American Territorial and Statehood Era With Florida’s admission to the United States in 1845, the Panhandle region gradually integrated into the national economy and infrastructure. The area around Ponce de Leon Springs remained rural and sparsely populated but saw the rise of farming, timber harvesting, and small-scale industry. Recreational U

Paleo-Indian and Archaic Periods Archaeological evidence suggests human presence in the region of Ponce de Leon Springs for more than 12,000 years. Paleo-Indians, the earliest known inhabitants of North America, are believed to have hunted megafauna and foraged in these fertile landscapes following the last Ice Age. During the Archaic period, I

Introduction Located in the scenic Florida Panhandle near the small community of Ponce de Leon, Ponce de Leon Springs State Park is a cherished natural and historical site. The park centers around a beautiful first-magnitude spring, one of the many freshwater springs for which Florida is renowned. With crystal-clear waters emerging from the underg

Managing Hydrology Restoring natural water flow patterns disrupted by drainage and development is crucial to prairie health. Invasive Species Control Exotic plants and animals threaten native ecosystems and require ongoing management. Climate Change Impacts Altered rainfall patterns and increased temperatures may affect prairie flooding regime