St. Marks, Florida San Marcos | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 30°9′33″N84°12′26″W / 30.15917°N 84.20722°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Florida |
County | Wakulla |
Incorporated | 1963 [1] |
Government | |
• Type | Commissioner-Manager |
• Mayor | Paul Sheddan |
• Commissioners | John Gunter, Steve Remke, Paula Bell, and Sharon Rudd |
• City Manager and City Clerk | Zoe Mansfield |
• City Attorney | William C. Garner |
Area | |
• Total | 1.97 sq mi (5.09 km2) |
• Land | 1.96 sq mi (5.07 km2) |
• Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 274 |
• Density | 139.87/sq mi (54.01/km2) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
FIPS code | 12-62825 [3] |
GNIS feature ID | 0290282 [4] |
Website | www |
St. Marks is a city in Wakulla County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Tallahassee metropolitan area. St. Marks is located on the Florida Panhandle in North Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico. As of 2020, the population according to the U.S. Census Bureau is 274.
The approximate coordinates for the City of St. Marks is located at 30°09′33″N84°12′26″W / 30.159244°N 84.207152°W . [5]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), of which 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) is land and 0.52% is water.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, St. Marks has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).
Originally known as San Marcos de Apalache and centered on a Spanish fort, this town was founded by the Spanish in the 17th century in what was then Spanish Florida. There was a trading post of Panton, Leslie & Company in the late 18th century. A long time has passed since St. Marks last had appreciable importance, but this place on Apalachee Bay in Florida's Big Bend is a very old and historic Gulf port. Fortifications built here by the Spanish in the 17th century, and rebuilt several times, provided the venue for force of arms repeatedly up through the American Civil War.
In the best-known incident, Andrew Jackson, in his incursion into Spanish Florida in 1818, executed British nationals Robert Chrystie Ambrister and Alexander George Arbuthnot at the old fort, as well as the Muscogee ("Creek") religious leader called Francis the Prophet. This nearly embroiled the United States in international strife. San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park interprets the site of the old fort.
Today's St. Marks evidently has its roots in American commercial activity that took hold beneath the walls of the fort upon acquisition of Spanish Florida by the U.S. in 1821—before the settlement moved slightly up the St. Marks River to the present position. Various articles in publications like Florida Historical Quarterly relate how the fort site later held a government "naval" hospital to meet yellow fever emergencies in the merchant marine.[ citation needed ] And just afterward Confederate batteries were established on the site in the Civil War. Their earthworks remain and are interpreted in the historic state park. But the site also exhibits old Spanish stonework, and not far away (though inaccessible), just down St. Marks River are shallow Spanish quarries where this limestone was evidently obtained in the 1730s.
Limestone quarried here by the Spanish helped to make the St. Marks Light lighthouse, constructed about 1830 by the U.S. government[ citation needed ]. The lighthouse stands, after a couple of reconstructions, at the mouth of the river six miles from town and accessible by road. The lighthouse is, like San Marcos de Apalache, on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Marks was a seaport for all of Middle Florida and lower Georgia during this early period. Ellen Call Long, on her way to Tallahassee, described the port about 1830 as "a quaint little village, amphibious-like, consisting of a few dwelling houses, stores, etc., mostly built on stilts or piles, as if ready to launch when wind or tide prevailed." [6]
A railroad often cited as Florida's first [7] connected the port of St. Marks with the territorial capital, Tallahassee, some 20 miles inland. The line, the Tallahassee Railroad, was constructed about 1836, and until the Civil War it served in the export of Middle Florida's cotton through St. Marks.
The capacity of the St. Marks port was limited, and it was surpassed in the 19th century by the larger port of Apalachicola, served by the Thomasville, Tallahassee and Gulf Railroad via Carrabelle, Florida.
The city was officially incorporated as a municipality in 1963. [1]
The now-abandoned rail line serves as Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, a paved 16 miles (26 km) bicycle and equestrian trail terminating at the St. Marks waterfront.
