Industrial Community Organization in Antebellum West Florida

Summary

Antebellum industrialization in West Florida fostered diverse settlements associated with water-powered mill complexes. Abundant natural resources and desirable landscape characteristics provided an ideal setting for silvicultural pursuits as opposed to agrarian endeavors that relied heavily on suitable soils. Mill seats represent unique landscapes that differ from agrarian settings, affecting community organization for multi-ethnic, hierarchical populations. Arcadia Mill (1830-1855) developed over a 25 year period to become the first and largest industrial complex in West Florida. Arcadia was a thriving operation that included two lumber mills, a textile mill, a bucket factory, and one of Florida’s earliest railroads. The associated Arcadia community was ethnically diverse and included enslaved African American laborers, Anglo American workers, and Anglo American managers. Recent research on low- and high-status occupations at Arcadia provides significant data on antebellum, industrial community organization on the Gulf Coast.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• A Regional Retrospective Analysis of the Antebellum Atlantic Seaboard   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2016

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Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 420