Eucheeanna, Florida

Eucheeanna, also known as Euchee Anna, is an unincorporated community in Walton County, in the U.S. state of Florida.[1] It was the county seat from 1845 when Florida became a state until 1885 when its courthouse burned and the county was moved several miles away to DeFuniak Springs.

Eucheeanna Euchee Anna
Coordinates: 30°38′45″N 86°02′42″W

History

1820s

The community was named after the Yuchi (or Euchee) Indians[2] and settled by Scotch Presbyterians in 1823.[3] The area was known as Euchee Anna Valley Lands.

Daniel G. McLean lived in the area and corresponded with a firm in New York about red cedar prices.[4] He was a resident of the area in 1847 when he served as President of the Florida Senate.[5] He was part of the community's mason lodge.[6]

1840s

Starting in 1845, Eucheeanna became the county seat of Walton County, which was previously located in Alaquah.

1860s

Union troops, lead by General Alexander Asboth marched through and razed Eucheeanna on their way towards Marianna and Tallahassee.[7]

1880s

An act of arson burned the courthouse located in Eucheeanna. After its was burned in 1885, the county seat was moved to De Funiak Springs.[7]

Modern Today

Locations of note still remaining in Eucheeanna are the Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church and the Euchee Valley Cemetery.

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Eucheeanna, Florida
2. Swanton, John Reed (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. US Government Printing Office. p. 120. ISBN 978-0-8063-1730-4.
3. L, Green, Edwin; Book, Start this. "School history of Florida" (PDF) – via Wikimedia Commons.
4. Society, Forest History (July 25, 1977). "North American Forest History: A Guide to Archives and Manuscripts in the United States and Canada". Published under contract with the Forest History Society, Incorporated [by] Clio Books – via Google Books.
5. "The Florida Handbook, 1999-2000". Peninsular Books. August 25, 1999 – via Google Books.
6. Florida, Freemasons Grand Lodge of (July 25, 1859). "Proceedings of the Grand Lodge ...: Of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Florida". J.F. Brennan – via Google Books.
7. McKEON, JENNIE. "Where is Eucheeanna?". Northwest Florida Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-09.