USA > Florida > Florida, 1513-1913, past and future; four hundred years of wars and peace and industrial development > Part 29
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The waters of Nassau county abound in fresh and salt water fish in many varieties and the natural oyster beds are the equal of any that border the State of Florida.
Fernandina is the county seat, the most important town within the county, and is located on one of the best deep water harbors on the Atlantic coast. For a hundred years this has been a shipping point of varying importance, and it has an important part in the later Spanish history of Florida.
BAKER COUNTY
Baker county, although among the smallest in area, has a rich history and a bright future. In area it covers 587 square miles, its population in 1890 was 3,333, in 1900 it was 4,516 and in 1910 it was 4,805.
The topography of the county is generally level and the soil mostly sandy with some small extent of hammock lands. The principal pro- ductive interests are farming, truck growing and lumbering. Within the past few years many northern farmers have become interested in the settlement of lands near the center of the county and the Irish potato industry has already assumed large proportions with corre- sponding financial advance. Baker county produces a large acreage of sea island cotton, of corn, oats, sweet potatoes, sugar cane and pea- nuts. The county seat is Macclenny. The battlefield of Olustee is located in the western part of the county and the site is marked by a handsome monument, erected and dedicated by the Confederate women of Florida. The battle of Olustee was the most serious which occurred in Florida in connection with the Civil war, and the decision of this clash at arms settled the attitude of Florida as strongly entrenched with the Confederate cause.
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HAMILTON COUNTY
Hamilton county, in the northern part of the state, is bordered on the north by the State of Georgia, on the east and south by the Suwanee river and on the west by the famous Withlacoochee river. It is one of the smallest counties in the state, having an area of 528 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 8,507, in 1900 it was 11,081 and in 1910, 11,825. Although these figures indicate no marked advance in population during the last census period, the fact remains that in its industrial growth a large advance was made in agricultural development and this has continued so that the census of 1920 will doubtless show large increase in wealth and developed resources.
The principal crop is sea island cotton, of which many thousand bales are produced each year. Peaches, pears, plums and figs as well as grapes yield abundant harvests. The manufacture of lumber, the production of naval stores and phosphate mining are important in- dustries. The larger portion of Hamilton county is covered with merchantable timber and the clearing of these lands has been as the consumption of the lumber mills demand the standing timber. It is probable that with large areas ready for agricultural purposes, the agricultural development will progress much more rapidly.
Jasper is the county seat, a thriving town of increasing commercial importance.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Columbia county has an area of 792 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 12,877, in 1900, 17,094, and in 1910, 17,689. The natural timber growth is pine and a large variety of hardwoods. In agricul- ture, sea island cotton is a large product. Pecans and tobacco are both important soil products beside a large variety of vegetable and berry fruits. The natural grasses and forest plants afford fine pas- turage for cattle and sheep and this is one of the few counties in Florida where sheep raising has assumed considerable proportions. Lake City is the capital of the county, and is one of Florida's thriv- ing, enterprising cities. It is the center of a large agricultural development and it has also important educational interests.
SUWANEE COUNTY
This county has an area of 689 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 10,524, in 1900 it was 14,544 and in 1910 it was 18,603.
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Geographically, Suwanee county is located in what is known as Middle Florida. It is traversed by the principal railroads connect- ing the eastern and the western parts of the state. Its resources are agricultural, and particularly, the raising of sea island cotton, which here is of an unusually long and silky fiber. Other crops raised here largely for home consumption, are sweet potatoes, corn, sugar cane, Irish potatoes, cassava and the usual vegetables which belong in this latitude. Lumber manufacturing is a most important industry, and several manufactories of hardwood timbers are in operation. The county authorities have within recent years paid particular attention to the construction of hard-surfaced roads, realizing their importance to the industrial development of the county.
The county seat is Live Oak, which is also the financial capital of the county. It is a thriving city of nearly five thousand people.
