St. James Island Explained

St. James Island
Coordinates:29.9511°N -84.5267°W
Length Mi:20
Width Mi:4
Pushpin Map:Florida
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Relief:1
Pushpin Map Caption:St. James Island
Country Admin Divisions Title:State
Country Admin Divisions:Florida
Country Admin Divisions Title 1:County
Country Admin Divisions 1:Franklin

St. James Island is an inhabited area along the Florida Panhandle surrounded by the Carrabelle River, Crooked River, Ochlockonee River, and St. George Sound in Franklin County, Florida. It is more than 20miles long and averages 4miles wide. It is separated from the mainland by the tidal Crooked River. The highest elevation on St. James Island is 70feet above sea level, the highest on the Gulf coast of Florida between Pensacola and Tampa.[1] [2]

The city of Carabelle and communities of Lanark Village, St. Teresa, Alligator Point, and Bald Point are on the island. Bald Point State Park is on the eastern end of the island and another part of the island is in Tate's Hell State Forest. The area has been used commercially for timber and commercial fishing with tourism and retirement increasing more recently. Locally it is not usually spoken of as an island.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Webb, Wanton S.. Webb's Florida. Historical, Industrial and Biographical. 1885. W. S. Webb and Company. New York. 51.
  2. Web site: SummerCamp Press Release. https://web.archive.org/web/20060215032903/http://www.1000fof.org/Panhandle/SummerCampPressRel.asp. January 21, 2003. February 15, 2006. 1000 Friends of Florida. November 29, 2020.