Florida Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
John H. Long, Editor; Peggy Tuck Sinko, Associate Editor and Historical Compiler; Kathryn Ford Thorne, Historical Compiler; Douglas Knox, Book Digitizing Director; Emily Kelley, Research Associate; Laura Rico-Beck, GIS Specialist and Digital Compiler; Peter Siczewicz, ArcIMS Interactive Map Designer; Robert Will, Cartographic Assistant
Copyright The Newberry Library 2007
8 September 1565
The Spanish founded the city of St. Augustine, the first permanent Spanish settlement in present Florida. The Spanish had incorporated Florida into their empire in the early sixteenth century, when Europeans first visited its coast. (Tebeau, 19-34)
1719
The French commander at New Orleans and the Spanish commander at Pensacola agreed to recognize the Perdido River as the boundary between their jurisdictions, French Louisiana and Spanish Florida, and their home governments acquiesced in the arrangement. (Cox, 8)
10 February 1763
The Treaty of Paris, ending the Seven Years' War between Great Britain (the victor) and France and Spain, formally transferred Florida from Spain to Britain. The northern and western limits of Florida had not been fixed definitively but certainly lay at least as far north as the present state line and possibly as far west as the Mississippi River. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 1)
7 October 1763
By royal proclamation King George III organized former Spanish Florida into the new British colonies of East Florida and West Florida. West Florida was to be bounded on the east by the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers, on the north by the parallel of 31 degrees north latitude, and on the west by the Mississippi River, the Iberville River, and Lake Pontchartrain, including parts of present Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. East Florida encompassed the territory east of the Apalachicola River and south of a straight line from where the Apalachicola is formed by the junction of the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers to the headspring of the St. Marys River and thence down the St. Marys to the Atlantic Ocean. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 1, 77; Shortt and Doughty, 119-120; Van Zandt, 103)
July 1764
As part of the commission to West Florida's first governor, Great Britain redefined West Florida, extending its limits northward to a line running due east from the junction of the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers to the Chattahoochee River. This implicitly reduced the western extent of Georgia and added Natchez and much of present Alabama and Mississippi to West Florida. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 87)
8 May 1781
Spain captured Pensacola, successfully concluding a campaign (started in August 1779) to conquer West Florida from Great Britain during the War of the American Revolution. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 53-54)
3 September 1783
Commissioners from Great Britain and the United States signed the Treaty of Paris (ratifications exchanged 12 May 1784), ending the War of the American Revolution, recognizing American independence, and defining U.S. boundaries. The U.S. was bounded on the west by the Mississippi River and on the south by the Floridas. Great Britain ceded East and West Florida to Spain by a separate Treaty of Paris but the boundaries of the Floridas (e.g., the 31st parallel of northern latitude) were not specified. (Parry, 48:481, 487, 491-492; Van Zandt, 12)
29 July 1784
Spain claimed most of the southwestern United States (north of West Florida, east of the Mississippi River, south of the Tennessee and Hiwassee Rivers, and west of the Flint River) based upon its conquest of West Florida and the lower Mississippi during the War of the American Revolution. The United States insisted upon the parallel of 31 degrees north latitude, specified in its 1783 peace treaty with Great Britain, as its southern boundary. Neither side actually controlled the interior. (Cappon, Petchenik, and Long, 14, 74, 87; Whitaker, facing 68, 69)
27 October 1795
Pinckney's Treaty with Spain (ratified 25 April 1796) settled the U.S.-Florida boundary along the parallel of 31 degrees north latitude from the Mississippi River eastward to the Chattahoochee River, downstream to the mouth of the Flint River, eastward on a straight line to the head of the St. Marys River, and downstream to the Atlantic Ocean. (Parry, 53:9, 12-13; Van Zandt, 22)
30 April 1803
