Live Oak

Live Oak is a city in Suwannee County, Florida, United States. The city is the county seat of Suwannee County and is located east of Tallahassee. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 6,850.U.S. Highway 90, U.S. Highway 129 and Interstate 10 are major highways running through Live Oak.It is served by the Suwannee County Airport as well as many private airparks scattered throughout the county.One other Florida county also has a community named Live Oak, which is located in Washington County.HistoryThe founding of Live Oak dates back to shortly before the Civil War. Established in 1858, Live Oak was located at a junction between two strategically important railways: one operating between Jacksonville and Tallahassee, and another running south from Dupont, Georgia. A large live oak tree located off the railways was a gathering and resting spot for many of the workers on the line, and gave the new cityscape its name. The tree was formerly located where the now-present Pepe's Mexican Grocery on U.S. 90 is located.In 1879, the state legislature founded a normal school for blacks for the training of teachers; it developed as Florida Memorial University, now based in Miami.