St. Marks
A Spanish fort town at the end of Florida's first railroad.
- Population
- 274 (2020 census)
- Spanish settlement
- 1679–1783
- Rail trail
- 16 miles to Tallahassee
- Tides
- Two highs, two lows a day
Then
- 1679
The Spanish settle here and fortify the point, rebuilding the fort several times.
- 1818
During his incursion into Spanish Florida, Andrew Jackson executes two British subjects, Robert Ambrister and Alexander Arbuthnot, at the old fort.
- c. 1830
The U.S. government builds the St. Marks Lighthouse.
- c. 1836
The Tallahassee Railroad, often called Florida's first, links the port with Tallahassee, about 20 miles inland.
- 1893
Down the coast, Bostonians buy the springs at Smith Springs and rename the village Panacea.
- 1963
St. Marks incorporates as a city.
Now
The old rail line is now the Tallahassee–St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail, 16 paved miles ending at the St. Marks waterfront.
South along the coast, the fishing village of Panacea is home to the Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratory and its nature center.
On the water
From NOAA's predictions for St. Marks, St. Marks River, FL over the next 365 days. Heights are in feet above mean lower low water (MLLW).
- Pattern
- Two highs and two lows a day, close in size
- Typical daily range
- 3.2 ft
- Biggest swing
- 4.9 ft on Dec 24
- Smallest swing
- 1.7 ft on Dec 2
- Highest high
- 4.1 ft, Aug 2 at 3:10 PM
- Lowest low
- −1.4 ft, Dec 24 at 9:30 AM
10 tide stations around St. Marks
- St. Marks, St. Marks Riverin town
- St. Marks, Wakulla River0.8 mi
- Port Leon4.0 mi
- St. Marks River Entrance5.6 mi
- Shell Point, Walker Creek8.4 mi
- Panacea, Dickerson Bay13.9 mi
- Mandalay, Aucilla River14.0 mi
- Bald Point, Ochlockonee Bay16.4 mi
- Snipe Island, Econfina River State Park16.5 mi
- Wakulla Airport, Ochlockonee Bay16.6 mi