BRADFORD COUNTY
Bradford county has an area of 552 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 7,516, in 1900 it was 10,295 and in 1910 it was 14,090. This county has an unusual variety of soils-rich hammock, fertile sugar and rice muck lands, pine loam, and deep and undulating and flat woods loam, all underlaid with clay sub-soil. The development of the agricultural resources of this county has been delayed until within recent years by the immense uncleared tracts of timber, which were being used for turpentine and lumbering purposes. However, large areas have been cleared and the development of special crops has become a feature. In the neighborhood of Starke, many acres have been devoted to strawberry culture, which matures two or three wecks later than the Hillsborough county fruit, but still in time to reap the benefit of the first-of-the-season prices in New York markets. From two hundred dollars to five hundred dollars per acre profit has been reported from these strawberry lands.
Sea island cotton, sugar cane, rice and cattle-raising are sources of large profit. The general elevation of Bradford county is from one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty feet above sea level. With its naturally dry soils and good drainage, it is one of the most healthful counties in the State of Florida.
The little city of Starke is the county scat, thriving and rapidly growing. Other important towns in the county are Lake Butler, Lawtey, Hampton, New River, Sampson City and Highland.
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ALACHUA COUNTY
Alachua county has an area of 1,262 square miles. Its popula- tion in 1890 was 22,934, in 1900 it was 32,245 and 34,500 in 1910. It has a general level of about two hundred and fifty feet above the ocean. It has a rolling surface which affords excellent drainage, and it has a crop variety equal to that of any northern state, the only cereal which cannot be produced profitably being wheat. Cotton, tobacco, sugar cane, vegetables and fruits in large varieties are pay- ing crops. Cassava of fine quality is a demonstrated possibility on this soil, and opens the way for the development of starch manufacture on a large scale. Some of the finest orange groves in the state were formerly located in this county, and large fortunes were gained from them.
Among the first phosphate mines to be opened and worked in Florida were those found in Alachua county, and this industry has developed in later years to immense proportions. Timber interests of yellow pine and a large variety of hard woods, are very valuable here. The county seat is Gainesville, one of the important cities of Florida. It had a population exceeding 6,100 in 1910, and it has a decidedly progressive and metropolitan air. It is the site of the University of Florida, and to secure the establishment of this insti- tution the citizens of Gainesville made large and rich donations of land and many subscriptions of money. This university, which is described elsewhere in this book, now in its seventh year, is one of the most advanced institutions in the south, and its curriculum has been so planned as to afford the best advantages to the young men of the state.
One of the most important railroad centers in this part of the state is at High Springs. This town owes its growth to the enter- prise of its citizens. Among other important centers of population are Archer, Micanopy, Rochelle, Island Grove, Melrose and Campville.
MARION COUNTY
This county has an area of 1,647 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 20,796, in 1900 it was 24,403 and in 1910 it was 26,950.
Marion is at the center of the peninsular counties of Florida. It has a rolling surface of beautiful hills and rich lands between. It is essentially an agricultural county and has a reputation for a yield of cotton, corn, peas, potatoes, sugar, syrup and many other
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products, in addition to its large product of citrus fruits. The ham- mock lands of Marion county, covering almost one hundred thousand acres, are productive of some of the finest citrus groves in the state. Conditions also have favored the cattle industry, and it has been undertaken here within recent years in a scientific manner by the introduction of high grade pedigreed cattle. Marion county's stock has taken blue ribbons through all the southeastern states.
Ocala is the county seat of Marion county and one of the most important points in middle Florida. Its population increased from 3,385 in 1900 to 4,370 in 1910. It is particularly fortunate in its location and surroundings. The far-famed Silver Springs and Ockla- waha river are but a few miles east and afford navigation for com- merce to the St. Johns river and through the port of Jacksonville to the markets of the world. Orange Lake, in the southern part of the county, has been made a bird reservation by the United States Government, and here are protected the nesting grounds of a large variety of game birds. Among the other important centers of Marion county are Flemington, Orange Springs and Mackintosh.