The United States purchased Louisiana from France, taking formal possession 20 December 1803; boundaries were not clearly defined but unquestionably included the western half of the Mississippi drainage basin. (Cox, facing 2, 80-101; Parry, 57:27, 30-31)
26 March 1804
The United States claimed the area south of 31 degrees north latitude between the Mississippi and Perdido Rivers (parts of present Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) based on its purchase of Louisiana. The United States and Spanish West Florida both claimed the area, but Spain actually governed it. (U.S. Stat, vol. 2, ch. 38 [1804], sec. 1/p. 283; Van Zandt, 107)
7 December 1810
Orleans Territory created FELICIANA County (Orleans Territory, extinct) from non-county area; included part of West Florida west of the Perdido River (parts of present Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama) claimed by the United States as part of Louisiana but actually controlled by Spain [not mapped]. (Orleans Terr. Acts 1811, 2d sess., p. 210)
30 April 1812
The state of Louisiana was admitted to the Union from Orleans Territory; Louisiana included the area south of 31 degrees north latitude between the Mississippi and Pearl Rivers, which was also claimed by Spain as part of West Florida. (Van Zandt, 106-108)
14 May 1812
Following admission into the Union of the state of Louisiana from Orleans Territory (30 April 1812), the United States formally added to Mississippi Territory the remnant of Orleans Territory lying south of 31 degrees north latitude and between the Pearl and Perdido Rivers (i.e., the southern portions of present Alabama and Mississippi) that the United States claimed as part of Louisiana but which actually was controlled by Spain as part of West Florida. (Fuller, 199; U.S. Stat., vol. 2, ch. 84 [1812]/p. 734; Van Zandt, 105)
15 April 1813
American forces captured the city of Mobile from Spain, effectively extending United States control over the territory between the Mississippi and Perdido Rivers (parts of present Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama); Spanish control and claims to the area effectively ended. (Cox, facing 2; Fuller, 202)
22 February 1819
Spain ceded East Florida and West Florida (i.e., all territory east of the Perdido River) to the United States. Exchange of ratifications was delayed until 21 February 1821; American forces formally took possession of East Florida at St. Augustine on 10 July 1821 and West Florida on 17 July 1821. (Fuller, 307, 323; Parry, 70:1-7; Swindler, 2:309; Van Zandt, 27)
21 July 1821
ESCAMBIA and ST. JOHNS created from non-county area by decree of Provisional Governor Andrew Jackson, who had been appointed by President Monroe on 10 March 1821 to exercise authority over Florida until the establishment of the territorial government. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1822, 1st sess., sec. 1/p. xx; Terr. Papers U.S., 22:8-10)
30 March 1822
The Territory of Florida was created from the provinces of East and West Florida ceded by Spain to the United States. The territory had the same boundaries as the present state of Florida. (Terr. Papers U.S., 22:389-399; U.S. Stat., vol. 3, ch. 13 [1822], sec. 1/p. 654)
12 August 1822
DUVAL created by Florida Territory from ST. JOHNS; JACKSON created by Florida Territory from ESCAMBIA. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1822, 1st sess., sec. 1/p. 3)
24 June 1823
GADSDEN created by Florida Territory from JACKSON. DUVAL gained from JACKSON, exchanged with ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1823, 2d sess., sec. 1/p. 8)
3 July 1823
MONROE created by Florida Territory from ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1823, 2d sess., sec. 1/p. 122)
29 December 1824
Florida Territorial Legislature created five new counties. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., pp. 260-262; for sections on particular counties, see following citations)
ALACHUA created by Florida Territory from DUVAL and ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 6/p. 261)
LEON created by Florida Territory from DUVAL and GADSDEN. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 5/p. 261)
MOSQUITO (now ORANGE) created by Florida Territory from ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 10/p. 262)
NASSAU created by Florida Territory from DUVAL. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 8/p. 262)
WALTON created by Florida Territory from ESCAMBIA and JACKSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1824, 3d sess., sec. 2/p. 260)
9 December 1825
