Area Information

Welcome to Florida’s "Forgotten Coast"

The Forgotten Coast offers a low-density, environmentally protected area that is unequaled in beauty. Stretching along the coastline from Mexico Beach on the west, to St. Marks Wildlife Refuge on the east, the area earned its unusual name as a result of having been left off an official State tourism map. Those who find this pristine gem, however, find it truly unforgettable.

The center of the Forgotten Coast is Franklin County. The county seat, the historic 1830s port city of Apalachicola, is at the mouth of the Apalachicola River and at the head of the Apalachicola Bay. Five miles offshore of Apalachicola lies St. George Island, a barrier island with 22 miles of continuous white-sand beach and low-density. To the east is the city of Carrabelle, a laid-back town with unsurpassed availability of navigable water frontage.

Local planning efforts and environmental laws are credited for having preserved and enhanced the pristine qualities of the area. While other areas across Florida welcomed large-scale development, local policies here were designed to protect the seafood fisheries and industry. Eco-tourism is emerging as another major industry.

Area trivia

• Franklin County has more than 200 miles of shoreline.
• 87% of Franklin County’s 545 square miles is protected land, as State Parks, National and State Forests, National Estuarine Reserves, and wildlife preserves.
• The 2008 population of Franklin County is just over 11,000.
• There is only one 4-way stop light in Franklin County.

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