LEVY COUNTY
Levy county borders the Gulf of Mexico. It has an area of 1,143 square miles of land territory. Its population in 1890 was 6,586, in 1900 it was 8,603 and in 1910 it was 10,361. Topographically the lands of the western part of the county bordering the Suwanee river are hammock and pine, most of it very rich for agricultural pur- poses. The eastern border of the county is of high pine land, rich in its dark loam soils, underlaid by limestone and clay. Between the two extremes is a wide diversity of soils, such as is common in all sections of Florida and in the southern part of the county lies the famous Gulf Hammock extending for thirty miles along the gulf and from eight to ten miles wide. This is the largest body of dense growing hardwood in the state. It contains all the hardwoods that belong in Florida and has a large growth of red cedar. These tracts are among the richest in wild game that are known in the peninsula. Bear, deer, wild turkey, squirrel, quail with an occasional panther making the section famous among sportsmen.
Magnificent bodies of cypress timber of the highest grade and of the most compact bodies of the southeastern states are found in this county, and it is claimed that some of these acres are known to have cut as high as 120,000 feet of merchantable timber.
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Among the fruits are the peach, plum and strawberry ; among the farm crops are corn, sweet potatoes, peanuts, cowpeas and oats, and a large variety of native grasses that are especially favorable for stock-raising.
The county seat is Bronson, located in the northeastern part of the county in the midst of a fine farming section and with a prosperous and energetic population.
LA FAYETTE COUNTY
LaFayette county has an area of 1,244 square miles. Its popula- tion in 1890 was 3,686, in 1900 it was 4,987 and in 1910 it was 6,710. Its mineral resources, so far as they have been developed, are phosphate rock and although these are known to be very extensive, they have not yet been worked to their producing capacity.
The agricultural products of the county include the sea island cotton, corn, oats, sweet potatoes, field peas, peanuts, velvet beans and sugar cane products.
The county seat is Mayo, a thriving town of increasing importance. Old Town on the lower Suwanee river is one of the early known historical points in Florida, and during the Spanish invasion of the country and during the period of English rule over the eastern part of the state it was a rendezvous for various Indian tribes.
TAYLOR COUNTY
Taylor county borders the Gulf of Mexico, which touches it on the south. It has an area of 1,064 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 2,122, in 1900 it was 3,999 and in 1910 it was 7,100.
Taylor county was originally a part of Madison county, from which it was separated by the Legislature. In soil it has not as large a variety as some of the other important counties of the state. but this soil is well adapted to the production of a high grade of sea island cotton, sugar cane, rice, cassava and all the vegetables that belong in this latitude. The large area of pine forests have made it important in the naval stores industry. So far as is known, the only indications of oil and natural gas in the state have been found here. These indications have not as yet led to the investment of capital for their possible development into important industries.
Taylor county has a long coast line and the fishing industry affords employment to a considerable portion of the citizens in the
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southern part, which is a source of large income. No section of the Florida coast is richer in its production of salt water fish, although the extreme southern part of the peninsula has more varieties.
Perry is the county seat, which in 1910 had a population slightly exceeding one thousand inhabitants.
MADISON COUNTY
Madison county touches the State of Georgia along its northern border. It has an area of 719 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 14,316, in 1900 it was 15,446 and in 1910 it was 16,920.
Madison county was organized very early. in the statehood of Florida. It then extended from the Georgia line to the Gulf of Mexico and from it at various periods the counties of LaFayette and Taylor were formed. It is a part of the rich agricultural section that stretches across the northern part of Florida, midway between the ocean and gulf. Its lands are generally undulating and even hilly. The western half of the county has large areas of oak and hickory and the eastern part is well timbered with yellow pine. About one- third of the county is under cultivation. The principal money crop is sea island cotton, but in more recent years other more profitable soil products have taken the attention of the farmers.
Madison, the principal town and county seat, was organized in 1838. It has a population of about two thousand progressive citizens 'who have built up a modern city.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Jefferson county is located at that part of the western section of Florida, where the distance between the gulf and the Georgia state line is shortest. It has an area of 585 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 15,757, in 1900 it was 16,195 and in 1910 it was 17,210.
