Notes from a Forgotten Coast: 1 Introduction

The “Forgotten Coast” is a stretch of Gulf of Mexico shore that encompasses Gulf, Franklin, and Wakulla counties in the panhandle of Florida. The popular legend is that a couple of decades ago, when the state was designing a new highway map, the names of several towns and islands from the area were left off. Perhaps more to the point, the coast is a place that has been neglected by development and time. This is not the Florida of Miami Beach; you are more likely to see beach houses with the names such as, “Cowboy Boots & Bathing Suits,” than high-rise, opulent condominiums. For many, this is “real” Florida.

Although the coast is sparsely population today, human settlements along the coast date back for at least 10,000 years. From the tenth through the fifteenth centuries, known as the Fort Walton period, Native Americans practiced agriculture, as well as harvesting local waters for shellfish and other resources. While up to 100,000 Native Americans might have lived in Florida prior to European contact, by the beginning of the nineteenth century the entire state of Florida had been depopulated of indigenous people, through introduced disease, slaughter, and forced relocation.

Prior to the establishment of the United States, western Florida had been controlled by the Spanish, the British, and returned to the Spanish rule in 1783. It is little remembered that at the time of American Revolutionary War, Florida was divided into two colonies. History books often focus on the thirteen colonies that formed the eventual United States; very few mention that there were fifteen British Colonies south of Canada. Today, there is very little that remains in the Forgotten Coast region to remind us of Florida’s colonial history. In fact, there are several points of west Florida history that are not well remembered.

With the nearest interstate about eighty miles away, the primary thoroughfare, paralleling the coastline, is U.S. Route 98. It is a desolate road in many areas, because it traverses swamps and forests. Once, we were touring a historic house in Apalachicola, when the tour guide noted living in the small remote town was usually a blessing. But, she noted with some regret, that the nearest Walmart was some two hours away. Every person on the tour took that as a positive. In the modern world, there is a seeming need for convenience. But, I would argue that this is part of the charm of the area. People make due, the scenery is largely unspoiled, and there are opportunities to focus on diversions.