St. Joseph Bay facts for kids
St. Joseph Bay is a beautiful bay located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, a state in the United States. This bay is found in Gulf County, nestled between the cities of Apalachicola and Panama City. The town of Port St. Joe sits right on the shores of St. Joseph Bay.
The bay has a unique shape. To its east is the mainland, while Cape San Blas forms its southern edge. On the west, a long strip of land called the St. Joseph Peninsula protects the bay. The northern part of the bay has a narrow opening that connects it to the larger Gulf of Mexico. St. Joseph Bay stretches about 15 miles (24 kilometers) from north to south and is about 6 miles (10 kilometers) wide at its widest point.
The waters of St. Joseph Bay are special and protected. They include the St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve and the St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve. These areas help keep the bay healthy and safe for wildlife. The St. Joseph Peninsula, which forms the bay's western side, is also home to the St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, a popular spot for nature lovers.
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A Look Back: History of St. Joseph Bay
St. Joseph Bay has a long and interesting history, with different groups trying to settle there.
Early Settlements and Forts
In 1701, the Spanish built a fort called Presidio Bahía San José de Valladares on St. Joseph Bay. Later, in 1717, the French built their own fort, Fort Crevecouer, across the bay from St. Joseph Point. The French even captured the Spanish fort the next year! However, the Spanish pushed back, and the French eventually left Fort Crevecouer. In 1719, the Spanish tried again, building Presidio Bahía San José de Nueva Asturias on St. Joseph Point, but they abandoned it just three years later in 1722.
The Rise and Fall of St. Joseph Town
In 1835, a new town called St. Joseph was founded on the bay's shores. It grew very quickly and became quite busy. To help ships find their way, the St. Joseph Bay Light lighthouse was built on St. Joseph Point in 1838. Sadly, the town's good times didn't last. In 1841, a serious yellow fever outbreak caused most people to leave, and the town was soon abandoned. The lighthouse was no longer needed and was taken out of service in 1847. An unused tower was destroyed by a storm in 1851.
A New Beginning: Port St. Joe
A new lighthouse, the St. Joseph Light Range Station, was built in 1902 on the mainland at Beacon Hill. Around 1910, a new town, Port St. Joe, started a few miles north of the old St. Joseph site. This happened when the Apalachicola Northern Railroad built a train line to the bay, helping the area grow once more.
Amazing Wildlife of St. Joseph Bay
St. Joseph Bay is famous for its rich wildlife, especially its many scallops.
Scallop Habitats and Harvesting
The bay is known as a great place for bay scallops to live and thrive. These small shellfish are a popular seafood. People can usually harvest bay scallops along Florida's Gulf coast from July 1 through September 24. This open-harvest season allows people to enjoy catching scallops while also protecting their populations.
