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Florida Counties
There are sixty-seven counties in the state of Florida. In 1821, there were only two Counties in Florida: Escambia to the west and St. Johns to the east. From these two Counties were formed 67 today. Its last county was created in 1925 with the formation of Gilchrist County from a segment of Alachua County.Holmes County, Florida
Holmes County Education, Geography, and History
Holmes County is a county located in the state of Florida. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 19,927. Holmes County was created on January 8, 1848 from Jackson County and Walton County. The county seat is Bonifay. This county is named for Holmes Creek, which forms the eastern boundary of the county.
Etymology - Origin of Holmes County Name
The county's namesake is a point of debate. Holmes Creek - the county's eastern boundary - bore that name before the county was created, but it was originally named Weekaywehatchee (a Creek Indian name meaning "spring creek"). One claim is that the county was named for Thomas J. Holmes, who came from North Carolina to settle in the area about 1830. Another is that it is named after Holmes, a half-breed American Indian chief who settled in the area with his band of Red Stick Creek Indians after 1814. He was subsequently killed in 1818 by a raiding party sent by Andrew Jackson during the First Seminole War
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Holmes County History
Holmes County was created in 1848. The county is named for Thomas J. Holmes, who came from North Carolina to settle in the area about 1830.
Holmes County has had four county seats in its history. The first was Hewett's Bluff (later renamed Bear Pen, then Cerro Gordo), then
Pittman's Ferry, then Westville, and finally Bonifay. Bonifay has been the county seat since 1905.
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 489 square miles (1,266 km2), of which, 482 square miles (1,250 km2) of it is land and 6 square miles (16 km2) of it (1.28%) is water.
Holmes Beach is located close to the center of Florida. The county is
centrally located between the major cities of Pensacola, Tallahassee,
and Panama City. The Choctawhatchee River and Holmes Creek serve as
county line boundaries in many areas and both exhibit clean flowing
streams lined with long leaf and loblolly pine, cedar, cypress, many
varieties of hardwood, and farmland. Several other streams, lakes and
ponds also continue to contribute to the quality of nature.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- North: Geneva County, Ala.
- East: Jackson County
- Southeast: Washington County
- Southwest: Walton County
Education
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