Iola, Florida facts for kids
Iola, also called Yawolla, was a town in Florida that existed from the 1800s to the early 1900s. It was located on the west side of the Apalachicola River. Iola was first known as a Native American town. Later, it became a railroad stop and then a popular place for people who loved outdoor activities.
Iola: An Ancient Native American Town
The town of Yawolla first appeared on maps in 1814 and 1815. Captain Hugh Young, an engineer working with Andrew Jackson, mentioned a town called "Ehawhohasles" in his report. This town was about 12 miles down the Apalachicola River from Ocheesee. Many historians believe that Yawolla, Ehawhohasles, and Iola were all the same place. Sometimes, it was even called "Iolee."
A Native American leader named John Blount (also known as Laukaufa) moved his people to the Apalachicola River after 1816. They were trying to escape attacks from other groups. By 1821, Iola and other Native American towns in the area had joined together to form the Apalachicola band. John Blount became their main chief.
In 1821, John Blount and other leaders met with Andrew Jackson to talk about their future under American control. In 1823, the Treaty of Moultrie Creek set aside a special area, called a reservation, for John Blount's people. This reservation was 4 miles along the Apalachicola River and 2 miles wide.
However, the United States soon began to pressure Native Americans in Florida to move west of the Mississippi River. In 1832, a new treaty was made with John Blount. This treaty meant the people of Yawolla, or Iola, had to give up their land in Florida. Blount and his people left the Apalachicola River for Texas in 1834.
Iola's Railroad Days
In 1837, a company started building a railroad from St. Joseph on the Gulf Coast to Iola. This new rail line was finished in October 1839. Iola became a railroad terminal with a large dock on the river. People started moving to Iola around 1837, and a post office opened in 1838. Mail was carried by train between Iola and St. Joseph twice a week.
By 1840, about 78 white people lived in Iola. The town had a sawmill, a gristmill (for grinding grain), a hotel, and even a bank. However, Iola's good times did not last long. By 1839, money was scarce, the bank had closed, and land values were dropping. The Second Seminole War also caused problems. In 1840, a family on a nearby farm was killed, and people in Iola often heard gunshots across the river.
In 1841, a serious illness called yellow fever hit St. Joseph, causing many people to leave. Later that year, a hurricane destroyed the railroad's dock in St. Joseph. The railroad company went out of business in 1842, and St. Joseph was abandoned. Iola also became much smaller after 1842. However, its post office stayed open until 1845. For a short time, Iola was even the county seat for Calhoun County.
Iola Becomes a Fun Resort
Over time, the center of Iola moved about 1.5 miles west of the old railroad stop. It moved to the east side of the Chipola River, near the southern end of the Dead Lakes (30°08′56″N 85°09′55″W / 30.1488°N 85.1652°W). This area was perfect for people who loved hunting and fishing. They could get there by steamboat on the Apalachicola River, landing at the old railroad spot.
By the late 1800s, Iola had several hotels, boarding houses, and clubs for fishing and hunting. For example, an advertisement from 1892 promoted the Lake View Hotel. It was 1.5 miles from the steamboat landing and very close to the Dead Lakes. The ad praised the great fishing, hunting, and beautiful scenery.
Iola was probably busiest in the early 1900s. It had stables for horses, stores, and more gristmills. The Iola post office reopened in 1857 and stayed open until 1926, with only a short break. In 1890, 119 people lived in Iola's voting area. This number grew to 236 in 1900, then dropped to 138 in 1910. After 1910, the population of Iola was no longer reported in official counts.
Today, Iola is part of Gulf County, which was created from Calhoun County in 1925.
