WPA Histories—Union Co.

Mary Johnson
2-10-37 

HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

In 1821 St. Johns County was established of which Union County was then a part: in 1824 Alachua County was created from St. Johns, which included Union County; in 1832 Columbia County was created from Alachua, which embraced Union County. Union County remained a part of Columbia until 1858, when New River and Suwannee were created from part of Columbia: New River County included what is now Union, Bradford and Baker; in 1861 Baker was created from New River and remaining portion of New River was changed to Bradford, which included the present Bradford and Union Counties. At the session of the legislature in 1921, Union County was created from a part of Bradford and declared to begin to exist as a County on Oct. 1 - 1921; the name was obtained from the common word meaning Unity. The parent Counties have been St. Johns, Alachua, Columbia, New River and Bradford.

First officers of the County were, S. T. Dowling, Clerk of Circuit Court, A. C. Strickland, County Judge, W. S. Brannen, Sheriff, O. L Mizelle, Sup't of Schools, P. M Padgett, Tax Assessor, G. C. Driggers, Tax Collector, G. A. Epperson, Supervisor Registration.

The County has an area of 155,000 acres; a population according to census of 1935 of 5,428; real estate valued at $3,250,000.

Offices were rented for a while but in 1922, a corrugated iron and wooden building was constructed for a court house, and in 1936 a $38000.00 brick court house was built through a WPA project.

The principal industries of the County are farming, stockraising and naval stores industry. About 49.6% of the land is under cultivation; corn, peanuts, sugar cane, cotton, tobacco and early vegetables are the principal crops. The acreage of cotton and tobacco is on the increase. The soil is especially adapted to the growing of Sea Island Cotton. Pasturage in the county in fine and live stock thrives.

History of Union County Continued -

Lake Butler the site of Union County was surveyed and established as a town in 1859 and was the county site of New River County at that time. It has now a population of about 1000; it is situated on a beautiful lake of the same name. It is surrounded by a good farming section, and has naval stores interests. Raiford a small town of about 400 population is the location of the State Prison Farm. The state have in 1913 purchased a large tract of land, containing approximately 18,000 acres, the greater part of which is located in Union County, and began the construction of a State owned institution for prisoners. Worthington is noted for Worthington Springs, a spring of splendid medicinal qualities, as well as a swimming resort. Providence Village is surrounded by good farms. It is a very old settlement and was a stop over for stage coaches in the pioneer days. Dukes has naval stores industries and truck farming is carried on extensively. Johnstown has church and post-office and a community of persons, who own small farms.

The County has splendid railroad facilities, Lake Butler being the intersection of the Atlantic Coast Line and the Georgia Southern and Fla. railroads and has approximately 50 miles of paved state roads. Other than Lake Butler, the County has two lakes, Fisher and Dowling, which are stocked with a choice variety of fish.

During the Indian War forts were built for protection to settlers against Indians. One at Fort Call in the western part of [Union] County, one on north side of Lake Butler and one near Providence.

Union County has the distinction of being the birth place of two of our present U.S. Congressmen, Hon. R. A. Green and Hon. Joe Hendricks. Also the childhood home of Gen. Chas. P. Summerall.

Approved by C. B. Hayes
Clerk Circuit Court.

Mary Johnson
2-10-37

BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Sixth Census of State of Fla. by Hon. Nathan Mayo.
23rd Biennial report of Prison.
Division of Dep't of Agriculture.
Records on file with Clerk of Circuit Court.
U.S. Agricultural Report for 1935.
Laws of Fla. of 1921.

MARY JOHNSON

Boundary of Union County.

Boundaries of Union County shall be comprehended within a line beginning at Northeast Corner at a line in Midstream of New River to point of junction of New River and Santa Fe River and boundary of Bradford County; follows Santa Fe River to Mouth of Olustee Creek, also boundary of Alachua County; follows Olustee Creek, boundary of Columbia County, to dividing line between Range line 18 and 19 East; Follows this line North to Northwest corner of Section 19, then East on Section line and boundary of Baker County to point of beginning.

FEB 24 1937