Transportation infrastructure was crucial to Suwannee County’s development. Railroads, roads, and river routes facilitated trade, travel, and communication. Railroads By 1926, rail lines such as the Florida Southern Railway and connections to the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad linked Live Oak and other towns to Gainesville, Jacksonville, and sout

Suwannee County’s economy in 1926 was multifaceted, reflecting both traditional practices and emerging industries. Agriculture Agriculture remained the backbone of the county’s economy. Cotton, corn, tobacco, and peanuts were staple crops, while citrus and vegetables were grown on a smaller scale. Farmers relied on manual labor, horses, and e

Suwannee County was established in 1844, carved from parts of Columbia and Alachua counties. Its early settlers were primarily of European descent, engaged in subsistence agriculture, timber work, and small-scale trade. The county seat, Live Oak, became the central hub for governance, commerce, and community life. Throughout the 19th and early 2

Introduction: The Southern Frontier in the Roaring Twenties By 1926, Suwannee County, located in northern Florida, had begun to emerge from its frontier past into a more connected, economically active, and socially dynamic region. Though often overshadowed by Florida’s booming coastal cities and southern agricultural centers, Suwannee County hel