The "Gem of the Suwannee Valley," Chiefland offers many different facets of quality living that make it one of the best places to live in Florida. Winner of the 2000 Florida Rural Community of the Year Award, the city of 2,000 residents - with thousands more nearby in the Greater Chiefland area- enjoys the best of two different worlds. Chiefland has largely remained true to its rural heritage. Farming is still an important way of life, and many newcomers have chosen to settle in the area to enjoy the peaceful, pastoral lifestyle amid some of the most beautiful natural surroundings in the country.

Southern hospitality still prevails in Chiefland as well. However, the city is also enjoying an unprecedented economic boom. The success of several major chain stores has helped to make Chiefland the commercial hub of the Tri-County area as businesses offering all manner of services have sprung up along the U.S. Highway 19 corridor.

While area residents once had to travel as far away as Gainesville for many of their shopping needs, Chiefland has grown to the point where competition for sales of goods and services draw thousands of consumers to city businesses each day. Competition among professional services has also increased, bringing local citizens a wider variety of options in fields such as health care.

For recreation, Chiefland has several fine parks and a variety of youth league sports. The recently created Strickland Park is one of the finest facilities in the state for a city of Chiefland's size. The downtown Chief Theatre on East park Avenue is home to the Suwannee Valley Players, a local group of thespians who put on plays for the enjoyment of local citizens. The group stages productions four to six times per year, usually for multiple showings. Chiefland is also considered the home of beautiful Manatee Springs State Park and is within easy driving distance of other natural attractions in the area. The city has two fine hotels that are often filled with tourists interested in exploring the local environment.

Just outside of the city, Chiefland Golf and County Club offers the best golfing experience in the Tri-County area. Set in a lovely landscape, club members have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent years to improve the greens and offer a more challenging course. Overall Chiefland is a great place to work and live and with its continued economic growth will always offer a little bit of something for everyone.