Strange and Mysterious Waters:

The History of Wakulla County

An Act to Organize the County of Wakulla

On March 11, 1843, Florida’s fifth Territorial Governor, Richard Keith Call (who was also the third Territorial Governor), signed in to law the twenty-fifth act passed by the twenty-first session of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida. His signature made it official that Wakulla County was to be carved out of Leon County. The Act to Organize the County of Wakulla states as follows:

“Section 1: Be it enacted by the Governor and Legislative Council of he Territory of Florida, That the district of country included within the following boundaries, to wit: - Beginning at the Gulf, thence north on the range line between range two and three, until it intersects the north boundary of section twenty-four, township two, range two, south and east: thence due west on that line, until it strikes that Oklockonee River; thence down the river, until it strikes the Gulf; and thence, along the line of the Gulf, to the point of commencement (including islands), shall constitute a county, to be called Wakulla.

Section 2: Be it further enacted, that the Governor of the Territory, on passage of this act, shall appoint a Judge of the County Court of said county, to hold his office according to law.

Leon County c.1843, prior to the creation of Wakulla

Section 3: Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of said county be, and they are hereby, authorized, on the first Monday in April next, and at the usual day thereafter, to elect such county officers as by law are directed in the several counties of this territory, and in the same manner, and subject to the same duties, provisions and responsibilities.

Section 4: Be it further enacted, That the said county of Wakulla, shall be, and is hereby, declared to be in the Middle Judicial District of Florida.

Section 5: Be it further enacted, That a County Court for said county, shall be holden at the county-site of said county semi-annually, in each and every year, the first term to be held on the third Monday in April, and the second term on the third Monday of November, and regularly thereafter.

Section 6: Be it further enacted, That the Judge of the Superior Court of the Middle District, shall be, and he is hereby, required to hold in said county, two terms of the Superior Court, in each and every year, the first to be holden on the third Monday in May, and the other term on the first Monday in December.

Section 7: Be it further enacted, That all suits pending in the Superior or County Courts of Leon county, against any person, persons, or corporations, residing in, or incorporated in the said county of Wakulla, together with all proper originals or copies of papers, or documents, whether criminal or civil, shall, on application within then days after notice of that effect, form the Clerks of the Superior or County Courts, or other officers of said county of Wakulla, be delivered over to the respectively; and that said suits, prosecutions or causes, shall stand upon the Dockets in the courts of the said county of Wakulla, as of the term of which they properly belonged in the county of Leon, and the clerks, marshals, or other officers, of Leon county, shall not be authorized to have, or demand, any fees, until the said causes thus removed shall be decided in the said county of Wakulla.

Section 8: Be it further enacted, That all moneys remaining in the County Treasury of the county of Leon, after the passage of this act, shall be equally divided between the counties of Leon and Wakulla, pro rata, according to population, to be determined by the latest tax list: Provided, That all debts heretofore contracted by the county of Leon for county purposes, shall be first liquidated and paid.

Section 9: Be it further enacted, That the county-site of Wakulla county, shall be fixed and determined by three commissioners, to be elected on such day and in such manner as the county court may direct, by persons entitled to vote for county officers; who, being duly sworn faithfully, and to the best of their skill and ability, to discharge their duties, shall proceed to, select the most eligible place for the county-site, to lay off lots, and dispose of the same to the best advantage, for the benefit of the county, make transfers of the title on payment of the purchase money; also, to contract for the building of a Court-House, and other buildings for said county.

Section 10: Be it further enacted, That until a county-site is selected, as provided for by the provisions of this act, the courts for said county shall be held, and public offices kept, at the town of Port Leon.

Section 11: Be it further enacted, That from and after the passage of this act, the county of Leon shall be entitled to three representatives in the Legislative Council and no more, and the county of Wakulla one.

Section 12: Be it further enacted, That this act shall take effect from and after its passage.

Approved 11^th March, 1843”

The twenty-first session of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida was not done with Wakulla just yet. The thirtieth act passed re-drew the northern border of Wakulla County, creating the “heel” of the boot-shaped Leon County. That act to change the northern line of the County of Wakulla states the following:

“Be it enacted by the Governor and Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, That the northern boundary line of the County of Wakulla shall be as follows, to wit: - To commence at the northern line of section thirty-six, in town ship two, range two, South and East, and thence due West on said line to Ocklockonnee River, which boundary shall be in the place of the northern line of said county specified in the act establishing said county.”