WASHINGTON created by Florida Territory from JACKSON and WALTON. JACKSON exchanged with WALTON; WALTON gained from ESCAMBIA. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1825, 4th sess., p. 35)
30 December 1826
NASSAU gained from DUVAL. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1826, 5th sess., p. 158)
12 January 1827
JACKSON exchanged with WASHINGTON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1826, 5th sess., p. 108)
20 January 1827
JEFFERSON created by Florida Territory from LEON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1826, 5th sess., p. 151)
26 December 1827
HAMILTON and MADISON created by Florida Territory from JEFFERSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1827, 6th sess., p. 8)
19 January 1828
LEON gained from JEFFERSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1827, 6th sess., p. 170)
Indian lands (non-county area) gained from ALACHUA and MOSQUITO (now ORANGE) when the treaty line was resurveyed. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1827, 6th sess., p. 171; Royce, 704-705, pl. 121)
29 October 1828
JACKSON exchanged with WASHINGTON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1828, 7th sess., p. 6)
23 November 1828
All county boundaries in Florida Territory were redefined. An overlap resulted when DUVAL was authorized to gain an area also claimed by NASSAU [corrected 2 January 1857]. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1828, 7th sess., secs. 5-6/pp. 220-221)
14 November 1829
JEFFERSON gained from LEON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1829, 8th sess., p. 37)
13 February 1831
LEON gained from JEFFERSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1831, 9th sess., p. 31)
30 January 1832
JEFFERSON gained from LEON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1832, 10th sess., no. 11/p. 10)
4 February 1832
COLUMBIA created by Florida Territory from ALACHUA. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1832, 10th sess., no. 25, sec. 1/p. 33)
8 February 1832
FRANKLIN created by Florida Territory from GADSDEN and WASHINGTON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1832, 10th sess., no. 42/p. 44)
9 February 1832
FAYETTE (extinct) created by Florida Territory from JACKSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1832, 10th sess., no. 53/p. 58)
11 February 1832
JACKSON exchanged with WASHINGTON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1832, 10th sess., no. 72/p. 113)
9 February 1833
MADISON gained from JEFFERSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1833, 11th sess., ch. 686/p. 52)
16 February 1833
FAYETTE (extinct) gained from WASHINGTON, lost to JACKSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1833, 11th sess., ch. 688/p. 53)
JACKSON gained from WASHINGTON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1833, 11th sess., ch. 687/p. 52)
25 January 1834
HILLSBOROUGH created by Florida Territory from ALACHUA and former Indian lands (non-county area). (Fla. Terr. Acts 1834, 12th sess., ch. 764/p. 46)
1 February 1834
JACKSON gained all of FAYETTE; FAYETTE eliminated. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1834, 12th sess., ch. 765/p. 47)
10 February 1835
ALACHUA gained from COLUMBIA. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1835, 13th sess., ch. 869/p. 325)
4 February 1836
DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) created by Florida Territory from MONROE. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1836, 14th sess., ch. 937/p. 19)
26 January 1838
CALHOUN created by Florida Territory from FRANKLIN, JACKSON, and WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON apparently gained small area from FRANKLIN. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1838, 16th sess., no. 8, sec. 1/p. 9)
25 February 1840
CALHOUN exchanged with WASHINGTON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1840, 18th sess., no. 21/p. 23)
18 February 1842
SANTA ROSA created by Florida Territory from ESCAMBIA. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1842, 20th sess., no. 1, sec. 1/p. 3)
22 February 1843
JEFFERSON gained from MADISON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1843, 21st sess., no. 48/p. 47)
24 February 1843
HERNANDO created by Florida Territory from ALACHUA and HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1843, 21st sess., no. 51/p. 48)
11 March 1843
WAKULLA created by Florida Territory from LEON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1843, 21st sess., no. 25/p. 29 and no. 30/p. 33)
5 February 1844
