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Featured Article: Florida - First Two Counties

Florida - First Two Counties
#HistoryTuesday - Tuesday July 21ST 2026
 
205 years ago today on July 21ST 1821 Florida's first two counties were created - Escambia County and St. Johns County. The Suwannee River - flowing southward from the South Georgia swamps into the Gulf Of Mexico - was the border between the two counties of the soon-to-be combined Florida Territory (24 years before statehood).
 
That was about 4½ months after President James Monroe took possession of West Florida and East Florida from Spain. The U.S. Military governed both Floridas in the beginning - appointing future President Andrew Jackson as Governor. The Floridas were combined into one territory a year later on March 30TH 1822.
 
Escambia County covered all land west of the Suwannee River. Nowadays 21 counties represent the region - including Escambia County at the far west-end of the state in and around Pensacola. Escambia County - once about 29,000 square miles at its creation - is now just 875 square miles (land and water included).
 
St. Johns County covered all land east and south of the Suwannee River - some 475 miles down the coast - both coasts - from the Atlantic to the Gulf. Nowadays 46 counties represent the region - including St. Johns County on the Atlantic coast of the state in and around St. Augustine. St. Johns County - once about 39,400 square miles at its creation - is now just 822 square miles (land and water included).
 
So - before this land that we love today was known as Highlands County - formerly DeSoto County - formerly Manatee County - formerly Hillsborough County - formerly St. Lucie County - formerly Mosquito County - it was St. Johns County. (And there is no apostrophe in St. Johns.)
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