Port Leon, Florida facts for kids
Port Leon, Florida, was a small town that served as a river port in the early 1800s. It was located in what is now Wakulla County, Florida, but back then, it was part of Leon County, Florida. This town only existed for about six years. Today, Port Leon is known as an "extinct city," meaning it's a place where a town once stood but no longer exists. You can only find small traces of it now.
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How Port Leon Started
Port Leon was founded in 1837. Many of its first residents came from a nearby town called Magnolia. The town was built about 3 miles (5 km) south of St. Marks, right on the east side of the St. Marks River.
Just like its neighbors, St. Marks and Magnolia, Port Leon was a very important port. It helped transport cotton from large farms, called cotton plantations, in the Red Hills Region of Florida and Georgia.
Busy Trade and Railroads
In 1839, the Tallahassee Railroad reached Port Leon. This was a big deal for the town! Before the railroad, wagons carried cotton to the ports. With the railroad, both wagons and trains moved a huge amount of cotton, about 30,000 to 40,000 bales every year.
A special bridge was built across the St. Marks River. This bridge connected the port to the railroad. It made it much easier to load cotton onto ships. These ships would then sail to the east coast of the United States.
Town Life and Its End
Port Leon grew quickly. In 1840, it got its own post office. The town officially became a city, or "incorporated," in 1841. That same year, Port Leon and other towns nearby faced a difficult time. A serious illness called yellow fever spread through the area.
On March 11, 1843, Port Leon was chosen as the main town, or "county seat," for the new Wakulla County. This was a big honor for the young town.
However, just a few months later, on September 13, 1843, a very powerful hurricane struck the area. The storm brought a huge storm surge, which is like a giant wall of water, about 10 feet (3 meters) high. This massive surge completely destroyed Port Leon. It also caused a lot of damage to Magnolia and St. Marks.
After the hurricane, Port Leon was abandoned. Many of its residents moved further inland to a new town called Newport.
What Port Leon Was Like
At its busiest, Port Leon had several hundred people living there. It was a lively place with 8 to 10 businesses. There were also wharves (docks for ships), warehouses, a hotel, and two taverns (places to eat and drink). The town even had its own newspaper and held an annual fair.
One of the successful people in Port Leon was Daniel Ladd. He had married into the Hamlin family, who were important in establishing the nearby town of Magnolia.
