Socrum is an unincorporated community in Polk County, in the U.S. state of Florida.[1]

History

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A post office called Socrum was established in 1907, and remained in operation until 1918.[2] According to tradition, the name is a contraction of "soak 'em", on account of the marshy town site.[3] An alternate derivation is a conjunction of "soak & rum", as early settlers would keep barrels of rum both relatively cool and safe from native populations by immersing said barrels in "Indian Lake" - a small lake at 28° 09.89" N, 82° 00.54" W as part of modern-day Bethel Baptist Church near the corner of North Socrum Loop Road and North Campbell Road [4]

References

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  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Socrum, Florida
  2. ^ "Polk County". Jim Forte Postal History. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  3. ^ Sawyer, Martha F. (July 8, 1987). "Polk towns named from various sources". Lakeland Ledger. pp. 5C. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  4. ^ "Our Communities: A look at Socrum". Lakeland Ledger. March 4, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2016.

28°10′05″N 82°01′08″W / 28.16806°N 82.01889°W / 28.16806; -82.01889