History

100 Years in 2019

The City of Inverness incorporated on March 6, 1919 and is preparing to celebrate 100 years as a city. The City is home to the newly renovated Valerie Theatre Cultural Center and the Historic Old Courthouse Museum. 

The Valerie Theatre dates back to the 1920s silent movie era, but was recently beautifully restored into modern cultural center with a calendar of entertainment from concerts, plays, educational exhibits, comedians and movies. 

The Historic Old Courthouse Museum is home to the Citrus County Historical Society and houses special collection exhibits and hosts a number of special events throughout the year. The iconic building is known for its copper cupola and clock face on all four sides. It also has been made famous for being part of the 1961 Elvis Presley movie Follow that Dream. 

Before Inverness became a city, it was a settlement called "Tompkinsville." This 1860s community was named for A. D. Tompkins, also known as ""Uncle Alf" who aimed to draw settlers with mail service and a sawmill.  Tompkin's brother-in-law, Frank M. Dampier, Sr., is credited with opening the first Inverness store and laying out the town. This town was sold to a firm in Jacksonville, and the name was changed to Inverness for its blue water of the Tsala Apopka Lake, which was reminiscent of the headlands and lochs of Scotland.