MADISON gained from JEFFERSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1844, 22d sess., p. 1)
6 March 1844
HERNANDO renamed BENTON; BENTON gained from HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1844, 22d sess., p. 16)
14 March 1844
MARION created by Florida Territory from ALACHUA, HILLSBOROUGH, MOSQUITO (now ORANGE), and ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1844, 22d sess., sec. 1/p. 43)
ST. LUCIE (original, now BREVARD) created by Florida Territory from HILLSBOROUGH and MOSQUITO (now ORANGE). MOSQUITO apparently gained from HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1844, 22d sess., sec. 1/p. 31)
15 March 1844
ALACHUA exchanged small areas with COLUMBIA; DUVAL gained from COLUMBIA. Boundary between ALACHUA and DUVAL adjusted [not mapped]. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1844, 22d sess., p. 55)
30 January 1845
MOSQUITO renamed ORANGE. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1845, 23d sess., no. 31/p. 56)
27 February 1845
ORANGE gained from ST. LUCIE (original, now BREVARD). (Fla. Terr. Acts 1845, 23d sess., no. 35/p. 58)
3 March 1845
The United States Congress created the state of Florida from Florida Territory, with boundaries the same as those set in 1822; Florida Territory eliminated. (Swindler, 2:332; U.S. Stat., vol. 5, ch. 48 [1845], secs. 1, 5/pp. 742-743)
10 March 1845
LEVY created from ALACHUA. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1845, 23d sess., no. 30, sec. 1/p. 54)
CALHOUN gained from JACKSON. (Fla. Terr. Acts 1845, 23d sess., no. 29/p. 53)
25 December 1846
ORANGE and ST. JOHNS gained from MARION along the St. Johns River and Lake George. (Fla. Laws 1846, 2d sess., ch. 106/p. 63)
28 December 1846
ST. LUCIE (original, now BREVARD) gained from ORANGE. (Fla. Laws 1846, 2d sess., ch. 105/p. 62)
1 January 1847
HILLSBOROUGH gained from BENTON (now HERNANDO). (Fla. Laws 1846, 2d sess., ch. 107/p. 63)
4 January 1847
WASHINGTON gained from JACKSON. (Fla. Laws 1846, 2d sess., ch. 108/p. 64)
28 December 1847
JACKSON exchanged with WASHINGTON. (Fla. Laws 1847, 3d sess., ch. 180/p. 49)
8 January 1848
HOLMES created from JACKSON and WALTON. (Fla. Laws 1847, 3d sess., ch. 176, sec. 1/p. 45)
30 December 1848
ST. JOHNS gained from MARION. (Fla. Laws 1848, 4th sess., ch. 289/p. 96)
6 January 1849
WAKULLA gained from LEON. (Fla. Laws 1848, 4th sess., ch. 288/p. 96)
10 January 1849
ORANGE exchanged with ST. LUCIE (original, now BREVARD). (Fla. Laws 1848, 4th sess., ch. 290/p. 97)
13 January 1849
PUTNAM created from ALACHUA and ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Laws 1848, 4th sess., ch. 280, sec. 1/p. 87)
24 December 1850
BENTON renamed HERNANDO. (Fla. Laws 1850, 5th sess., ch. 415/p. 148)
7 January 1851
DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) no longer fully organized, attached to MONROE for administrative and judicial purposes. (Fla. Laws 1850, 5th sess., ch. 400/p. 140; Hudson, 14-15)
11 January 1851
WALTON gained part of Santa Rosa Island from ESCAMBIA, exchanged with SANTA ROSA. (Fla. Laws 1850, 5th sess., ch. 411/p. 146)
13 January 1851
FRANKLIN gained from WAKULLA when the boundary shifted from the west bank to the east bank of the Ochlockonee River; FRANKLIN exchanged with GADSDEN. (Fla. Laws 1850, 5th sess., chs. 412, 413/p. 147)
22 January 1851
WAKULLA gained from LEON. (Fla. Laws 1850, 5th sess., ch. 414/p. 148)
8 January 1853
SUMTER created from MARION. (Fla. Laws 1852, 6th sess., ch. 548, sec. 1/p. 124)
14 January 1853
SANTA ROSA gained from WALTON. (Fla. Laws 1852, 6th sess., ch. 571/p. 145)
29 December 1854
VOLUSIA created from ORANGE. (Fla. Laws 1854, 7th sess., ch. 624/p. 44)
6 January 1855
ST. LUCIE (original) renamed BREVARD. (Fla. Laws 1854, 7th sess., ch. 651/p. 61)
9 January 1855
MANATEE created from HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Laws 1854, 7th sess., ch. 628/p. 47)
15 December 1855
LIBERTY created from GADSDEN [mistake in description corrected 5 January 1859]. (Fla. Laws 1855, adj. sess., ch. 771/p. 50)
23 December 1856
LAFAYETTE and TAYLOR created from MADISON. (Fla. Laws 1856, 8th sess., ch. 806, secs. 1-3/p. 48)
2 January 1857
1828 overlap between DUVAL and NASSAU ended; based upon their most recently defined configurations, DUVAL appeared to lose to NASSAU, while NASSAU appeared to exchange with DUVAL. (Fla. Laws 1856, 8th sess., ch. 811/p. 55)
21 December 1858
LAFAYETTE gained from TAYLOR. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 921/p. 55)
31 December 1858
CLAY created from ALACHUA, COLUMBIA, and DUVAL. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 866, secs. 1-2/p. 19)
