City of Palmetto history

In 1828 Ramah Baptist Church, the oldest church in Old Campbell County, was organized and presently exists.

Palmetto's first house was built in 1829 by Lacy Griffith.

During the Second Seminole War in 1838, the federal government awarded a large parcel of land in South Dade to Doctor Henry Perrine.

In 1862, the Perrine heirs attempted to secure a patent to the land, but were unsuccessful.

On September 25, 1864, Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States, reviewed General John B. Hood's troops at Palmetto after the battle of Atlanta.

Surrounded by the waters of Terra Ceia Bay and the Manatee River, it was first settled in 1868 by Samuel Sparks Lamb, a merchant from South Carolina.

While staying on Indian Key, he was killed during an Indian attack in 1840. It was not until 1875 that Doctor Perrine’s son, Henry Jr., returned to reclaim the family lands and again draw settlers to farm.

Henry Perrine, with his two children, Carleton and Harry, moved onto the property in 1876.

The Palmetto Historical Park, featuring buildings that date back as far as 1880, is always open to the public and can be freely explored any day of the week.

In 1883, Doctor William Cutler arrived and acquired 600 acres next to the Perrine land grant.

A public school system was established in 1885.

Palmetto also had two cotton warehouses, the oldest being built in 1889.

St Elmo Hotel, used as a summer resort, was being built in 1890.

He is called the “Father of Palmetto” and gave the town its name after his home state, South Carolina, the “Palmetto State”. In 1897, Florida’s governor signed the charter declaring Palmetto a City in the Sunshine State.

The 4-bed, 3-bath homes has 2,268 square feet of living space with 11-foot, cedar ceilings, Italian marble floors, a wood burning fire place, a screened-in lanai and an open porch. It was built in 1900, but its current owner, Moore 2 Design, a local architecture firm with international renown, has done extensive renovations.

With the arrival of the railroad in 1902 – the tracks stopped by the river – Palmetto grew as a service center for the surrounding agricultural industry – citrus groves and tomato farms.

In 1909 B. W. Cochran built the first Palmetto electric light system supplying power from his father's old water mill west of town.

Discover your own slice of history in this historic Sarah A. Harlee riverfront property for sale that dates back to 1915.

Charles Deering lived amid his great art collection and splendid natural surroundings until his death in 1927.

Campbell County was abolished and on January 1, 1932 Palmetto became part of Fulton County.

In 1985, at the Old Cutler Fossil Site, archaeologists found human skeletal and charred animals remains from that early time.

The next significant event came on November 6, 1995, the Alliance of Palmetto South Homeowners Association petitioned Miami-Dade County to incorporate Palmetto Bay.