Hernando Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hernando County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 census, Hernando Beach had a population of 2,452.
Geography
The community is in southwestern Hernando County, along the Gulf of Mexico. Shoal Line Boulevard forms the eastern edge of the CDP, and the community extends from Osowaw Boulevard in the south to Minnow Creek in the north. The southern end of the CDP is west of U.S. Route 19 at Timber Pines; the northern end is southwest of the community of Weeki Wachee Gardens and west of U.S. Route 19 at Weeki Wachee Springs.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Hernando Beach CDP has a total area of , of which are land and , or 13.38%, are water.
History
Hernando Beach, situated northwest of Tampa, FL, is a picturesque waterfront canal community. Developed by Charlie Sasser between 1959 and 1965, the area's unique geography was shaped by earth sourced from coastal mining operations and extensive dredging efforts. The north section of Hernando Beach boasts deep and wide canals leading directly to the Gulf of Mexico.
alt=Aerial Photo of the Flats in Hernando Beach|thumb|Aerial Photo of the Flats in Hernando Beach
However, the area's growth faced regulatory challenges when wetland development restrictions were imposed in 1971, halting further expansion. This led to a legal dispute between Sasser, the state authorities, and the Hernando County Commission, resulting in the preservation of Hernando Beach's natural state.
Demographics
left|thumb|Blue Pelican Marina