There are 67
counties in the
state of Florida. It became a
territory of the U.S. in 1821 with two counties complementing the provincial divisions retained as a Spanish territory:
Escambia to the west and
St. Johns to the east, divided by the
Suwannee River. All of the other counties were apportioned from these two original counties. Florida became the 27th U.S. state in 1845, and its last county was created in 1925 with the formation of
Gilchrist County from a segment of
Alachua County.[1] Each county has a
county seat. In Florida, county seats typically have a
courthouse at a
town square. Of the current 67 counties and one historic county, 31 counties have changed their county seat at least once.
History
When counties were established some counties already had towns, which were soon named county seats. Several counties upon establishment lacked population centers and did not have a county seat for a year or more. Typically during those periods without a definite county seat, county courts and other local government business was held at the residences of community leaders or at churches.
A common cause for a county seat changing is the center of population changing after a new county is created. Railroads bypassing the current county seat is another common cause for a county changing its seat. A hurricane devastating the county seat has led to three counties to change their county seats. The hurricane that made landfall in September 1843 in the
Big Bend area devastated
Port Leon the county seat of
Wakulla County, Florida and
St. Joseph the county seat of
Calhoun County, Florida. The destruction left in
Everglades City by
Hurricane Donna in 1960 led to
Collier County changing its county seat in 1962.
Gulf County is the county to change its seat most recently. In 1965, it changed its county seat from
Wewahitchka to
Port St. Joe.
Two county seats have lost their status as a county seat and later regained it:
Newnansville was the county seat of
Alachua County from 1828 to 1832. In 1832, it became the county seat of
Columbia County. In 1839, it became once again the county seat of Alachua County.
Miami was the county seat of
Dade County from 1844 to 1866, and then regained its status as county seat in 1899.
Five county seats have later become the county seats of other counties:
Newnansville was the county seat of Alachua County from 1828 to 1832. In 1832, it became the county seat of Columbia County.
Susannah at Fort Pierce was the county seat of
St. Lucie County (renamed Brevard County in 1855) from 1844 to 1864. When a new county named
St. Lucie County was established in 1905, Fort Pierce was named the county seat.
Pine Level was the county seat of
Manatee County from 1866 to 1887. When
DeSoto County was created in 1887, it was named the county seat of the newly created county. It remained the county seat of DeSoto County until 1889.
Enterprise was the county seat of
Orange County from 1843 to 1846. It later became the county seat of
Volusia upon its creation in 1854, until it was replaced in 1888.
Established 1835 on
St. Joseph Bay and soon became the most populous town in the territory of Florida Suffered a
yellow fever outbreak in 1841. Remains of the abandoned town destroyed by the
storm surge of a
hurricane that stuck the Gulf Coast in September 1843.
There are 67
counties in the
state of Florida. It became a
territory of the U.S. in 1821 with two counties complementing the provincial divisions retained as a Spanish territory:
Escambia to the west and
St. Johns to the east, divided by the
Suwannee River. All of the other counties were apportioned from these two original counties. Florida became the 27th U.S. state in 1845, and its last county was created in 1925 with the formation of
Gilchrist County from a segment of
Alachua County.[1] Each county has a
county seat. In Florida, county seats typically have a
courthouse at a
town square. Of the current 67 counties and one historic county, 31 counties have changed their county seat at least once.
History
When counties were established some counties already had towns, which were soon named county seats. Several counties upon establishment lacked population centers and did not have a county seat for a year or more. Typically during those periods without a definite county seat, county courts and other local government business was held at the residences of community leaders or at churches.
A common cause for a county seat changing is the center of population changing after a new county is created. Railroads bypassing the current county seat is another common cause for a county changing its seat. A hurricane devastating the county seat has led to three counties to change their county seats. The hurricane that made landfall in September 1843 in the
Big Bend area devastated
Port Leon the county seat of
Wakulla County, Florida and
St. Joseph the county seat of
Calhoun County, Florida. The destruction left in
Everglades City by
Hurricane Donna in 1960 led to
Collier County changing its county seat in 1962.
Gulf County is the county to change its seat most recently. In 1965, it changed its county seat from
Wewahitchka to
Port St. Joe.
Two county seats have lost their status as a county seat and later regained it:
Newnansville was the county seat of
Alachua County from 1828 to 1832. In 1832, it became the county seat of
Columbia County. In 1839, it became once again the county seat of Alachua County.
Miami was the county seat of
Dade County from 1844 to 1866, and then regained its status as county seat in 1899.
Five county seats have later become the county seats of other counties:
Newnansville was the county seat of Alachua County from 1828 to 1832. In 1832, it became the county seat of Columbia County.
Susannah at Fort Pierce was the county seat of
St. Lucie County (renamed Brevard County in 1855) from 1844 to 1864. When a new county named
St. Lucie County was established in 1905, Fort Pierce was named the county seat.
Pine Level was the county seat of
Manatee County from 1866 to 1887. When
DeSoto County was created in 1887, it was named the county seat of the newly created county. It remained the county seat of DeSoto County until 1889.
Enterprise was the county seat of
Orange County from 1843 to 1846. It later became the county seat of
Volusia upon its creation in 1854, until it was replaced in 1888.
Established 1835 on
St. Joseph Bay and soon became the most populous town in the territory of Florida Suffered a
yellow fever outbreak in 1841. Remains of the abandoned town destroyed by the
storm surge of a
hurricane that stuck the Gulf Coast in September 1843.