Starkey Ranch, Florida

Starkey Ranch
Unincorporated community
Starkey Ranch is located in Florida
Starkey Ranch
Starkey Ranch
Location within the state of Florida
Coordinates: 28°12′11.63″N 82°36′37.89″W / 28.2032306°N 82.6105250°W / 28.2032306; -82.6105250
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyPasco
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)

Starkey Ranch, commonly referred to as Starkey, is an unincorporated community in Pasco County, Florida. The community is a master-planned community along SR-54 by Wheelock Communities.

Neighborhoods

Starkey Ranch has 9 major neighborhoods:

Arts and culture

Libraries

Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center is the only library in Starkey. It is on the Starkey Ranch K-8 campus, and is a part of the Pasco County Library Cooperative.

Parks and recreation

Parks

Starkey Ranch District Park is the biggest park in Starkey Ranch, next to Starkey Ranch K-8. While the park is not fully finished, the park currently offers 5 softball fields, 3 multi-purpose fields, 2 concession stands, 4 pavilions, and a playground.

History

A plaque erected by the Starkey family in Starkey Ranch

In 1922, Jay Starkey bought 10 acres of what is now Starkey Ranch, for a ranch. Over the decades, he expanded his ranch to over 16,000 acres, with a goal to preserve a majority of the ranch. After his death, Jay Starkey Jr. eventually sold the majority of the ranch's land to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD); the land became the Jay B Starkey Wilderness Preserve. In 2013, Wheelock Communities bought the last 2,500 acres of Starkey Ranch to construct a master planned community, preserving some of the land for green space and miles of trails.

Education

The public school system for Starkey Ranch is Pasco County Schools.

As of May 2025, Starkey Ranch K-8 is the only school in the community and serves as the communities elementary school and middle school. While not in the community, River Ridge High School serves as their zoned high school. Creative World is one of the communities Pre-K school, though not a part of Pasco County Schools.

The STEAM / STEM Magnet Program Pathways for Starkey Ranch are James M. Marlowe Elementary, Bayonet Point Middle, and Wendell Krinn Technical High School.

References

  1. ↑ "Starkey Ranch | Neighborhood Guide". annebromberg.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Starkey Ranch". Starkey Communities. Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ "Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center | Pasco County Libraries". www.pascolibraries.org. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Starkey Ranch District Park - Pasco County | District Park Site Plan". Andreasen Design. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  5. ↑ Bedard, Diane (June 30, 2021). "Leaving a Natural Legacy in the Family Tradition: Heartwood Preserve -". NatureCoaster.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  6. ↑ "The History of Starkey Ranch | Welcome to Better - M/I Homes". www.mihomes.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Starkey Ranch K-8 |". Retrieved May 6, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Elementary School Boundaries 2025-2026". dsbpc.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  9. ↑ Goodyear, Celia (April 15, 2023). "Building Skills, Attracting Jobs". Guide to Greater Tampa Bay. Retrieved May 11, 2025.