For most of its existence, St. Johns County has been a poor, rural, sparsely populated area, historian Thomas Graham told a crowd at the county government headquarters on Wednesday.
But that has changed. In recent years, the county has found itself among the ranks of the wealthiest and fastest-growing counties in the state.
Graham s speech was part of the time capsule celebration at the county government headquarters, which marked the county s 200th anniversary.
Graham shared some highlights of the county s evolution and its early key industries, such as agriculture. We don t realize it today, but before the Civil War and for a few years after the Civil War, St. Johns County was the center of orange production in the United States, Graham said. And we shipped thousands of barrels of oranges north each year from our county. Unfortunately, freezes have beaten back the orange culture in our county.
The Commission changed the resolution to eliminate references to the nutritional value of shrimp and sustainability of shrimp, at the request of Commissioner Barbara Blonder. The practices of shrimp fishing using bottom trawling are very problematic in terms of maintaining marine ecosystems, she said.
But she voted for the resolution. I absolutely support this recognition, and as I understood it, it s a recognition of the culture and history of our shrimp fishing tradition and the families that contributed to that rich culture, Blonder said.
Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline made sure the Commission kept a line about the unique flavor of Florida shrimp.
After the city government canceled events in 2020 because of COVID-19, St. Augustine commissioners decided unanimously Monday night to allow events again in the spring ― though event organizers have canceled or postponed the biggest gatherings.
The vote requires organizers to submit a COVID-19 safety plan that is compliant with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The CDC has released its Events and Gatherings: Readiness and Planning Tool.
“The CDC is recognizing that many people like us are in this current mode of trying to decide what to do with public gatherings, City Manager John Regan said.
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In 2015, she was named as one of The Record s 10 Who Make a Difference. Among her many volunteer activities during her life, Miss Carrie, as she was referred to by all who knew her, organized an annual Christmas Caroling Galore, which started in 1995, according to the city. Johnson established The Miss Carrie Foundation for Homeless Students, assisted with establishing the Lincolnville 150th anniversary celebration, and helped found the Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations (ACCORD) organization, and served as vice president of the Fort Mose Historical Society.
Last year, commissioners voted to name the street in her honor.
For those who want to learn more about Johnson, the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center at 102 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. has an exhibit featuring her life, according to the city. The museum is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.