Topographically its surface is generally high and rolling, offer- ing nearly all the variations one may find in traveling through sev- eral states. Originally it was well covered with a virgin growth of pine forests and as the land rises to higher levels an abundance of live oak, hickory, magnolia, poplar and a variety of mahogany were found.
The soil presents considerable variety adaptable to the usual variety of vegetables and farm crops to be found in this locality. Within the last ten years large attention has been paid to the cultiva-
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tion of the pecan and large groves have been set to this nut with much profit to their owners. It seems probable that it will be one of the richest pecan producing sections in the Gulf states.
The capital is Monticello, which has sent to the other parts of the state and Georgia some of the most progressive and energetic men that have helped build Florida into a great state. It has retained for its own upbuilding men of character and energy, who are making this one of the most important cities in the center of northern Florida.
THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
Area 10,856 Square Miles-Population, 190,960-Density of Population, 17.6
This district includes the thirteen counties of Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla, Liberty, Franklin, Calhoun, Jackson, Holmes, Washing- ton, Bay, Walton, Santa Rosa and Escambia. This district, which is the most thickly inhabited of any section of this state, extends eastward along the gulf from Alabama. It includes some of the richest land and the finest area of hardwood timber, in the United States. It is rich in historical association, for it formed a large part of the territory of West Florida under English rule, and was occu- pied in pre-historic times by numerous and populous tribes of native Indians.
LEON COUNTY
This county has an area of 715 square miles. Its population in 1890 was 17,752, in 1900 it was 19,887 and in 1910 it was 19,427. The area of this county varies much in topographical character, rang- ing from the flat woods in the southern section of the county to the beautiful hills in the central and northern parts, which give it an aspect of beauty and variety that it were difficult to find elsewhere in the south.
From some of these elevations the general aspect of the country is beautifully rolling, with forest and field alternating. Its hill- sides are rich in timber-magnolia, live oak, water oak, hickory and wild cherry, abounding in immense, unbroken tracts, and overhung with magnificent growths of clematis, woodbine and wild grape vines.
About one-third of the county has been reduced to agricultural cultivation, while vast areas are still possessed by turpentine farmers and the lumbermen.
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Its soil differs much from that in many other sections of the state. It is principally an alluvium of red clay loam, overlaid with sand in many sections. This soil is rich in phosphoric acid and potash, and these elements, with an equability of temperature and seasonal rainfall, make its productive capacity among the richest in the state. The staple products are corn, sea island cotton, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, oats and tobacco. One of the most important crops at the present time is tobacco, the culture of which has been undertaken on a large scale. The famous "Vuelta Abajo" seed is best adapted for planting here, and the production is one of the best for cigar wrappers. The yield runs from eight hundred to one thousand pounds to the acre, and commands from twenty to forty cents a pound, according to quality.
The natural pasturage in Leon county makes it possible to engage extensively in cattle-raising, and some of the finest herds in the state are in this county. Special attention has also been paid to the breed- ing of horses, and the Leon county stock is noted for its excellent staying qualities and handsome appearance. There is in Leon county fine opportunity for the development of dairying, which has not yet been improved to a large degree.
In fruits and vegetables, Leon county holds its own with other sections of this latitude. It is likely that this county excels any other section of its size in the production of grapes and wine. For a number of years the San Luis vineyards, near Tallahassee, have yielded large quantities of grapes, and many thousands of gallons of choice wine, all of which are sold in New York and Paris, to private consumers. The catawba, concord and scuppernong, and several other varieties of grapes fruit well and bear abundantly in Leon vineyards. Figs, pomegranates and persimmons reach their best development in this county.
