Riverview Real Estate & History

Riverview is an unincorporated community located along the I-75 corridor just thirty minutes from Tampa and only fifty minutes from Bradenton´s beaches. Originally referred to as "Peru," the area was home to Tocobaga Indians for centuries. In 1856, Peru was founded on the Alafia River´s south shore. The river´s name, Alafia is translated into meaning "River of Fire," and was given due to the phosphorus on the early river bottom that glowed during the night. The name Peru was given because of the Indian meaning "straight part of river." The Peruvian Mining Company, which mined phosphate from the Alafia River, took its name from the settlement of Peru. Settlement began on the north side of the Alafia River during the 1890´s and was referred to Riverview. The region´s first school was built in 1893 and the two communities were connected by a river ferry. Shortly thereafter, a bridge was constructed and a post office established. The post office periodically was moved from one side of the river to the other and back. The relocation of the post office back and forth caused much distress and eventually (in the early 1940´s), the Riverview side won out and the name Peru slowly went out of use. Some of the region´s early settlers include the Barnes, Bourgees, Boyettes, Buzbees, Hackneys, Hartleys, Mansfields, Moodys, Scotts, Thompsons, Whitts, and the Yeomans.

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