miller, outlining the history along this road. Originally was called Bellamy Road. Miller also drove by three Dickman houses still extant in Ruskin: The President's Home (G. McA. and Adaline Miller...now the Ruskin Women's Club Building and on the National Historic Register), the A. P. Dickman home, and the L. L. Dickman home.