History - What Makes Horseshoe Home
Many written histories of Horseshoe Beach begin in the indeterminate early 1800s, as US citizens began to settle the area. Around here, we like to consider all who come through town and use its resources respectfully as much of a resident as each of us are. With that in mind, the Timucua people of Florida were truly the first residents of the area now known as Horseshoe Beach, arriving in Florida as early as 14,000 years ago.
First Peoples
The two distinct Timucua people groups residing between the Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers were the Yustaga and the Asile peoples. Their cultures began to become distinct in the 900s, and they enjoyed a relatively peaceful agrarian lifestyle along present-day Dixie County's rivers and coasts, occasionally encountering expeditionary groups of Spaniards throughout the 15th and 16th century. The Timucua people fished, hunted, and collected shellfish; over time building up deposits of shells known as "midden." A rather obvious midden deposit can be seen at Shired Island, just 5.5 miles ESE, as the crow flies. Local legend claims the islands just off the coast were once used by Indigenous Americans as burial or ceremonial sites. In the 1620s, the Yustaga were brought into Spanish missions to live and work, where raids on the missions by English Colonists in the late 17th century would ultimately erase the groups from existence.
During the period from 1700-1856, the Seminole people resided across much of Florida, including Dixie county. As colonial settlers began to increase in number in North Florida, fear and distrust among settlers sparked conflict with the Seminoles. In the spring of 1818, Andrew Jackson set up camp 2.5 miles NNE of Horseshoe Beach at a watering hole, now known as Jackson Water Hole Park, from which he led an incursion against the local Seminoles during a conflict now described as the first Seminole War. Ultimately, the Seminole Wars resulted in the removal of the last notable Indigenous American group from the area.
The two distinct Timucua people groups residing between the Suwannee and Aucilla Rivers were the Yustaga and the Asile peoples. Their cultures began to become distinct in the 900s, and they enjoyed a relatively peaceful agrarian lifestyle along present-day Dixie County's rivers and coasts, occasionally encountering expeditionary groups of Spaniards throughout the 15th and 16th century. The Timucua people fished, hunted, and collected shellfish; over time building up deposits of shells known as "midden." A rather obvious midden deposit can be seen at Shired Island, just 5.5 miles ESE, as the crow flies. Local legend claims the islands just off the coast were once used by Indigenous Americans as burial or ceremonial sites. In the 1620s, the Yustaga were brought into Spanish missions to live and work, where raids on the missions by English Colonists in the late 17th century would ultimately erase the groups from existence.
During the period from 1700-1856, the Seminole people resided across much of Florida, including Dixie county. As colonial settlers began to increase in number in North Florida, fear and distrust among settlers sparked conflict with the Seminoles. In the spring of 1818, Andrew Jackson set up camp 2.5 miles NNE of Horseshoe Beach at a watering hole, now known as Jackson Water Hole Park, from which he led an incursion against the local Seminoles during a conflict now described as the first Seminole War. Ultimately, the Seminole Wars resulted in the removal of the last notable Indigenous American group from the area.
Permanent Settlement
Between 1820 and 1890, the Butler, Hines, and Ward families began settling the Dixie county area, with some family members moving down to the "Butler Settlement," located across the oyster beds from the cattle pasture that would later become Horseshoe Beach. Though the Post Office established in 1910 would bear the name "Shelton," the area was called Horseshoe Beach long before the town was incorporated. Shelton had become a notable destination for salt boiling from the saline-dense Gulf waters by the late 1880s, with abundant timber to fuel the salt furnaces. It took about two weeks of boiling to make a gallon of salt. Besides salt, commercial fishing, the cutting and sale of cedar to be exported, and a little farming and stock raising were the primary sources of income for residents. Today, many residents drive round-trip to nearby towns for work, groceries, or social calls. A lone school bus makes the long drive down and back twice a day, shuttling students to the public schools in Cross City. The original settlers would make a single trip by oxcart each year down the Old Salt Road, now known colloquially as Horseshoe Highway, from Horseshoe Beach to Madisonville (Madison) for supplies. The county seat of Cross City, then simply called "Cross Roads," came into being later at the crossroads of the Old Salt Road and the Old Spanish Trail from Pensacola to St. Augustine.
In the early 1900s the area was owned by lumber interests, which frequently pressured residents to leave town so they could use the land for growing and harvesting timber products. As the pioneers had little more claim to their land than a squatter might, the tension became significant, culminating in locals C.C. Douglas and Burton Butler purchasing the pasture of Horseshoe Beach in 1935 for $324 ($6750 in 2022) and offering residents lots at $10 each ($210 in 2022). The Horseshoe Post Office opened in 1935 at 206 Main St, sharing space with the General Store, until it relocated to its present facility at 77 5th Ave E in 1948 and reopened as the Horseshoe Beach Post Office.
