Mosquito County, Florida

Last updated
Mosquito County
Former county
Mosquito County.xcf
Country United States
State Florida
County seat near Ormond (1824–1835),
New Smyrna (1835–1843),
Enterprise (1843–1844) [1]
FoundedDecember 29, 1824 [1]
DisestablishedMarch 14, 1844 [1]
Population
 (1830)
  Total733 (15 heads of families)

Mosquito County (also labeled on maps as Musquito County) is the historic name of an early county that once comprised most of the eastern part of Florida. Its land included all of present-day Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, Seminole, Osceola, Orange, Lake, Polk and Palm Beach counties.

Contents

Mosquito County was disbanded in 1844.

History

The whole east coast of central Florida was known as "Los Musquitos" starting from the 1500s until 1844. [1]

After Andrew Jackson received authority to take possession of the Florida territory ceded by Spain in 1821, he divided the whole territory into two counties, along the Suwannee River. [1] All of the area west formed Escambia, and all of it east formed St. Johns County. [1] This was largely consistent with the previously existing British colonies of West Florida and East Florida.

Mosquito County was split off from St. Johns on December 29, 1824, and the county seat was designated at John Bunch's house just west of the present location of Tomoka State Park. [1] At roughly 220 miles (350 km) long by 90 miles (140 km) wide, it was the largest county in the new territory. [1]

In 1830, the census listed 15 heads of households, and a total of 733 persons, mostly slaves. [2] In January 1835, the county seat was moved to New Smyrna. [1] However, the Second Seminole War had largely depopulated Mosquito County of white settlers by the end of that year. [3] In 1838, there was so little activity in the county that the St. Johns County Clerk was designated to keep the records of the county. [3] However, by 1840, although the census listed no white inhabitants other than the military personnel based at Fort Pierce and New Smyrna, [2] the county had its own officials. [3]

In 1841, legislation was introduced and passed to rename the county "Leigh Read County". However the governor did not sign the bill within the legal time, so the renaming did not take place.

In 1842, the Armed Occupation Act was passed, providing a quarter section (160 acres or 65 ha) to any head of family who settled on property south of Ocala/Ormond. [2]

In 1843, the county seat had moved again to Enterprise.

In 1844, the expansive area of Mosquito County was cut in half with the southern half being named St. Lucie County, and the northern half being renamed Orange County. [3] St. Lucie County was renamed Brevard County in 1855. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian River County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Indian River County is a county located in the southeastern and east-central portions of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 159,788. Its seat is Vero Beach. It is Florida's 7th richest county and in 2000 was the 87th richest county in the U.S. by per capita income.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Orange County is a county located in Central Florida, and as of the 2020 census, its population was 1,429,908 making it Florida's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Orlando, the core of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2.67 million in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osceola County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Osceola County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 388,656. Its county seat is Kissimmee. Osceola County is included in the Orlando–Kissimmee–Sanford, Fla. Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Lucie County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

St. Lucie County is located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 329,226. The county's seat is Fort Pierce, while the largest city is Port St. Lucie, making up 62% of the county's population. St. Lucie County is the principal county of the Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminole County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Seminole County is a county located in the central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 470,856, making it the 13th-most populated county in Florida. Its county seat and largest city is Sanford. Seminole County is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volusia County, Florida</span> County in Florida, United States

Volusia County is located in the east-central part of the U.S. state of Florida between the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2020 census, the county was home to 553,543 people, an increase of 11.9% from the 2010 census. It was founded on December 29, 1854, from part of Orange County, and was named for the community of Volusia, located in northwestern Volusia County. Its first county seat was Enterprise. Since 1887, its county seat has been DeLand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hobe Sound, Florida</span> Census-designated place in Florida, United States

Hobe Sound is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) in Martin County, Florida, United States, located along Florida's Treasure Coast. The population was 13,163 at the 2020 census, up from 11,521 in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treasure Coast</span> Region in Florida

The Treasure Coast is a region in the southeast of the U.S. state of Florida. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and comprises Indian River, Martin, and St. Lucie counties. The region, whose name refers to the Spanish Treasure Fleet that was lost in a 1715 hurricane, evidently emerged from residents' desire to distinguish themselves from the Gold Coast to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Marion Hernández</span> American planter, politician and military officer

Joseph Marion Hernández was a slave-owning American planter, politician and military officer. He was the first delegate from the Florida Territory and the first Hispanic American to serve in the United States Congress. A member of the Democratic-Republican Party, he served from September 1822 to March 1823.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canaveral National Seashore</span> National Seashore in the state of Florida, U.S.

