Forgotten Coast

Florida's Forgotten Coast is a registered trademark, coined in the early 1990s, of the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce. The name is most commonly used to refer to a relatively quiet, undeveloped section of coastline stretching from Mexico Beach on the Gulf of Mexico to St. Marks on Apalachee Bay in the U.S. state of Florida. The nearest major city is Tallahassee, about 90 miles (145 km) northeast of Apalachicola, and Panama City, home of Tyndall Air Force Base, is about 60 miles (95 km) to the northwest.

In addition to the endpoints, it encompasses the coastal communities of (west to east):

  • Port St. Joe
  • Cape San Blas
  • Apalachicola
  • Eastpoint
  • Carrabelle
  • Lanark Village
  • Alligator Point
  • Panacea
  • Shell Point

These communities are located in the following counties, which by extension may be included in references to the Forgotten Coast by some writers:

  • Gulf County, Florida
  • Franklin County, Florida
  • Wakulla County, Florida

The area is renowned for its oyster and shrimp production, marine wildlife, and fine white-sand beaches. Peninsulas and barrier islands along the coast include:

  • Gulf County:
    • St. Joseph Peninsula
    • Cape San Blas
  • Franklin County:
    • St. Vincent Island
    • Cape St. George Island
    • St. George Island
    • Dog Island

Protected natural areas include:

  • St. Joseph Peninsula State Park
  • Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve
  • St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge
  • St. George Island State Park
  • Tate's Hell State Forest
  • Bald Point State Park
  • Wakulla State Forest
  • Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park
  • San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park
  • St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge

Famous quotes containing the words forgotten and/or coast:

    “The sacred obligation to the Union soldiers must not—will not be forgotten nor neglected.... But those who fought against the Nation cannot and do not look to it for relief.... Confederate soldiers and their descendants are to share with us and our descendants the destiny of America. Whatever, therefore, we their fellow citizens can do to remove burdens from their shoulders and to brighten their lives is surely in the pathway of humanity and patriotism.”
    —Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)

    “How happy is the sailor’s life,
    From coast to coast to roam;
    In every port he finds a wife,
    In every land a home.”
    —Isaac Bickerstaffe (c. 1735–1812)