On July 10, 2005, the section of the coast was damaged by the big storm surge associated with Hurricane Dennis, severely flooded the town, causing major damage to local businesses and homes. As on other occasions in its history, St. Marks was flooded badly with saltwater.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 189 | — | |
1930 | 217 | — | |
1970 | 366 | — | |
1980 | 286 | −21.9% | |
1990 | 307 | 7.3% | |
2000 | 272 | −11.4% | |
2010 | 293 | 7.7% | |
2020 | 274 | −6.5% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] |
St. Marks first appeared in the 1850 U.S. census with a total population of 189. [9]
Race | Pop 2010 [10] | Pop 2020 [11] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White (NH) | 284 | 242 | 96.93% | 88.32% |
Black or African American (NH) | 5 | 4 | 1.71% | 1.46% |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.34% | 0.00% |
Asian (NH) | 1 | 3 | 0.34% | 1.09% |
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Some other race (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.36% |
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 2 | 17 | 0.68% | 6.20% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0 | 7 | 0.00% | 2.55% |
Total | 293 | 274 | ||
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 274 people, 167 households, and 140 families residing in the city. [12]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 293 people, 124 households, and 66 families residing in the city. [13]
As of the census [3] of 2000, there were 272 people, 137 households, and 79 families residing in the city. The population density was 141.0 inhabitants per square mile (54.4/km2). There were 168 housing units at an average density of 87.1 per square mile (33.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.75% White, 2.57% African American, 0.74% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 1.10% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
In 2000, there were 137 households, out of which 16.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.56.
In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 15.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 31.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,156, and the median income for a family was $36,250. Males had a median income of $25,234 versus $21,458 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,994. About 19.1% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.3% of those under the age of eighteen and 6.7% of those 65 or over.
Crystal River is a city in Citrus County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,396 in the 2020 census. The city was incorporated in 1903 and is the self-professed "Home of the Manatee". Crystal River Preserve State Park is located nearby, and Crystal River Archaeological State Park is located in the city's northwest side.
Franklin County is a county along the Gulf of Mexico in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,451, making it the third-least populous county in Florida. The county seat is Apalachicola.
Gadsden County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,826. Its county seat is Quincy. Gadsden County is included in the Tallahassee, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. Gadsden County is the only majority African-American county in Florida.
Jefferson County is a county located in the Big Bend region in the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,510. Its county seat is Monticello.
Leon County is a county in the Panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. It was named after the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León. As of the 2020 census, the population was 292,198.
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.
Wakulla County is a county located in the Big Bend region in the northern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,764. Its county seat is Crawfordville.
Micanopy is a town in Alachua County, Florida, United States, located south of Gainesville. It is part of the Gainesville metropolitan area. The population as of the 2020 census was 648.
Panama City is a city in the county seat of Bay County, Florida, United States. Located along U.S. Highway 98 (US 98), it is the largest city between Tallahassee and Pensacola. It is also the most populated city of the Panama City–Lynn Haven, Florida metropolitan statistical area. Panama City was severely damaged when Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane on October 10, 2018. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,939, down from the figure of 36,484 at the 2010 census.
Apalachicola is a city and the county seat of Franklin County, Florida, United States, on the shore of Apalachicola Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. The population was 2,341 at the 2020 census.
Carrabelle is a city in Franklin County along Florida's Panhandle, United States. It is located east of Apalachicola at the mouth of the Carrabelle River on the Gulf of Mexico. The population was 2,606 as of the 2020 census.
Midway is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2020 census, the population was 3,537.
Estero is an incorporated village in Lee County, Florida, United States, located directly beside the first aquatic nature preserve established in Florida: The Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve, otherwise referred to as Estero Bay Preserve State Park which is within Estero Bay, Florida. At the time of the 2010 census, Estero was an unincorporated community and census-designated place, but incorporated as a village on the last calendar date of 2014. It is part of the Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 36,939.
Woodville is a census-designated place in Leon County, Florida, United States, just south of Tallahassee, Florida. The population was 2,978 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The American Civil War Battle of Natural Bridge, in March 1865, occurred in what is now Woodville, at the Natural Bridge. This is where the St. Marks River drops into a sinkhole, the Natural Bridge Sink and flows underground, reemerging .25 miles (0.40 km) later.
Bristol is a city in and the county seat of Liberty County, Florida, United States. It is the only incorporated city in Liberty County. The population was 918 at the 2020 census.
Madison is a city in and the county seat of Madison County, on the central northern border of Florida, United States. The population was 2,912 at the 2020 census.
Coleman is a city in Sumter County, Florida, United States. The population was 642 at the 2020 census.
Sopchoppy is a city in Wakulla County, Florida, United States. The City of Sopchoppy is located on the Florida Panhandle in North Florida, with Ochlockonee River State Park located nearby. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 426 at the 2020 census.
DeFuniak Springs is a city and the county seat of Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,968 as of the 2020 Census. DeFuniak Springs also serves as a hub for many residents in surrounding communities.
The Tallahassee Metropolitan Statistical area is the metropolitan area centered on Tallahassee, Florida.