Caryville, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Caryville, Florida
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Location in Washington County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Washington |
| Settled (Half Moon Bluff) |
1871-1884 |
| Incorporated (Town of Caryville) |
1913 |
| Reincorporated (Town of Caryville) |
1965 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Chair-Council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.14 sq mi (8.13 km2) |
| • Land | 3.01 sq mi (7.80 km2) |
| • Water | 0.13 sq mi (0.33 km2) |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 301 |
| • Density | 99.93/sq mi (38.58/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
32427
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| Area code(s) | 850 |
| FIPS code | 12-10975 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0294706 |
Caryville is a small town in Washington County, Florida, United States. It's located right next to the Choctawhatchee River. This town is part of the Florida Panhandle, which is the northwestern part of Florida. In 2020, about 301 people lived there. Caryville is also part of the larger Panama City area.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Where is Caryville?
Caryville is located at 30°46′32″N 85°48′38″W / 30.77556°N 85.81056°W. This means it's in a specific spot on the map. The town covers a total area of about 3.2 square miles (8.13 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water, like rivers or lakes.
What's the Weather Like?
Caryville has a climate with hot and humid summers. The winters are usually mild. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate.
History of Caryville
Caryville's story is closely tied to the timber industry. It started as a sawmill town because of its location on the Choctawhatchee River. The Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad crossed the river here in 1882. This made it easy to transport wood.
How Caryville Got Its Name
The town was first called Half Moon Bluff. It's believed that Caryville was named after R.M. Cary. He was the secretary for the P. and A. Railroad Company. Building materials for the railroad were brought in by steamships from Pensacola to this spot.
Early Sawmills and Growth
Even before the railroad, some logging was happening. Logs were floated down the river to sawmills. Big timber operations began with the Sanford Lumber Company. By 1903, this company employed about 400 people. It could produce 100,000 board feet of lumber daily. Electricity also came to Caryville in 1903.
In 1912, the Henderson-Waits Lumber Company took over. They bought a lot of land, about 125,000 acres. At its busiest, logs were brought in by steam trains. These train tracks went as far south as Ebro.
Later, in 1925, Brown-Florida Lumber Company bought the Henderson-Waits operations. They stopped working in the early 1930s but reopened in 1933. A few years later, Henderson-Waits Lumber Company bought them back. They eventually stopped operations because there wasn't enough old-growth timber left.
Town Life and Challenges
Caryville officially became a town in 1913. G. G. Blake, the train station agent, became the first mayor. The town had streets named after famous people like Liberty, Jefferson, and Washington. Avenues were named after the lumber company owners, Waits and Henderson.
The town faced many challenges. Fires and floods were common. A very bad flood happened in March 1929. The town also saw some violence, like a shooting in 1934.
Despite this, Caryville continued to survive. It had its own school for 72 years. The L&N passenger train and Greyhound Bus used to stop there. The town had a post office, churches, and several businesses. Si Locke was the town barber and also the Justice of the Peace.
Later Years and Flooding
Even after the big timber operations ended, some lumber companies continued. W. F. Harrison and Arnold Lumber Company kept the industry going. Howell Plywood Corporation also had a plant there.
In 1954, residents decided not to be an official town anymore. But eleven years later, in 1965, they voted to become incorporated again. Calvit L. Walker became the mayor. The town added a park by the river and a new water system.
Floods continued to be a problem. Major floods in 1990 and 1994 destroyed many homes. In 1996, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offered to buy homes. Many residents sold their homes and moved to higher ground.
Today, only a few houses remain in what was once a busy town. The town government is still active. However, there are no schools or churches left, and only a few businesses operate. Caryville, once a booming sawmill town, has become much smaller. It holds a rich history for those who remember its past.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 440 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,022 | 132.3% | |
| 1940 | 279 | −72.7% | |
| 1950 | 525 | 88.2% | |
| 1960 | 730 | 39.0% | |
| 1970 | 724 | −0.8% | |
| 1980 | 633 | −12.6% | |
| 1990 | 631 | −0.3% | |
| 2000 | 218 | −65.5% | |
| 2010 | 411 | 88.5% | |
| 2020 | 301 | −26.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population in 2010 and 2020
The population of Caryville has changed over the years.
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 249 | 254 | 60.58% | 84.39% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 134 | 27 | 32.60% | 8.97% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.24% | 0.00% |
| Asian (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.24% | 0.00% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.33% |
| Some other race (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 14 | 15 | 3.41% | 4.98% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12 | 4 | 2.92% | 1.33% |
| Total | 411 | 301 |
In 2020, there were 301 people living in Caryville. There were 93 households and 66 families. In 2010, the population was 411 people, with 102 households and 81 families.
Notable People
Some famous people have connections to Caryville:
- Robert L. Carter – A United States District Court judge and important civil rights activist.
- Bob Thorpe – A player in Major League Baseball.
Images for kids
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In May 2009, FEMA representatives inform local residents of available disaster services.
See also
In Spanish: Caryville para niños
