The Perdido River , also historically known as Rio Perdido or by its native name of Cassaba , is a 65.4-mile-long (105.3 km) river in the U.S. states of Alabama and Florida ; the Perdido, a designated Outstanding Florida Waters river, forms part of the boundary between the two states along nearly its entire length and drains into the Gulf of Mexico . During the early 19th century it played a central role in a series of rotating boundary changes and disputes among France , Spain , Great Britain , and the United States .
41-628: It rises in southwestern Alabama in Escambia County approximately 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Atmore . It flows south approximately 5 miles (8 km) to latitude 31°N , south of which it forms the remainder of the Alabama/Florida border. It flows generally east-southeast in a winding course and enters the north end of Perdido Bay on the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 10 miles (16 km) west of Pensacola . The word " perdido "
82-480: A female householder with no husband present, and 29.40% were non-families. 26.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.99. In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
123-884: A semi-feudal system; the Seminoles gave the Blacks protection, while the former slaves, who knew how to farm, shared crops with the natives. Although the escaped slaves were still considered inferior by the Seminoles, the two groups lived in harmony. The slaveholders in Georgia and the rest of the South became furious over this state of affairs as slaves continued to escape to Florida. In 1818, after years of additional conflicts involving natives, fugitive slaves, and settlers, General Andrew Jackson wrote to President James Monroe , who had been inaugurated in March 1817, informing him that he
164-524: A speedy exit of the American troops. The Spanish government offered runaway slaves freedom if they converted to Catholicism and agreed to a term of military service. Under heavy pressure from the U.S., Spain reversed this policy in the late 18th century, to little effect. Slaves continued to flee to Florida, where they were sheltered by the Florida natives, called Seminoles by Americans. They lived in
205-860: Is Spanish for "lost". From 1682 to 1763, the Perdido formed the boundary between the French colony of Louisiana and the Spanish colony of Florida . Following the British victory over the French in the French and Indian War , Great Britain received the French colonial territory between the Mississippi River and the Perdido River, as well as the Spanish colony of Florida, while Spain received
246-551: Is not their condition, independent of stipulation. They do not, however, participate in political power; they do not share in the government till Florida shall become a state. In the meantime Florida continues to be a territory of the United States, governed by virtue of that clause in the Constitution which empowers Congress 'to make all needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property belonging to
287-703: The Alabama Territory was carved out of the eastern half of the Mississippi Territory. The dispute with Spain was finally resolved in 1819 with the Adams-Onís Treaty , in which Spain ceded all of Florida to the United States. The treaty wasn't ratified by the Spanish government until a couple of years later. In 1822 the Florida Territory was established, with the Perdido River as the (coastal) boundary between it and
328-866: The National Register of Historic Places , the Atmore Commercial Historic District the Brewton Historic Commercial District , and the Commercial Hotel-Hart Hotel . 31°07′36″N 87°09′44″W / 31.12667°N 87.16222°W / 31.12667; -87.16222 Florida Territory The Territory of Florida was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 30, 1822, until March 3, 1845, when it
369-755: The Treaty of Paris , Britain returned all of Florida to Spain, at which point Spain controlled the entire coast of the Gulf of Mexico . (Spain maintained the West and East Florida colonial designations that the British had established.) In 1800, as part of the Treaty of San Ildefonso , Spain returned the Louisiana colony to France , retaining control of the lands east of the Mississippi River (except New Orleans). In 1803, France sold Louisiana (New France) to
410-587: The United States in the Louisiana Purchase . A boundary dispute erupted between the U.S. and Spain, with the U.S. claiming the land west of the Perdido River as part of the original Louisiana (New France) colony, whereas the Spanish claimed that only the portion of Louisiana west of the Mississippi River had been returned to France. The Gulf coast south of 31 degrees latitude, between the Mississippi and Perdido rivers, remained disputed between
451-621: The United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 953 square miles (2,470 km ), of which 945 square miles (2,450 km ) is land and 8.1 square miles (21 km ) (0.8%) is water. Escambia County in Alabama and Escambia County in Florida are two of 22 counties or parishes in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines. As of the census of 2020, there were 36,757 people, 13,089 households, and 8,019 families residing in
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#1732765840217492-698: The poverty line , including 24.70% of those under age 18 and 17.80% of those age 65 or over. The Holman Correctional Facility of the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) is in Atmore, 9 miles (14 km) north of the Atmore city center. Holman has a male death row and the State of Alabama execution chamber. In addition the ADOC Fountain Correctional Facility is also in Atmore, about 7 miles (11 km) north of
533-422: The 31st parallel. However, as Thomas Jefferson once predicted, the U.S. could not keep its hands off Florida. In 1812, United States forces and Georgia "patriots" under General George Mathews unsuccessfully invaded Florida to protect American interests. The " Patriot War " was perceived as ill-advised by many Americans. President James Madison withdrew his support, and the Spanish authorities were promised