5 January 1859
Boundary between GADSDEN and LIBERTY was clarified, correcting mistake of 15 December 1855 [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 949/p. 120)
13 January 1859
MANATEE gained from MONROE, exchanged with BREVARD. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 922/p. 56)
15 January 1859
DUVAL gained from NASSAU. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 920/p. 55)
MARION gained small area from SUMTER to accommodate local resident [location unknown, not mapped]. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 973/p. 133)
PUTNAM gained from CLAY, exchanged with ST. JOHNS in the St. Johns River and Crescent Lake. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 923/p. 57)
February 1859
NEW RIVER (now BRADFORD) and SUWANNEE were created from COLUMBIA. (Fla. Laws 1858, 9th sess., ch. 895, secs. 1-4/p. 37)
12 December 1859
COLUMBIA gained from SUWANNEE. (Fla. Laws 1859, adj. sess., ch. 1048/p. 69)
22 December 1859
CLAY gained from PUTNAM and gained small areas in the St. Johns River from DUVAL and ST. JOHNS when the boundary shifted from the west bank to the west margin of the channel. (Fla. Laws 1859, adj. sess., ch. 1039/p. 63)
GADSDEN exchanged with LIBERTY. (Fla. Laws 1859, adj. sess., ch. 1046/p. 68)
8 February 1861
BAKER created from NEW RIVER (now BRADFORD). (Fla. Laws 1860, 10th sess., ch. 1185/p. 179)
POLK created from BREVARD and HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Laws 1860, 10th sess., ch. 1201/p. 192; Fla. Rpts., 120:429-431)
6 December 1861
NEW RIVER renamed BRADFORD. (Fla. Laws 1861, 11th sess., ch. 1300/p. 53)
27 November 1863
SUWANNEE gained small area from COLUMBIA so as to include the entire town of Wellborn in SUWANNEE [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1863_pt. for location]. (Fla. Laws 1863, 12th sess., ch. 1391/p. 11)
6 December 1866
ORANGE gained from BREVARD. (Fla. Laws 1866, 14th sess., ch. 1621/p. 82)
8 December 1866
DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) gained from BREVARD, exchanged with MONROE [DADE lost in the Florida Keys]. DADE continued to be attached to MONROE. (Fla. Laws 1866, 14th sess., ch. 1592/p. 62)
10 December 1866
HILLSBOROUGH gained small area from POLK to accommodate local resident [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1866_pt. for location]. (Fla. Laws 1866, 14th sess., ch. 1622/p. 82)
13 December 1866
SUMTER gained from HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Laws 1866, 14th sess., ch. 1589/p. 61)
30 July 1868
PUTNAM gained from ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Laws 1868, 1st sess., ch. 1673/p. 174)
3 February 1870
BRADFORD gained from ALACHUA. (Fla. Laws 1870, 3d sess., ch. 1765/p. 45)
14 February 1870
Boundary between ORANGE and VOLUSIA was clarified to run west of Huntoon's Island [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1870, 3d sess., ch. 1764/p. 45)
30 January 1871
POLK gained from SUMTER. (Fla. Laws 1871, 4th sess., ch. 1848/p. 36)
14 February 1872
ORANGE gained from SUMTER. (Fla. Laws 1872, 5th sess., ch. 1895/p. 52)
1872
DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) was fully organized, detached from MONROE. (Hudson, 18-21)
14 February 1873
WASHINGTON gained from CALHOUN [mistake in description corrected 2 June 1893]. (Fla. Laws 1873, 6th sess., ch. 1950/p. 27)
JACKSON gained from CALHOUN. (Fla. Laws 1873, 6th sess., ch. 1954/p. 28)
18 February 1873
BREVARD gained from ORANGE. (Fla. Laws 1873, 6th sess., ch. 1964/p. 36)
19 February 1874
DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) gained from BREVARD, lost to MONROE. MANATEE gained from BREVARD, exchanged with MONROE. ORANGE gained from BREVARD. POLK gained from HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Laws 1874, 7th sess., ch. 1998/p. 63)
15 February 1875
ST. JOHNS gained from VOLUSIA, exchanged with DUVAL. ST. JOHNS exchanged with PUTNAM in the St. Johns River and Crescent Lake. (Fla. Laws 1875, 8th sess., ch. 2068/p. 70)
February 1875
CALHOUN gained from JACKSON. (Fla. Laws 1875, 8th sess., ch. 2061/p. 67)
6 February 1877
LEVY gained from MARION. (Fla. Laws 1877, 9th sess., ch. 3060/p. 120)
13 February 1877
TAYLOR gained from LAFAYETTE. (Fla. Laws 1877, 9th sess., ch. 3061/p. 121)
21 February 1877
MANATEE exchanged with MONROE. (Fla. Laws 1877, 9th sess., ch. 3062/p. 121)
5 March 1879
ORANGE and SUMTER gained from POLK. (Fla. Laws 1879, 10th sess., ch. 3177/p. 141)
11 March 1879
BREVARD gained from VOLUSIA. (Fla. Laws 1879, 10th sess., ch. 3175/p. 140)
