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Lake City, Florida: A Sesquicentennial Tribute (2009) H. Morris Williams, Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy

Chapter Five: 1850 - 1859

Chapter Five: 1850 - 1859

Florida was relatively unpopulated by white settlers for much
of the first half of the nineteenth century, primarily because the threat

of Indian attacks
and also the
Seminole Indian

Wars dissuaded all
but the most hardy

from migrating to
the state. Even after
the end of hostilities

with the Indians, the
lack of adequate
The presence of primitive dirt roads
throughout Florida hurt the ability of roads and rail
farmers to get their goods to markets.
transportation
hindered the ability of farmers to send their produce to markets. Unlike

in the western parts of the United States, Florida was long neglected
by federal officials.

Little by little officials had railroads built, especially to and
from Jacksonville, which was the largest and most important city in

Florida because of its location and its position on the St. Johns River.
Workers laid iron rails from Jacksonville to Baldwin in 1858 and

instituted rail service between the two places. In November of that
year, workers finished the line from Jacksonville to Alligator (later

called Lake City), a major accomplishment in opening up the town to
traffic and commerce.

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