574-446: The Atmore city center. The city of Atmore annexed both prisons in 2008. Escambia County is reliably Republican at the presidential level. The last Democrat to win the county in a presidential election is Jimmy Carter , who won it by a majority in 1976 . The two school districts are Brewton City School District (City of Brewton) and Escambia County School District (all other locations). Escambia County has three sites listed on
615-482: The Atmore, AL Micropolitan Statistical Area; which is itself a constituent part of the larger Pensacola-Ferry Pass, FL-AL Combined Statistical Area. The county is the base of the state's only federally recognized Native American tribe, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians . They have developed gaming casinos and a hotel on their reservation here, but also a much larger business extending to locations in other states and
656-692: The Caribbean. The name "Escambia" may have been derived from the Creek name Shambia , meaning "clearwater", or the Choctaw word for "cane-brake" or "reed-brake". Historic American Indian tribes in the area included the Muskogean -speaking Creek , Choctaw , and Alabama , who had inhabited the lands for centuries and had many settlements. The former two tribes were among those in the Southeast whom
697-565: The European-American settlers called the Five Civilized Tribes , as they adopted some European-American cultural ways. Many of their members had close working relationships with traders and settlers moving into the area in the early 19th century. Most of these nations were forced to cede their lands to the United States and to remove in the 1830s to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River . Escambia County
738-519: The Florida Territory and soon afterward the capital was established at Tallahassee , but only after removing a Seminole tribe from the land. The new capital of Tallahassee was located approximately halfway between the old colonial capitals of Pensacola and St. Augustine. Duval's "government palace for a time was a mere log house, and he lived on hunters' fare." The central conflict of Territorial Florida originated from attempts to displace
779-606: The Seminole people. The federal government and most white settlers desired all Florida Indians to migrate to the West voluntarily. On May 28, 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act requiring all Native Americans to move west of the Mississippi River . The Act itself did not mean much to Florida, but it laid the framework for the Treaty of Payne's Landing , which was signed by a council of Seminole chiefs on May 9, 1832, and ratified in 1834. This treaty stated that
820-556: The Seminoles could organize an exploratory party that would travel to the Indian Territory and survey the assigned lands before they had to agree to relocation, though inhabitants of Florida were expected to relocate by 1835. It was at this meeting that the famous Osceola first voiced his decision to fight. At the Treaty of Fort Gibson , held in Arkansas Territory between the group of Seminoles sent to explore
861-413: The United States and provide for initial governance. Andrew Jackson served as the federal military commissioner with the powers of governor of the newly acquired territory, from March 10 through December 1821. On March 30, 1822, the United States merged East Florida and part of what formerly constituted West Florida into the Florida Territory. William Pope Duval became the first official governor of
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#1732765840217902-489: The United States." On July 10, 1821, the province of East Florida was transferred to Governor Andrew Jackson with strict orders from President James Monroe to observe diplomatic protocol, with West Florida following one week later. Governor Jackson was not involved in the earliest government appointments in the territory and was only acquainted with two of them. President James Monroe was authorized on March 3, 1821, to take possession of East Florida and West Florida for
943-420: The county was 64.40% White , 30.79% Black or African American , 3.01% Native American , 0.24% Asian , 0.03% Pacific Islander , 0.40% from other races , and 1.13% from two or more races. 0.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 14,297 households, out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.70% were married couples living together, 15.10% had
984-466: The county was declared a disaster area due to damage from Hurricane Frederic . It was declared a disaster area again in September 2004 due to damage from Hurricane Ivan . In the 20th century, the Poarch Band of Creek Indians organized to gain recognition as a tribe, and established a government under a written constitution. It had control of some lands that were taken into trust on their behalf by
1025-526: The county. According to the 2010 United States census : As of 2012 the largest self-reported ancestry groups in Escambia County were: As of the census of 2000, there were 38,440 people, 14,297 households, and 10,093 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km ). There were 16,544 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km ). The racial makeup of
1066-414: The federal government as part of the federal recognition process. It is the only federally recognized tribe in the state. Since the late 20th century, they have developed three gaming resorts to generate revenues for tribal health and welfare. In addition, Alabama has recognized nine tribes, generally descendants of Choctaw, Creek, and Cherokee Native Americans who had historically lived here. According to
1107-617: The formerly French territory west of the Mississippi, plus the city of New Orleans . The British divided their newly acquired colony into West Florida and East Florida at the Apalachicola River (whose main tributary , the Chattahoochee River , forms a large portion of the present boundary between Alabama and Georgia , and a small part of the Florida/Georgia boundary). Twenty years later, as part of