The Canaveral National Seashore (CANA) is a National Seashore located between New Smyrna Beach and Titusville, Florida, in Volusia and Brevard Counties. The park, located on a barrier island, was created on January 3, 1975, by an act of Congress. The park is split between Brevard and Volusia counties, with 9 miles of the seashore in Brevard County, and 15 miles of the seashore in Volusia County. CANA consists of 24 miles of beaches, dunes, mangrove wetlands, and a large portion of the Mosquito Lagoon. The Canaveral National Seashore is also the longest expanse of undeveloped land along the East Coast of Florida. The Canaveral National Seashore is home to more than 1,000 plant species and 310 bird species. CANA occupies 57,662 acres (23,335 ha). There are 3 major beach sections in the seashore. The southern section is Playalinda Beach, the middle section is Klondike Beach, and the northern section is Apollo Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enterprise, Florida</span> Unincorporated community in Florida, United States

Enterprise is an unincorporated community in Volusia County, in the U.S. state of Florida, and its former county seat. Situated on the northern shore of Lake Monroe, it is flanked by the cities of DeBary and Deltona. Enterprise was once the head of navigation on the St. Johns River and at various times, the county seat for three different counties: Mosquito, which was renamed as Orange; and lastly, for Volusia, which was formed from part of Orange County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 1 in Florida</span> Highway in Florida

U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) in Florida runs 545 miles (877 km) along the state's east coast from Key West to its crossing of the St. Marys River into Georgia north of Boulogne and south of Folkston. US 1 was designated through Florida when the U.S. Numbered Highway System was established in 1926. With the exception of Monroe County, the highway runs through the easternmost tier of counties in the state, connecting numerous towns and cities along its route, including nine county seats. The road is maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Dummett</span> American politician

Douglas Dummett (1806–1873) was an American planter, plantation owner, and politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida representing St. Johns County in 1843, and a member of the Florida House of Representatives representing Mosquito County in 1845. He was instrumental in developing the Indian River Citrus industry in Florida.

Pennichaw is a rural unincorporated community located in south Volusia County, Florida, United States. It located on Lake Harney Road, approximately 1.8 miles south of Maytown Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Florida history</span>

This is a timeline of the U.S. state of Florida.

The History of Brevard County can be traced to the prehistory of native cultures living in the area from pre-Columbian times to the present age. Brevard County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The geographic boundaries of the county have changed significantly since its founding. The county is named for Judge Theodore W. Brevard, an early settler, and state comptroller, and was originally named St. Lucie County until 1855. The official county seat has been located in Titusville since 1894, although most of the county's administration is performed from Viera.

William F. Russell was a settler in Florida, soldier, and member of the Florida House of Representatives, serving as Speaker of the House in 1854. Russell was born in North Carolina. He became a major, and was put in charge of the Indian River Settlement in St. Lucia County, which broke up following an attack by Seminole Indians in July 1849. Russell was shot in the arm during the attack. Russell's brother-in-law John Barker was killed. The rest of his family escaped to New Smyrna.

The Hernández–Capron Trail also known as the Hernández Trail is a historic trail in Eastern Florida extending between New Smyrna in Volusia County and Fort Pierce in St. Lucie County. It was the first road from St. Augustine to the Fort Pierce area. It was originally cut through the Atlantic Coastal Ridge by Joseph Marion Hernández. The majority of the trail is in wilderness, although some portions traverse developed areas.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Eriksen, John M., Brevard County...A Short History to 1955
  2. 1 2 3 Stone, Elaine Murray, Brevard County From Cape of the Canes to Space Coast
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Shofner, Jerrell H., History of Brevard County Volume 1

Further reading