History of Chattahoochee

The Chattahooche River flows south from North Georgia along the Georgia-Alabama state line. The Flint River flows sothwest from Central Georgia. These two rivers flow together and make what is now called the Apalachicola River. This area is known as the "Tri-Rivers Area".

Chattahoochee had seven Indian mounds built by the Muscogee Indians from Mexico in the Fort Walton period of 1450-1650. There are now only three mounds remaining.

The Chattahoochee area is one of the oldest inhabited sites in North Florida.

During the 1600's the Spanish had three missions established in the Chattahoochee area. This is part of the Old Spanish Trail which connected Saint Augustine to Pensacola. Later, as roads were pavbed, the Old Spanish Trail became US Highway 90 and connected the east coast near jacksonville to Southern California. Some folks in and around Chattahoochee call Highway 90 the Old Spanish Trail.

In the 1800's the Creek and Seminole Indians settled the high bluffs overlooking the Apalachicola River. By then the area was known as Mount vernon. John tanner was the first white man to settle in this area.

On March 30, 1822, Florida became a territory of the United States.

Because there was already a city called Mount Vernon in Alabama, the United States government changed the name of this area to Chattahoochee in 1834.

From 1834-1839 the United States government built the Federal Arsenal on the high bluffs settled by the Creek and Seminole. The arsenal had walls 5 feet thick and was built during the Second Seminole War from 1835-1842. Known as the Indian Wars, Andrew Jackson was sent to take command of the American Armies against the Indians. He quaretered in the Arsenal Quarters which still stand today. In 1869 the United States gave the land and buidings to the State of Florida. It then became a prison but was changed to a mental institution in 1876 known as the Florida State Hospital.

In 1822 the L&N railroad extended its line across the Apalachicola River to the southern section of Chattahoochee. It also built the bridge for the train across the river, an important connection for trade and commerce in this area. Named River Junction in 1921, this junction became the second largest rail terminal in Florida.

In 1922 a road bridge was built over the Apalachicola River and named Victory Bridge. It followed the path of US Highway 90, also that of the Old Spanish Trail.

In 1938 the legal name of this area became Chattahochee.

In 1958 the United States completed constrcution of the 6,130 foot Jim Woodruff hydroelectric dam, its reservoir being called Lake Seminole.