The principal city is Tallahassee, the capital of Florida as well as the county seat of Leon county. This site was selected as the location for the capital of the Territory in 1824, and in May of that year an act was passed by the National Congress providing a grant of land for the permanent seat of government, which point was to be regarded as the point from which the principal meridian and parallel should run. The main part of the city is located on a pretty hill, some three hundred feet above sea level. In reality, Tallahassee, like ancient Rome, has been built upon seven hills. The State College for Women occupies one of these, the Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes surmounts another, and from both
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magnificent views of the city itself, embowered in trees of gigantic size and wonderful foliage, make it appear almost ideally beautiful.
The magnificent natural groves, and the hills that surround the city of Tallahassee, have also been made the sites of correspondingly magnificent homes, which are occupied during the winter season by men of wealth whose residences and business are in the north or in Europe.
GADSDEN COUNTY
This county has an area of 540 square miles of land surface. Its population in 1890 was 11,894, in 1900 it was 15,294 and in 1910 it was 22,198. Gadsden is one of the finest agricultural counties of Florida and its growth and prosperity are indicated by its increase in population. Its lands range from heavy red clay, with extensive forests of hardwood timber, to light, sandy soils covered with pine timber, which have been for years a source of wealth. Its rolling character and numerous streams, fed by natural springs, give an excellent water power in many parts of the county, which, however, have not yet been developed to more than a small fraction of their possibilities.
For a score of years or more, tobacco growing has been a leading industry. The annual crop has several times run as high as a million and a half pounds. The variety principally cultivated is the Sumatra, which is raised under shade and the tobacco from this county took the gold medal at the Paris Exposition. Cotton, of the sea island variety, is a staple and a large paying crop. Rice, peanuts, oats, Irish potatoes, cabbage and Bermuda onions are the chief crops.
The only mineral deposits of special value that have been uncovered are the clays, particularly fine kaolin and fullers' earth. The latter product has become an article of considerable commercial importance.
The county seat is the city of Quincy, which has a population of about three thousand, five hundred. It is the headquarters of the tobacco industry of this section. At Chattahoochie is located the State Asylum for the Insane.
WAKULLA COUNTY
Wakulla county has an area of 601 square miles, or 384,640 acres, of land surface. Its population in 1890 was 3,117, in 1900 it was 5,149 and in 1910 it was 4,802.
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Wakulla county borders the Gulf coast of Florida and topographi- cally it is generally rolling although broken in some sections by an extensive ridge or plateau. This surface forms a water shed which extends with gradual slope toward the gulf, where it drops off into the flat woods. On the higher lands there is much pine, dense growths of oak and hickory and denser hammock land. The hammocks are heavily timbered with oak, magnolia, sweet gum, cedar, hickory and several varieties of the bay tree. These resources have been but little developed and present important possibilities of development.
The soil of the county is rich in many sections and is capable of producing large yields of sugar cane, cotton, sweet potatoes and corn. There is no better general farming land in the state and it is well adapted to stock-raising. Along the coast the fishing industry is an important one and several large lumber mills have an important com- mercial output. Crawfordville is the county seat and central busi- ness point of the county. In general the resources of this county have not been developed largely and they offer substantial rewards to the farmer.
LIBERTY COUNTY
Liberty county has an area of 823 square miles of land surface. Its population in 1890 was 1,452, it was 2,956 in 1900 and in 1910 it was 4,700. It is bordered on the west by the Apalachicola river and is separated from the gulf by Franklin county, of which Apala- chicola is the port for both counties.
The turpentine interest is a large one and the pine forests which cover much of the county, have been "boxed" for this industry. It is a rich section for vegetable growth and for many of the fruits which thrive in this latitude. The capital is Bristol, a thriving town of about five hundred inhabitants, and it has become decidedly popular in recent years as a winter home for northern visitors.
FRANKLIN COUNTY
Franklin county is one of the smallest in the state, having an area of 541 square miles. It had in 1890 a population of 3,308, in 1900, 4,890 and in 1910, 5,200.
Many important rivers flowing from Georgia and Alabama were formerly the great highways of communication, and this circum- stance made the county a locality peculiarly favored by the Indian tribes. This is shown by the large number of Indian mounds which
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