Fivay was once a thriving company town in West Pasco County, Florida, with a population exceeding 2,000 people at its peak. Founded around 1903 by five wealthy investors known as the “Five A’s,” the town centered on the Aripeka Sawmill Company and featured extensive industrial facilities including multiple sawmills, a dry kiln, and a planing plant. The company owned all aspects of life in Fivay, from housing to commerce, issuing scrip currency that could only be spent at the company store. Despite its advanced infrastructure for the time, including an electric plant and sophisticated water system, the town’s reliance on unsustainable timber practices led to its rapid decline by 1912. As accessible timber was exhausted, operations scaled back and the entire town was sold off in early 1912. The machinery was scrapped or relocated, while many company houses were moved to nearby towns. Today, only historical markers, Fivay High School, and Fivay Road remain as reminders of this once-prosperous community. Local historian Jeff Cannon has helped preserve the legacy by uncovering archaeological artifacts from the site.
The Forgotten Boomtown of Fivay in West Pasco County
