Liberty
County Courthouse, designed by architect Jack Culpepper, dates from 1940
Liberty County was created as the 32nd
county on December 15, 1855, from lands contained within the Forbes Grant. Liberty
County was originally a part of Escambia County. At that time, Florida was divided into
two big areas. Everything east of the Suwannee River was St. Johns County. Everything west
of the Suwannee River was Escambia County. Later on, it became a part of Jackson County,
then a part of Gadsden County. Now, Gadsden County serves as Liberty County's northern
boundary. Franklin County as it's southern boundary, the Ochlockonee River as the eastern
boundary, and the Apalachicola River as the western. The county seat has variously
been know as Ricoe's Bluff, Riddeysville and Bristol.
Indian mounds, arrow heads and pieces of clay pottery are scattered throughout the
county reminding us that the first settlers were Indians. A lone orange tree,
protected by swampy undergrowth, survives in the River Styx vicinity substantiating tales
of orange groves which were tended by homesteaders.
Huge buggy wheels, old hand saws, and discarded axes scattered through out the county show
existence of our founding fathers.
Unmarked graves and old abandoned cemeteries are discovered by hunters and explorers.
Liberty County is sparsely populated because so much of its area is devoted to forests and
wildlife. It is a woodland lover's paradise! More than half of the county is taken
up by the Apalachicola National Forest.
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