Parrish has roots to Florida's early history.

The following text is on a monument in Oak Hill Cemetery:

"Oak Hill" Parrish Florida Captain William B Hooker acquired this land from the US Government in 1850. William H Johnson raised Sea Island cotton on the land with Hooker. Both were prominent soldiers during the Third Seminole war. Major William Iredell Turner (1812-1881) moved here from Tampa in 1865.

His son Charles A Turner purchased the property from Hooker in 1866 and then deeded it to Major Turner in 1867. Major Turner who named the plantation Oak Hill was an outstanding soldier during the Second Seminole war and the War Between the States. He was commander of Ft Brooke in Tampa for a period during the last mentioned war and later commanded Turner’s Independent cavalry C.S.A, in which he served as major.

He is credited with naming Gainesville with leading the founder of Palmetto to that place and with establishing “Braidentown” and was the first postmaster of that town. He was chairman of the first Manatee County School Board. Was a Manatee County Commissioner and formerly had been a State Senator from Hillsborough County. When Major Turner and Major John T Lesley were helping confederate secretary of State Judah P Benjamin escape following the collapse of the confederacy, they hid Benjamin in a swamp behind Major Turners House. He remained there for several days until they were sure the area was cleared of federal soldiers.

He was then transported to Gamble Mansion The settlement of Oak Hill the name of which was later changed to Parrish grew up around this plantation. Erected by Gen Robert E Lee Camp Sons of Confederate Veterans Major William L Turner Chapter Military Order of the Stars and Bars And the Turner Family 1985.

The late Ola Mae Sims acted as mayor of Parrish for a great number of years keeping the black community up to date with all the current information within the county. There is a park named after Ola on Erie Road to keep the legacy of helping each other alive.

Myakka River State Park

In the unique setting of one of Florida’s oldest State Parks you will have a chance to glimpse all of the local natural wonders in their most primitive state, from the bald eagles perched high in the moss-draped oaks to the alligators sunbathing on the shores of the Myakka River.

You can rent bikes to explore the nature all by yourself, rent a canoe to look a gator in his eyes, or go on a boat tour with a guide. If you want to get a feeling what Florida was alike when  the Spaniards arrived, this place might come fairly close to it.