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  St. Vincent Island St. Vincent Island | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 29°39′40″N85°08′37″W / 29.66111°N 85.14361°W /29.66111; -85.14361 |
| Administration | |
| State | Florida |
| County | Franklin |
St. Vincent Island is the westernmost of fourbarrier islands in the northwesternFlorida Gulf coast which includeCape St. George Island,St. George Island andDog Island. The island is located just offshore inFranklin County, Florida south southeast ofCape San Blas and north ofCape St. George Island close to the mouth of theApalachicola River and the town ofApalachicola on theFlorida Panhandle.
Archeological digs on the island resulted in the discovery ofPaleo-Indian projectile points that date back to around 13,000 years ago. These materials would have been deposited by people living during thePleistocene when, because of lower sea-levels, the area was well inland and not an island. Pottery fragments dating back 4000 years ago were also observed on the north shore of the island, but these may have been deposited there while the island was forming.[1]
In 1633,Franciscan Friars named the island while visitingApalachee tribes in the area.
In 1750,Creek Indians andSeminoles, offshoots of the Creek nation, entered area and inhabited the island.
During theWar of 1812, the British used it to unload military supplies, preparatory to invading the United States via theFlint River (Georgia) (seeNicolls' Outpost).
In 1868, George Hatch bought the island.
In 1908, Dr.Ray V. Pierce imported Old World game animals to the island. In 1920 the island was used to graze beef cattle sold toApalachicola markets.
In 1940, the first oyster lease was granted. The Pierce Estate sold first pine saw timber. St. Joe Lumber Company built a temporary bridge to the island for timber removal.
In 1948, the Loomis brothers, Alfred, Jr. and Henry, bought the island and importedzebras,elands,black buck,ring-necked pheasants,Asian jungle fowl,bobwhite quail, and semi-wildturkeys.
In 1968 St Vincent was purchased by theNature Conservancy for $2.2 million.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service repaid the Conservancy with money from Duck Stamp sales and established the island asSt. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge.
The island is made up of ridges and swales of sand dominated bylive oak and other hardwoods. The oldest sand ridge is about 3000 years old. The island also has tidal marshes and 18 sq. miles (49 km2) of freshwater lakes and streams.
St. Vincent is home to numerous shore birds, an abundance ofalligators, nestingospreys andbald eagles,peregrine falcons,wood storks,sambar deer (native to Southeast Asia) and the nativewhite-tailed deer. The island is also a haven forendangered species such asloggerhead sea turtles,indigo snakes,gopher tortoises and thered wolf.
While only accessible by boat, St. Vincent offers a wide array of activities for visitors once they arrive. The island is a popularsea kayaking and boating destination, with fishing andbirding opportunities abundant along the shore. The interior of the island has over 90 miles of mapped roads open to hiking and biking. Not all roads are still in use, and only the main road (B Road) is lined with oyster shells for easier travel over the sandy soil of the island. Wildlife viewing as well as fishing from one of the four lakes stocked withlargemouth bass andbluegill are also popular on the island. Annual primitive hunts help keep the population ofSambar deer,White-tailed deer,feral hogs, and raccoons in check. Licenses for hunts are awarded by lottery and are managed by theFlorida Fish and Wildlife Commission.[2]
