The Suwannee Valley Transit Authority (SVTA) was initially formed in late 1972 under a Federal Grant by the Office of Economic Opportunity as a ‘seed project.’ The Suwannee River Economic Council operated it.  Operations began in the four Florida counties of Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, and Lafayette, with four 10-passenger vans and three school buses.  Columbia County covers about 783 square miles, with a population at that time of about 29,375.  Hamilton County covers approximately 514 square miles.  Lafayette County has about 548 square miles, and Suwannee County has about 685 square miles.