1148-650: The land as a possession of Spain in 1513. St. Augustine , the oldest continually inhabited European settlement in the continental U.S., was founded on the northeast coast of Florida in 1565. Florida continued to remain a Spanish possession until the end of the Seven Years' War , when Spain ceded it to the Kingdom of Great Britain in exchange for the release of Havana . In 1783, after the American Revolution , Great Britain ceded Florida back to Spain under
1189-514: The land. It was not until General Thomas Jesup captured many of the key Seminole chiefs, including Osceola who died in captivity of illness, that the battles began to die down. The Seminoles were eventually forced to migrate. Florida joined the Union as the 27th state on March 3, 1845. By this time, almost all of the Seminoles were gone, except for a small group living in the Everglades . In
1230-405: The new state of Alabama. 30°27′0″N 87°22′54″W / 30.45000°N 87.38167°W / 30.45000; -87.38167 Escambia County, Alabama Escambia County is a county located in the south central portion of the U.S. state of Alabama . As of the 2020 census , the population was 36,757. Its county seat is Brewton . Escambia County is coextensive with
1271-409: The new territory and the federal government, Americans led the Seminole into agreeing to the terms of relocation, although Seminoles would later claim to having been tricked into this agreement. Beginning in late 1835, Osceola and the Seminole allies began a guerrilla war against the U.S. forces. Numerous generals fought and failed, succumbing to the heat and disease as well as lack of knowledge of
Perdido River - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-450: The ports at Pensacola and St. Augustine for twelve years. In Dorr v. United States (195 U.S. 138, 141–142 (1904)) Justice Marshall is quoted more extensively as follows: The 6th article of the treaty of cession contains the following provision: 'The inhabitants of the territories which His Catholic Majesty cedes the United States by this treaty shall be incorporated in the Union of the United States as soon as may be consistent with
1353-484: The principles of the Federal Constitution, and admitted to the enjoyment of the privileges, rights, and immunities of the citizens of the United States.' [8 Stat. at L. 256.] [195 U.S. 138, 142] 'This treaty is the law of the land, and admits the inhabitants of Florida to the enjoyment of the privileges, rights, and immunities of the citizens of the United States. It is unnecessary to inquire whether this
1394-457: The provisions of the Peace of Paris . The second term of Spanish rule was influenced by the nearby United States. There were border disputes along the boundary with the state of Georgia and issues of American use of the Mississippi River . These disputes were ostensibly solved in 1795 by the Treaty of San Lorenzo , which, among other things, solidified the boundary of Florida and Georgia along
1435-537: The surrender of the Spanish officials there. A year or so later, U.S. garrisons were defending Gulf coast forts against British naval attacks and attempting to stop the British Army from capturing New Orleans. This coastal area (today's Mississippi and Alabama Gulf coasts), the land west of the Perdido River, was incorporated into the Mississippi Territory by the United States. In 1817
1476-518: The two nations. In 1810, the Republic of West Florida successfully declared its independence from a weakened Spain. Ninety days later, U.S. military forces entered its capital ( St. Francisville, Louisiana ) and effectively annexed the short-lived nation. However, this action did not extend all the way to the Perdido River. During the War of 1812 (1812–15), U.S. military forces entered Mobile to enforce
1517-417: Was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.70 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 28,319, and the median income for a family was $ 36,086. Males had a median income of $ 30,632 versus $ 18,091 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 14,396. About 15.20% of families and 20.90% of the population were below
1558-544: Was admitted to the Union as the State of Florida . Originally the major portion of the Spanish territory of La Florida , and later the provinces of East Florida and West Florida , it was ceded to the United States as part of the 1819 Adams–Onís Treaty . It was governed by the Florida Territorial Council . The first European known to have encountered Florida was Juan Ponce de León , who claimed
1599-800: Was invading Florida. Jackson's force departed from Tennessee and marched down to the Florida Panhandle . Spanish officers surrendered coastal fortifications at Fort San Marcos (also known as Fort St. Marks) in Florida Oriental and, about six weeks later, Fort Barrancas and Pensacola in Florida Occidental . The Adams–Onís Treaty, also known as the Transcontinental Treaty, was signed on February 22, 1819, by John Quincy Adams and Luis de Onís y González-Vara , but did not take effect until after it
1640-554: Was organized and established after the American Civil War , on December 10, 1868, during the Reconstruction era . The state legislature created it from parts of Baldwin and Conecuh counties, to the west and north, respectively. The area was part of the coastal plain. It was largely agricultural into the 20th century. The county is subject to heavy winds and rains due to seasonal hurricanes . In September 1979,
1681-620: Was ratified by Spain on October 24, 1820, and by the United States on February 19, 1821. The U.S. received Florida under Article 2 and inherited Spanish claims to the Oregon Territory under Article 3, while ceding all its claims on Texas to Spain under Article 3 (with the independence of Mexico in 1821, Spanish Texas became Mexican territory ), and pledged to indemnify up to $ 5,000,000 in claims by American citizens against Spain under Article 11. Under Article 15, Spanish goods received exclusive most favored nation tariff privileges in