Between 1820 and 1890, the Butler, Hines, and Ward families began settling the Dixie county area, with some family members moving down to the "Butler Settlement," located across the oyster beds from the cattle pasture that would later become Horseshoe Beach. Though the Post Office established in 1910 would bear the name "Shelton," the area was called Horseshoe Beach long before the town was incorporated. Shelton had become a notable destination for salt boiling from the saline-dense Gulf waters by the late 1880s, with abundant timber to fuel the salt furnaces. It took about two weeks of boiling to make a gallon of salt. Besides salt, commercial fishing, the cutting and sale of cedar to be exported, and a little farming and stock raising were the primary sources of income for residents. Today, many residents drive round-trip to nearby towns for work, groceries, or social calls. A lone school bus makes the long drive down and back twice a day, shuttling students to the public schools in Cross City. The original settlers would make a single trip by oxcart each year down the Old Salt Road, now known colloquially as Horseshoe Highway, from Horseshoe Beach to Madisonville (Madison) for supplies. The county seat of Cross City, then simply called "Cross Roads," came into being later at the crossroads of the Old Salt Road and the Old Spanish Trail from Pensacola to St. Augustine.
In the early 1900s the area was owned by lumber interests, which frequently pressured residents to leave town so they could use the land for growing and harvesting timber products. As the pioneers had little more claim to their land than a squatter might, the tension became significant, culminating in locals C.C. Douglas and Burton Butler purchasing the pasture of Horseshoe Beach in 1935 for $324 ($6750 in 2022) and offering residents lots at $10 each ($210 in 2022). The Horseshoe Post Office opened in 1935 at 206 Main St, sharing space with the General Store, until it relocated to its present facility at 77 5th Ave E in 1948 and reopened as the Horseshoe Beach Post Office.
Incorporation and Beyond
On May 28, 1963, the Town of Horseshoe Beach was chartered by the State of Florida, with the 1970 census reporting a population at the time of 120 permanent residents. The first town government was formed with two councilmembers and a mayor. In the 1970s, Horseshoe Beach saw a population boom, with 304 residents by the 1980 census, most working as commercial fishermen or on logging crews. Horseshoe Beach has remained a quiet town, with the makeup of permanent residents transitioning from large families of hardy homesteaders and fishers to retirees and smaller families. Climate change has impacted the residents of the area, with the "Storm of the Century," an unnamed hurricane, flooding the area and destroying residences in 1993, driving many families who had lived here for decades to sell their property and move further inland. In 2016, Hurricane Hermine pushed 7 feet of storm surge onshore, deluging the downstairs and main levels of many homes with 2-6 feet of water. The residents of the town all came together to rebuild, displaying a tenacity not often seen in the town's laid-back, island-like atmosphere. Today, weekend vacationers stay in the local motels and condos alongside residents whose family roots go back to the 1800s, watching boats skip along the smooth Gulf waters. Golf carts and UTVs congregate at the point and county park daily to watch the sun dip past the horizon as a group of teenagers casts nets into the dazzling water off the white sand beach near the county park.
On May 28, 1963, the Town of Horseshoe Beach was chartered by the State of Florida, with the 1970 census reporting a population at the time of 120 permanent residents. The first town government was formed with two councilmembers and a mayor. In the 1970s, Horseshoe Beach saw a population boom, with 304 residents by the 1980 census, most working as commercial fishermen or on logging crews. Horseshoe Beach has remained a quiet town, with the makeup of permanent residents transitioning from large families of hardy homesteaders and fishers to retirees and smaller families. Climate change has impacted the residents of the area, with the "Storm of the Century," an unnamed hurricane, flooding the area and destroying residences in 1993, driving many families who had lived here for decades to sell their property and move further inland. In 2016, Hurricane Hermine pushed 7 feet of storm surge onshore, deluging the downstairs and main levels of many homes with 2-6 feet of water. The residents of the town all came together to rebuild, displaying a tenacity not often seen in the town's laid-back, island-like atmosphere. Today, weekend vacationers stay in the local motels and condos alongside residents whose family roots go back to the 1800s, watching boats skip along the smooth Gulf waters. Golf carts and UTVs congregate at the point and county park daily to watch the sun dip past the horizon as a group of teenagers casts nets into the dazzling water off the white sand beach near the county park.