Wekiva or Wekiwa (Apopka, Wekiwa Springs, Sweetwater: subdivision, live, moving)

[EndersDrift]

Until recently I had never even heard it referred to as Wekiwa. I've always known it as Wekiva.

I see some websites say one, some say the other. One actually said Wekiva Springs is next to Wekiwa Springs...

I can't seem to find any clear cut answer are these the same place and if so which is the correct name or is it like Tuskawilla and Tuscawilla, same thing two different spellings?

[Wilshire81182]

I always call it Wekiva as well but I have seen it spelled both ways.

[Crane's Rooster]

Same place just different spelling. Check out Wekiva Marina on a weekend, pretty happening place to grab a beer and hang out by the River.

[brinkofsunshine]

I think (from a quick look on wikipedia), the park is Wekiwa and the river is Wekiva. Either way, I've never heard anyone pronounce it with a "w". I always say Wekiva.

[nativefla]

The Indians that lived in the area used the w spelling for still water and the v spelling for moving water.

[2goldens]

Originally Posted by nativefla

The Indians that lived in the area used the w spelling for still water and the v spelling for moving water.

Interesting.

[chrisonthebeach]

I grew up in Apopka, and now I'm 58 yrs old. When I young, there wasn't any Wekiva. Wekiwa Springs rd was paved to Wekiva Springs Park, Where Sweetwater Oaks subdivision is, the road was a dirt rd, and you pretty much needed a 4 wheel drive to go down it. I never heard of the word Wekiva, until they built a subdivsion named Wekiva, which is in Seminole county. Seminole county paved that dirt rd and named it Wekiva Springs rd. I found out from the rangers at Wekiwa Springs Park that the word Wekiwa is a indian word for bubbling water, and Wekiva is running water. The spring is in Orange county where it bubbles, comes up from the ground, and the water runs down, (the river) through Seminole county, where they use the word Wekiva.

[maketrax]

Originally Posted by chrisonthebeach

I found out from the rangers at Wekiwa Springs Park that the word Wekiwa is a indian word for bubbling water, and Wekiva is running water. The spring is in Orange county where it bubbles, comes up from the ground, and the water runs down, (the river) through Seminole county, where they use the word Wekiva.

I've heard rangers say that at the park as well, but they are just stating what they've been told, and it is not accurate. The truth is that Wekiwa (with a W) is the Creek-Seminole word for a spring. The pronunciation of a soft-w, sometimes perceived as a v, resulted in cartographers mislabeling maps in later years. The maps drawn in 1838 and 1849 were spelled Wekiwa. And contrary to popular belief that Wekiva (with a V) means "flowing water", it was actually just an alternate spelling used by developers.