Whats In a Name?

November 2024

How Our Substations Got Their Names

As Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative and assisting crews got to work restoring power in the wake of Hurricane Helene, the first question on every member’s mind was when their power would be back on. But as the cooperative started reporting which substations were without transmission service, another question came up: “How did the substations get their names?”

Most recently, those names have been based on the substation’s location. But in others, they are reminders of SVEC history. Some even go back to the very earliest days of the cooperative.

As Rapid Fiber Internet continues to spread throughout our service area, we are also using these same names to let consumer members know where the service is available. So, brush up on some SVEC history and learn where the names of our substations came from.

Stagecoach Substation

Named for Stagecoach Road, also known as County Road 132, in Suwannee County where it is located. It’s the newest of SVEC’s substations – activated in 2016.

185th Road Substation

Named for 185th Road, also known as Falmouth Road, in Suwannee County where it is located.

Burnham Substation

Named for the Burnham community of Hamilton County where it is located.

Blackmon Substation

Named after S.B. Blackmon, who served on the cooperative’s charter board of trustees from 1937-70.

Blair Substation

Named after Roy Blair, who served on the cooperative’s board of trustees from 1949-83.

Croft Substation

Named after J.N. Croft, who served on the cooperative’s board of trustees from 1971-93.

Davis Substation

Named after Perry Davis, who served on the cooperative’s charter board of trustees from 1937-68.

Johns Substation

Named after H.L. Johns, who served on the cooperative’s board of trustees from 1947-72.

Sandlin Substation

Named after P.D. Sandlin, who served on the cooperative’s board of trustees from 1946-87.

Scott Substation

Named after Reginald Scott, who served on the cooperative’s board of trustees from 1966-2010.

Smith Substation

Named after Madison L. Smith, who served on the cooperative’s charter board of trustees from 1937-71.

Walker Substation

Named after J.C. Walker, who served on the cooperative’s board of trustees from 1968-2005.

Ward Substation

Named after W.S. Ward, who served on the cooperative’s board of trustees from 1945-67.