History of Fayette County, Florida
Fayette County is the only county in Florida to pass completely out of existence. It was created out of Jackson County by the 1832 Legislative Council (Act No. 53) on February 9, 1832 and approved by Acting Governor James D. Wescott on the same day. On the same day the Legislative Council authorized the incorporation of the town of Ocheesee, and it was designated as the place for court to be held in Fayette County until a permanent seat of justice was selected. The first Monday in July, 1832 was set for the date to elect county officers. It is believed that Fayette County was named in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, who died the year it was created. Lafayette County was not created until 1856, after the demise of Fayette County.
The original boundaries of Fayette County were established as: Commencing on the Chattahoochee River where the dividing line between Alabama and Florida intersects the river, thence running westwardly on said line to Irwins Mill, thence a direct line to the head of the Big Springs, or Robinson's Spring Creek, thence down the eastern bank of said creek or spring to the Chipola River, across the Chipola River on a due south course to the Washington County line, on the Apalachicola River. (The final course description is incomplete.) [In the above map, the location of Irwins Mill was estimated from the map of Fayette County in FLORIDA, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, John H. Long, Editor (published by Charles Scribner's Sons 1997.)]
By act of the 1833 Legislative Council (Act 33, Chapter 690) on February 16, 1833, the boundaries of Fayette County were modified to the following description: Beginning on the Chattahoochee River where the northern boundary of Township 4 Range 7 North and West intersects the River, thence west to the northwest corner of Township 4 Range 8 North and West, thence south to the Federal Road, thence with said road to the Chipola River, thence down the Chipola River to the cut-off, thence with the cut-off to the Apalachicola River, thence up the Apalachicola River and the Chattahoochee River to the place of beginning. That part of Fayette county which was formerly Jackson County reverted back to Jackson County. Ocheesee was designated as the place where court would be held in Fayette County. [In the above map, the location of the Federal Road was estimated from the map of Fayette County in FLORIDA, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries]. That part of Fayette County below the Tallahassee Base Line added by this act was taken from Washington County.
By act of the 1834 Legislative Council (Act 26, Chapter 765) on February 1, 1834, the acts to establish and modify the boundaries of Fayette County were repealed. All of Fayette County was annexed to Jackson County, including the part which had been taken from Washington County. On January 26, 1838, Calhoun County was formed from Franklin, Jackson and Washington Counties, and that part of the former Fayette County which had been taken from Washington County became part of Calhoun County.
It is not altogether clear why Fayette County was created. One theory is that it was designed to increase support for Webbville becoming the county seat of Jackson County, rather than Marianna, since Marianna was no longer centrally located in Jackson County after the formation of Fayette County. The planters in the rich northern part of Fayette County objected strenuously and were able to convince the Legislative Council to sever that part of Fayette County and return it to Jackson County in 1833. The remainder of Fayette County had few land owners or voters, and its citizens presented a petition to the 1834 Legislative Council requesting it be returned to Jackson County, which resulted in the 1834 act dissolving Fayette County. (See History of Jackson County, by J. Randall Stanley, pps. 67 - 69.)
A second theory for the creation of Fayette County (also advanced in History of Jackson County) was to encourage the selling of town lots in Ocheesee, which was incorporated at the same time, along with the granting of ferry rights across the Apalachicola River at Ocheesee. By act of the Legislative Council February 9, 1832 (Act No. 46), James Mills and Benjamin F. Perry were granted the right to establish a toll ferry for 5 years. All others were prohibited from operating a toll ferry within 5 miles of the Ocheesee ferry. The toll to be charged would be set by the county court of Fayette Co. It appears that Mills and Perry did not establish the ferry, because on February 3, 1834, the Legislative Council made the same grant to James Carraway, except his toll was to be fixed by the authorities of Jackson County.