LEON gained from JEFFERSON. (Fla. Laws 1879, 10th sess., ch. 3176/p. 140)
by 1880
HERNANDO gained from POLK. (Rand, McNally, 1880, 254-255)
27 January 1881
WALTON and WASHINGTON were granted concurrent jurisdiction over the waters of Choctawhatchee Bay [not mapped]. (Fla. Laws 1881, 11th sess., ch. 3258/p. 73)
7 February 1881
JEFFERSON gained from LEON. (Fla. Laws 1881, 11th sess., ch. 3304/p. 101)
31 January 1883
LAFAYETTE gained from TAYLOR [mistake in description corrected 12 February 1885]. (Fla. Laws 1883, 12th sess., ch. 3470/p. 79)
26 February 1883
CLAY gained from PUTNAM. (Fla. Laws 1883, 12th sess., ch. 3469/p. 79)
5 March 1883
POLK gained small area from HERNANDO. (Fla. Laws 1883, 12th sess., ch. 3471/p. 80)
12 February 1885
Boundary between LAFAYETTE and TAYLOR was redefined, correcting mistake of 31 January 1883 [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1885, 13th sess., ch. 3625/p. 64)
16 February 1885
FRANKLIN gained a narrow strip of territory all along its boundary with LIBERTY. (Fla. Laws 1885, 13th sess., ch. 3624/p. 63)
13 May 1887
LEE created from MONROE. (Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3769/p. 150)
19 May 1887
DE SOTO created from MANATEE. (Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3770, secs. 1-3/pp. 151-152)
28 May 1887
TAYLOR gained from LAFAYETTE. (Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3766/p. 147)
MARION exchanged with PUTNAM. (Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3767/p. 147)
2 June 1887
PASCO and CITRUS created from HERNANDO. (Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3772, secs. 1, 8/pp. 157-159)
11 July 1887
OSCEOLA created from BREVARD and ORANGE. BREVARD gained small area from ORANGE. (Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3768/p. 148)
26 July 1887
LAKE created from ORANGE and SUMTER. (Fla. Laws 1887, 1st sess., ch. 3771, secs. 1-2/pp. 154-155)
30 May 1889
COLUMBIA exchanged with SUWANNEE. (Fla. Laws 1889, ext. sess., ch. 3948/p. 181)
31 May 1889
LAKE gained small area from ORANGE. (Fla. Laws 1889, ext. sess., ch. 3944/p. 176)
POLK gained from SUMTER. (Fla. Laws 1889, ext. sess., ch. 3932/p. 167)
10 June 1891
POLK gained small area from LAKE and gained from PASCO. (Fla. Laws 1891, 3d sess., ch. 4066/p. 108)
2 June 1893
WASHINGTON boundaries were redefined, correcting mistake of 14 February 1873 [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1893, 4th sess., ch. 4236/p. 169)
31 May 1897
CALHOUN exchanged with JACKSON. (Fla. Laws 1897, 6th sess., ch. 4576/p. 119)
4 June 1897
CALHOUN exchanged with WASHINGTON. (Fla. Laws 1897, 6th sess., ch. 4577/p. 119)
24 May 1899
VOLUSIA gained small area from ST. JOHNS. (Fla. Laws 1899, 7th sess., ch. 4811, secs. 1-2/pp. 209-210)
1 July 1905
ST. LUCIE created from BREVARD. (Fla. Laws 1905, 10th sess., ch. 5567, secs. 1, 22/pp. 404, 408)
3 June 1907
Boundary between ST. JOHNS and VOLUSIA was clarified [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1907, 11th sess., ch. 5730, secs. 1-2/pp. 244-245)
5 May 1909
PUTNAM gained small area from CLAY in the town of Melrose [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1909_pt. for location]. (Fla. Laws 1909, 12th sess., ch. 5978/p. 184)
29 May 1909
COLUMBIA boundaries were clarified [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1909, 12th sess., ch. 5979/p. 184)
1 July 1909
PALM BEACH created from DADE (now MIAMI-DADE). (Fla. Laws 1909, 12th sess., ch. 5970, sec. 1/p. 174)
1 January 1910
GADSDEN exchanged with LIBERTY. (Fla. Laws 1909, 12th sess., ch. 5966, secs. 1-2, 4/pp. 169-171)
19 May 1911
BAKER gained from DUVAL, lost to NASSAU. (Fla. Laws 1911, 13th sess., ch. 6244/p. 216)
24 May 1911
LAFAYETTE gained from TAYLOR. (Fla. Laws 1911, 13th sess., ch. 6246/p. 218)
2 June 1911
CITRUS gained non-county area in the Withlacoochee River along the LEVY line when the boundary shifted from the middle of the river to the north bank [not mapped]. (Fla. Laws 1911, 13th sess., ch. 6245/p. 217)
3 June 1911
ALACHUA exchanged with LEVY. (Fla. Laws 1911, 13th sess., ch. 6243/p. 215)
14 November 1911
PINELLAS created from HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Laws 1911, 13th sess., ch. 6247, secs. 1, 20-21/pp. 219, 223; Grismer, St. Petersburg, 35; HRS Fla., Pinellas, 9)
25 April 1913
SEMINOLE created from ORANGE [mistake in description corrected 31 May 1961]. (Fla. Laws 1913, 14th sess., gen., ch. 6511, sec. 1/p. 365)
17 May 1913
WALTON gained from WASHINGTON. (Fla. Laws 1913, 14th sess., gen., ch. 6508, sec. 1/p. 359)
6 June 1913
