SUWANNEE
E. A. PYNCHON
ADMINISTRATOR
WPA
L. S. RICKARD
ASST. ADMINISTRATOR
W. A McMULLEN, JR.
ASST. ADMINISTRATOR
FLORIDA WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION
(STATE OFFICE)
EXCHANGE BUILDING
PLEASE ADDRESS REPLY: ATTENTION
Live Oak, Florida
December 1st, 1936
Mrs. Fannie Lou Gaston,
District Supervisor,
Historical Records and
State Archives Survey,
Madison, Florida.
My dear Mrs. Gaston:
After reading over the history of Suwannee County written by Misses Marguerite Burnette and Virginia Parsons, I found that it was complete.
Although we are very proud of our county and know it to be one of the best, there are no other historical facts about the county other than those stated in this history.
Sincerely yours,
R. T. Miller [signed]
R. T. Miller,
Clerk of the Circuit Court,
Suwannee County, Florida.
RTM: vp
SOURCE MATERIAL USED IN WRITING HISTORY OF SUWANNEE COUNTY
1. Old county records
2. Old newspaper files
3. Special edition of the Suwannee Democrat, May 1934, giving complete history of the County.
Suwannee County
Suwannee County was created Dec. 21, 1858, with an area of 689 square miles. Its boundaries are the same as when the county was established, viz:
Hamilton County on the north, Columbia County on the east, Alachua and Lafayette Counties on the south and Madison and Lafayette Counties on the west.
The famous Suwannee River rising in the great Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, curves gently and gradually around Suwannee County on the north and west sides, separating it from Hamilton, Madison and Lafayette Counties. The river, from which no doubt the county received its name, is approximately 240 miles in length and ends in the Gulf of Mexico.
At the time the county was established, the population was about 200. It has increased steadily and is now about eighteen thousand.
The first Court House was located at Houston, six miles east of Live Oak. Houston continued to be the county seat until a short time after the war between the States when Live Oak was designated as the seat of justice. A two-story frame building on Wilbur Street served as the Court House until 1904 when the present Court House was built and the records moved to it.
Live Oak was so called because of the live oak trees which are plentiful in Suwannee County.
The county government is that prescribed by law. The county officers are Clerk of the Circuit Court, County Judge, Sheriff, Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, Superintendent of Public Instructions, Supervisor of Registration, Board of Public Instruction, five County Commissioners, four Justices of the Peace, three constables and a Probation officer. The county is represented in the State Legislature by one Senator and two representatives. Most of the county records are kept in fire proof vaults and are as well cared for as space and equipment will permit.
Live Oak, Branford and Wellborn are the only incorporated towns in the county.
Among the first schools established were Live Oak, Rixford and Houston. At the present time there are fifty-two school buildings in the county including white and negro schools.
Live Oak is the seat of the Florida Memorial College for negroes, the influence of which is evident among the colored people of Suwannee and adjoining counties.
In Suwannee County are found churches representing the following
Suwannee County
Page #2.
denominations: Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Catholic and Adventist. Many of these churches were established during the early years of the county's existence.
This is a good farming section and in addition to the farm products, others of importance are lumber and naval stores. Deposits of limestone and phosphate are also found. There is a crate mill at Live Oak and another at Houston. Live Oak also has a moss factory and a cotton gin. Three large tobacco warehouses are located at Live Oak, it being the largest tobacco market in North Florida and the only bright leaf tobacco market in the state.
Three railroads are in operation within the county and two state highways traverse it, State Road #1 running east and west, and State Road No. 90 running north and south.
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