The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1909-04-02
[HE ORIGIN OF
NAMES GIVEN
Interesting Story Relative to the
Naming OF Florida Counties
)ATfS OF FORMATION
orty.Si Derive Names from National,
State and War Officials; Indian Words,
Islands and Roman Catholic Saints

ISLANDS dnu NOUldH NdttiOUI SdtUtS
The following article indicates briefly
he origin of the names given the vari-
us counties of the State of Florida.
O far as possible the reason for the
anne is given, as well as its origin. In
distances where counties were named
br men of national prominence, there
often no apparent significance except
honor the memory OF national hero.
uch is the case in the naming of the
punties of Washington, Franklin,
amlton, Clay Polk, Calhoun, DeSOto,
ernando and Leon. No attempt has
cen made to supply data relating to
ersons of eminent rational reputation
hose careers are familiar to all.
The number preceding the name of
he county indicates the chronological
rder of its establishment. The total
lumber of counties in Florida Gin 1909
fOrty-siX.
6. Alachua, Dec. 20, 1924. From a
reek Indian word meaning "grsssy'
''marshy.'
80. Baker, February 8, 1861. Named
br James McNair Baker (lS22-lS92),
kldge Fourth Judicial District of Flor
Ia and Confederate States Senator,
1926.
So. Bradford December 81, 1858.
AIMED for Captain Richard Bradford,
he first Florida officer killed in the
vii war, who fell in the battle on San
/ Rosa Island, Western Florida, OctO-
er 8, 1861. This county was originally
AIMED New county, the name being
hanged to Bradford December 6, 1861.
%. Brevard, March A, 1874. Named
br Theodore Washington Breva-d
lSO4 1870. Native of North Carolina
nd one of the distinguished family of
hat name there; moved to Florida in
Bi7; Comptroller of State, 1858 to 1861.
he county was originally named st.
ucie, the name being changed to Bre-
ard January 6, 1855.
20. Calhoun, Jan. 26, 1888. Named
br John Caldwell Calhoun, United
tates Senator from South Carolina at
he time the county was established;
hen at the height of his popularity as
he champion Of the doctrine Of States
ghts.
"A. Citrus, June 2, 1887. Named as
indication Of the abundance OF citrus
Fuit g. owes in the county
80. Clay, December 81, 1858. Named
pr Henry Clay.
16. Columbia, February 4, 1882.
rom the political name of the United
tates.
10. Dade, February 4, 1886. Named
pr Francis Laughord Dade, Major
United States Army, soldier in the
econd Seminole Indian War; killed
lear Fort King, Florida, December %,
1885. All visitors to West Point, New
FORK, will remember the beautiful
pade monument there, on which are
hscribed the names of the fallen Off
ers and the simple yet eloquent line,
All of the detachment save three fell
Without an attempt to retreat
40. DeSoto May 9, 1887. Named
Or fernando DoSoto, the Spanish ex-
lorer of Florida fernando county is
amed for the same man. A unique
distance of the Kind. !
4. Duval, August II, 1922. Named
or William Pope Duval Q784-l854),
Territorial Governor of Florida 1922
1884.
l. Escambia, LAZY p, 1921. Named
Prom Escambia river, which probably
erived its name from the Spanish cam
Piar, Ito barter
H. Franklin, February 8, 1923. |
Named for Benjamin Franklin. !
5. Gadsden June q. 1923. Named
Tor James Gadslen Q7SS-lS58), Ameri- |
Ian diplomat; native Of Charleston, 5:
:. In 1918, as aide camp to General
Jackson, he took part in the campaign !
against the Seminole Indians, later be-
PANE prominent in this war. His ca
feer as diplomatist was subsequent to
he naming of the county.
IA. Hamilton December 26, 1927.
Named for Alexander Hamilton.
%. fernando, February "a, 1843.
Named for fernando DeSOto, for whom
DeSoto county was also named.
lS. Hillshorough, January rs, 1884.
Named for Willis Hill, second Viscount
Hillsborough, during the English occu.
patton of Florida O763-1783), received
z large grant of land in Florida and was
much interested in the development OF
fhe province.
~. Holmes, January 3, 1848. Named
or Holmes Creek, the eastern boundry
p the county, which in turn was named
from Holmes Valley, which received it's
pane from an Indian chieftain who had
been given the English name of Holmes,
who settled in that vicinity from North
carolina about 1903 or 1904.
8. jackson, August IL, 1922. Named
9or Andrew Jackson, Governor of the
Territory of Florida, 1922, and pre-
|vlous to that time active in the Semi
|onle Indian wars in the Territory. This
county was named for Jackson before .