Legislature authorized creation of BROWARD (proposed) from DADE (now MIAMI-DADE), dependent on local referendum that failed; boundaries differed from present BROWARD. (Fla. Laws 1913, 14th sess., gen., ch. 6504, secs. 1, 22/pp. 341, 346; McIver, 64)
7 June 1913
LEVY gained small area from ALACHUA. (Fla. Laws 1913, 14th sess., gen., ch. 6509/p. 363)
1 July 1913
BAY created from CALHOUN and WASHINGTON. (Fla. Laws 1913, 14th sess., gen., ch. 6505, secs. 1, 24/pp. 347, 353; ch. 6506/p. 354; and ch. 6508/p. 359)
1 June 1915
Legislature authorized the creation of BLOXHAM (proposed) from LEVY and MARION, dependent on local referendum that failed [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1915, 15th sess., gen., ch. 6936, secs. 1, 20-21/pp. 298-303; Morris, 25; "Battle of Bloxham")
8 August 1915
WASHINGTON gained from JACKSON, lost to HOLMES. (Fla. Laws 1915, 15th sess., gen., ch. 6935, secs. 1-2, 16/pp. 292-293, 297)
7 September 1915
OKALOOSA created from SANTA ROSA and WALTON. (Fla. Laws 1915, 15th sess., gen., ch. 6937, secs. 1, 24-25/pp. 303, 310; HRS Fla., Okaloosa, 6)
1 October 1915
BROWARD created from DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) and PALM BEACH. On 6 June 1913 an attempt was made to create BROWARD in the same general area, but creation did not take effect. (Fla. Laws 1915, 15th sess., gen., ch. 6934, secs. 1, 23/pp. 285, 292)
12 June 1917
FLAGLER created from ST. JOHNS and VOLUSIA. (Fla. Laws 1917, 16th sess., gen., ch. 7399, secs. 1, 22-23/pp. 277, 284)
7 August 1917
OKEECHOBEE created from OSCEOLA, PALM BEACH, and ST. LUCIE. (Fla. Laws 1917, 16th sess., gen., ch. 7401, secs. 1, 20-21/pp. 285, 289-290; Van Landingham and Hetherington, 66)
23 April 1921
CHARLOTTE, GLADES, HARDEE, and HIGHLANDS created from DE SOTO. (Fla. Laws 1921, 18th sess., gen., ch. 8513, sec. 1/pp. 279-281)
25 April 1921
DIXIE created from LAFAYETTE. (Fla. Laws 1921, 18th sess., gen., ch. 8514, sec. 1/p. 289)
15 June 1921
SARASOTA created from MANATEE. (Fla. Laws 1921, 18th sess., gen., ch. 8515, secs. 1, 22-23/pp. 294, 300; Grismer, Sarasota, 200-201)
1 October 1921
UNION created from BRADFORD. (Fla. Laws 1921, 18th sess., gen., ch. 8516, secs. 1, 27/pp. 301, 307)
May 1923
JEFFERSON exchanged with MADISON. (Fla. Laws 1923, 19th sess., gen., ch. 9361/p. 467)
7 July 1923
COLLIER created from LEE. (Fla. Laws 1923, 19th sess., gen., ch. 9362, secs. 1, 26/pp. 468, 476)
10 July 1923
HENDRY created from LEE. (Fla. Laws 1923, 19th sess., gen., ch. 9360, secs. 1, 26/pp. 459, 467)
8 May 1925
GLADES gained part of Lake Okeechobee from PALM BEACH. (Fla. Laws 1925, 20th sess., spec., ch. 10596/p. 1860)
14 May 1925
HENDRY gained a small part of Lake Okeechobee from PALM BEACH. (Fla. Laws 1925, 20th sess., gen., ch. 10090/p. 112)
4 June 1925
LEVY gained small area from DIXIE when the boundary shifted from the east bank to the middle of the Suwannee River [not mapped]. (Fla. Laws 1925, 20th sess., spec., ch. 10778/p. 2518)
29 June 1925
INDIAN RIVER created from ST. LUCIE. (Fla. Laws 1925, 20th sess., gen., ch. 10148, sec. 1/p. 294)
7 July 1925
GULF created from CALHOUN. (Fla. Laws 1925, 20th sess., gen., ch. 10132, secs. 1, 25-26/pp. 237, 244)
4 August 1925
MARTIN created from PALM BEACH and ST. LUCIE. (Fla. Laws 1925, 20th sess., gen., ch. 10180, secs. 1, 25-26/pp. 359, 368; Hutchinson, front endpapers)
1 January 1926
GILCHRIST created from ALACHUA. (Fla. Laws 1925, ext. sess., ch. 11371, secs. 1, 19-20/pp. 66, 70; McCarthy, 73)
6 June 1927
PUTNAM gained small areas from BRADFORD and CLAY. (Fla. Laws 1927, 21st sess., gen., ch. 12489, sec. 1/p. 1585)
4 May 1933
GADSDEN gained from LEON when the boundary shifted from the west bank to the middle of the Ochlockonee River [not mapped]. (Fla. Laws 1933, 24th sess., spec., ch. 16436/p. 493)
7 September 1937
HENDRY gained small area from GLADES. (Fla. Laws 1937, 26th sess., spec., ch. 18568, secs. 1, 6/pp. 535, 537)
15 May 1939
PINELLAS gained small area (Mullet Key) from HILLSBOROUGH. (Fla. Laws 1939, 27th sess., gen., ch. 19058/p. 116)
12 June 1941
Part of the boundary between SEMINOLE and VOLUSIA was clarified [no discernible change]. (Fla. Laws 1941, 28th sess., gen., ch. 20888/p. 2358)
29 July 1942
All county boundaries redefined. Only change was PASCO gained from POLK. HENDRY boundaries were redefined [mistake in description corrected 11 June 1945, no change]. (Fla. Stat., 1941, 1:secs. 7.22, 7.26, 7.51, 7.53)
11 June 1945
HENDRY boundaries were clarified, correcting mistake of 29 July 1942 [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1945, 30th sess., gen., ch. 22858, sec. 7/p. 862)
31 May 1947
