The City of St. Marks

The City of St. Marks. , Side 1 , This 1800's sketch shows early development around Fort San Marcos de Apalachee at the confluence of the St. Marks and Wakulla Rivers. In 1833, the citizens left this swampy land and moved inland. Today, St. Marks is one of the oldest settlements in the state and the only city on either the St. Marks or Wakulla Rivers. See back for more information. , , Side 2 , Five flags, as depicted in the historic St. Marks logo, have flown over this area. The Spanish flag was carried by explorers Narvaez (1528) and De Soto (1539). The British held the territory for 20 years (1763-1783), followed by the Second Spanish Period. In 1800, William Augustus Bowles flew the Muskogee flag for a few months after capturing both the Panton, Leslie and Company trading post and Fort San Marcos. In 1821, Spain transferred Florida to the United States in accordance with the Adams-Otis Treaty of 1819. During the Civil War, the Confederate flag was flown. During the early days, the port at St. Marks was critical for transport of people and goods for European exploration, for Spanish missions and for trading with the local Indians. In 1827, the corporate body of Fort St. Marks was established by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida in accordance with authorization by the U.S. Congress. Today's city government is based on a 1927 charter. In 1837, Florida's first railroad, the Tallahassee-St. Marks which operated for 147 years, began transporting people and goods from the Middle Florida area to the port at St. Marks. The shipping of cotton, hides, and corn became the life-blood of St. Marks. After the Civil War shipments were primarily local naval stores-timber and turpentine. In the 1930's the River and Harbor Acts allowed for the St. Marks River to be dredged, providing for navigation by fishing boats and petroleum barges. By 1950, St. Marks was known as the regional center for commercial and recreational fishing with daily catches measured in hundreds of pounds. The bulk terminal of Citizens Oil Company and the building of the City of Tallahassee power plant along the St. Marks River marked the beginning of nearly 50 years of petroleum industry in St. Marks. Tank farms, terminals and a refinery dominated the landscape. As the petroleum industries died and the 21st century emerged, St. Marks began promoting controlled economic development while preserving the "genuine St. Marks experience."