Florida NY Chamber of Commerce

Nestled in the southeast corner of New York state, the Village of Florida is as rich in history as the Black Dirt Region that surrounds it. Settled by immigrants in the early 1700’s, Florida began as a farming community and it was soon discovered that the soil was the perfect environment for onions! Organized from the start the Village of Florida formed one of the first Chambers of Commerce in the Hudson Valley in 1760. It was dedicated to growing the local economy through serving our business owners, a mission that continues to this day.

Florida is the birthplace for notables such as Elijah Churchill, who, as a sergeant in the Connecticut Dragoons, received the first Purple Heart in 1783 from General George Washington. And William Henry Seward, Governor of New York, Secretary of State for Presidents Lincoln and Johnson and the purchaser of “Seward’s Folly,”now known as the State of Alaska. And the renowned Jimmy Sturr, an American polka musician, trumpeter, clarinetist, saxophonist and leader of Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra. His recordings have won 18 out of the 24 Grammy Awards given for Best Polka Album. Bobby Matuszewski, owner of Quaker Creek Store, has created such an amazing reputation for his family’s gourmet store in the Black Dirt Region that it’s attracted the likes of Food Network’s Chef celebrities like Bobby Flay and Anthony Bourdain. Meanwhile Ciarán McGoldrick, who operates Glenmere Farm, participated in The Food Network Chopped Champion show on December 26, 2023 winning the grand prize of $10,000.