OKALOOSA gained from ESCAMBIA on Santa Rosa Island. (Fla. Laws 1947, 31st sess., gen., ch. 23867/p. 483)
13 June 1949
GLADES gained small area from HIGHLANDS. (Fla. Laws 1949, 32d sess., gen., ch. 25612, sec. 1/p. 1342)
31 December 1949
POLK gained from PASCO. (Fla. Laws 1949, 32d sess., gen., ch. 25440, secs. 1-2/pp. 1055-1056; Fla. Laws 1949, ext. sess., ch. 26347/p. 125)
11 June 1951
SANTA ROSA gained small area from ESCAMBIA on Santa Rosa Island. (Fla. Laws 1951, 33d sess., gen., ch. 26860/p. 742)
1 January 1954
ALACHUA exchanged small areas with BRADFORD and COLUMBIA along the Santa Fe River. (Fla. Laws 1953, 34th sess., gen., ch. 28312, secs. 1-3, 6/pp. 973-979)
29 June 1957
SANTA ROSA gained small area from ESCAMBIA along the right-of-way of the toll bridge and road on Santa Rosa Sound and Island. (Fla. Laws 1957, 36th sess., gen., ch. 57-834/p. 1181)
20 June 1959
Boundary between FLAGLER and PUTNAM in Crescent Lake was clarified [no discernible change]. (Fla. Laws 1959, 37th sess., gen., ch. 59-488, secs. 1-2/pp. 1629-1630)
3 November 1959
INDIAN RIVER gained small area south of Sebastian Inlet from BREVARD. (Fla. Laws 1959, 37th sess., gen., ch. 59-486/p. 1626)
13 May 1961
DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) gained small area on Barnes Sound from MONROE. (Fla. Laws 1961, 38th sess., gen., ch. 61-16/p. 44)
31 May 1961
SEMINOLE boundaries were redefined, correcting mistake of 25 April 1913 [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1961, 38th sess., gen., ch. 61-167, secs. 1-2/pp. 279-281)
22 June 1961
ORANGE boundaries were redefined, correcting mistake of 25 April 1913 [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1961, 38th sess., gen., ch. 61-483/p. 1075)
29 May 1963
GLADES, HENDRY, MARTIN, and OKEECHOBEE gained parts of Lake Okeechobee from PALM BEACH. (Fla. Laws 1963, 39th sess., gen., ch. 63-200, secs. 1-5/pp. 451-454)
12 June 1963
HENDRY gained small area from GLADES along Route 80 [not mapped]. (Fla. Laws 1963, 39th sess., gen., ch. 63-391/p. 1048)
14 June 1967
VOLUSIA boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1967, 41st sess., gen., ch. 67-190/p. 389)
4 August 1967
PINELLAS boundary in the Gulf of Mexico was clarified [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1967, 41st sess., gen., ch. 67-601/p. 1789)
1 January 1968
OSCEOLA exchanged with POLK. (Fla. Laws 1967, 41st sess., gen., ch. 67-592, secs. 1-3/pp. 1728-1730)
30 March 1972
FRANKLIN gained Forbes Island from GULF. (Fla. Laws 1972, reg. sess., gen., ch. 72-119/p. 388)
1973
MARION gained from ALACHUA when part of Lake Orange was drained. (Rand, McNally, 1972, pp. 158-159; Rand, McNally, 1973, pp. 158-159)
1 July 1976
CLAY gained small area from DUVAL along Interstate Highway 295. (Fla. Laws 1976, reg. sess., gen., ch. 76-17/p. 25)
27 June 1978
CLAY boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1978, 2d reg. sess., gen., ch. 78-421/p. 1394)
1 October 1978
BROWARD gained small area at Golden Beach from DADE (now MIAMI-DADE) [change too small to display on interactive map; shapefile users see small_changes 1978_pt. for location]. (Fla. Laws 1978, 2d reg. sess., gen., ch. 78-119, secs. 1-3/pp. 447-449)
31 December 1980
CLAY gained small area from DUVAL along Interstate Highway 295. (Fla. Laws 1980, reg. sess., gen., ch. 80-9, secs. 1-3/pp. 64-66)
14 June 1983
ESCAMBIA boundaries were clarified to extend into the Gulf of Mexico [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1983, reg. and spec. sess., gen., ch. 83-130/p. 434)
24 June 1983
VOLUSIA boundaries were redefined [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1983, reg. and spec. sess., gen., ch. 83-217, sec. 1/p. 984)
14 June 1984
CLAY gained small area from PUTNAM. (Fla. Laws 1984, reg. sess., gen., ch. 84-211, secs. 1-3/pp. 664-666)
1 October 1986
WAKULLA gained from FRANKLIN when the boundary shifted from the east bank to the middle of the Ochlockonee River and Bay. (Fla. Laws 1986, reg. sess., gen., ch. 86-288/p. 2109)
27 April 1991
SANTA ROSA gained small area from ESCAMBIA on Santa Rosa Island. (Fla. Laws 1991, 12th leg., ch. 91-310/pp. 2983-2986)
30 April 1991
INDIAN RIVER boundaries were clarified [no change]. (Fla. Laws 1991, 12th leg., ch. 91-39/p. 288)
29 May 1994
LEVY gained small area from CITRUS when the boundary shifted from the north bank to the thread of the Withlacoochee River [not mapped]. (Fla. Laws 1994, 13th leg., ch. 94-313/pp. 2184-2186)
13 November 1997
DADE renamed MIAMI-DADE. (Florida Department, Miami-Dade Public Library, telephone conversation, 27 October 2006)