2020 Winter Newsletter

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: JACKSON COUNTY

Jackson County is Florida’s 3rd oldest county and was established by An- drew Jackson in 1822. It was created by an act of the Territorial Legisla- ture while meeting at Fifteen Mile House near Pensacola. The county originally stretched from the Choctawhatchee River to the Suwanee Riv- er, and from Alabama and Georgia to the Gulf of Mexico. There were no towns when it was formed. The first county court met at what was called (Robinson’s Big Spring) (later called Blue Springs) in 1822 and then at the (Big Springs Choctawhatchee) in 1823. The following year the county court met at (Chipola Settlement), which is also known as Waddell’s Mill Pond. After a bitter and extended controversy, between the two towns of Mari- anna and Webbville, Marianna became the permanent county seat of government January 21,1829. Marianna was founded in 1827 by Robert and Anna Maria Beveridge who purchased 3 eighty acre tracts of land on a beautiful bluff along the Chipola River. They, together with associates, donated land where the first of three courthouses were to eventually stand on the same square. Marianna’s rival town in controversy over location of the county seat, Webbville, located about nine miles north-

Hon. Rebecca Morris-Haid Property Appraiser

west of Marianna, has long since passed from existence. Hardy pioneers poured into the Country, blazing their way through a virtual wilderness to establish their new homes. Eventually, and typical of the deep south, cotton became “king” and numerous large plantations thrived on this “fleecy” cotton economy. It is still known for its cotton as well as the peanut industry. The county is comprised of 602,880 acres of land, of which 41,534 are in agriculture usage. The total parcel count is 39,132 with 9,082 parcels having an agriculture classification. Jackson County is home to one of the most haunted bridges in Florida; the Bellamy Bridge which is said to be haunted by Elizabeth Bellamy since the early 1800’s. There is also another infamous haunt- ed house, The Joseph Russ House which currently houses The Visitor’s Center for the county.

Jackson County has the only walk-through cave tour in Florida, located at the Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna. Another noteworthy attraction the county is noted for, is Merritt’s’ Mill Pond which consists of 202 acres. The “Mill Pond” as it is fre- quently called is known for its crystal clear spring water. The spring produces more than 64.6 million gallons of water a day which comes straight from the Blue Springs Reservoir and maintains a year round temperature of 68 degrees. Blue Springs has a very complex system of caves and is used quite often by scuba divers.

Real Property Parcels

39,132

Tangible Accounts

1,576

Just Value

$2,987,898,761

Taxable Value

$1,510,183,969

Employees

14

6

Winter 2020 Newsletter of the FCIAAO