Port St. Joe, Florida
Port St. Joe sits on scenic St. Joseph Bay in Gulf County, along Florida’s Forgotten Coast. Fewer than 4,000 people live here permanently and enjoy its charming Old Florida small-town atmosphere. Today, Port St. Joe is known for its relaxed coastal lifestyle and easy access to boating, fishing, paddling, and nearby beaches.
About The Community
The city has a rich history and is known as Florida’s “Constitution City” because the signing of Florida’s first Constitution took place here in 1838. St. Joseph, as it was called then, was a thriving port, but it was later abandoned after a yellow fever epidemic and a devastating hurricane in 1840. That history is recreated at Constitution Convention Museum State Park, which also houses a large collection of native artifacts.
The city was reborn as Port St. Joe in the early 20th century as a vacation destination with the advent of the railroad. Drawn by the sugar-white beaches and emerald-green water, visitors stayed at the Port Inn with its wide porches and spectacular views of St. Joe Bay. The area became known as a sport-fishing paradise. The Great Depression ended much of that early tourism boom, but with the construction of the St. Joe Paper Mill in the 1930s, Port St. Joe began an industrial era that shaped the community for decades.
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The mill closed in the late 1990s, and Port St. Joe entered the 21st century as one of Florida’s promising eco-centered vacation destinations. Visitors enjoy many outdoor activities here, including surf fishing, scalloping, scuba diving, bird or turtle watching, kayaking, canoeing, surfing, sailing, sport fishing, shelling, and even horseback riding on the beach. Port St. Joe Marina, which opened in 1999, offers access to the bay and numerous charter opportunities, though availability may vary by season and operator.
Vicinity of Port St. Joe
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The downtown business district has undergone a facelift, with elegant street furniture, renovated storefronts, and extensive landscaping, while still preserving the beauty and charm of this small historic seaport community.
Shipyard Cove was a repair yard for sailing vessels in the 19th century. Fred Maddox purchased the property, and in 1996 Florida Communities Trust purchased it from the Maddox family and donated the land to the City of Port St. Joe for use as a park. The restored Maddox House has housed the Gulf County Chamber of Commerce. The park includes walking trails, picnic tables, and a bayside beach along St. Joe Bay between Port St. Joe Marina and Frank Pate Park.
Frank Pate Park, which stands on the location of the old Port Inn, was completed in 1995. It boasts a lighted tennis court, picnic tables, a playground, a large boat-launching ramp, and a fishing pier. One of the park’s biggest draws is the view across the bay toward St. Joseph Peninsula, especially at sunset.
