Bristol, Florida

Serving as the county seat of Liberty County, the City of Bristol is situated in the Florida Panhandle, which is the name given to Florida's northwest region. Throughout the years, the area became renowned as the location of the biblical Garden of Eden, drawing tourists from all over the nation to come and witness the believed holy site. Furthermore, the city's railroad attractions and ecological importance make this a treasured destination to behold.

Geography Of Bristol

Bristol is a tiny city located within a narrow strip of the territory jutting out of the peninsular portion of the US State of Florida. The city overlooks the Apalachicola River's eastern side and is 5 miles east of it. Furthermore, the city is 20 miles south of the Georgia state line and 50 miles west of Tallahassee, at the intersection of State Roads 12 and 20. Bristol has the geographic coordinates of 30.4321°N and 84.9757°W and is situated at an elevation of 53m. Moreover, Bristol covers a total area of 4.2 sq. km, all of which is occupied by land.

Climate Of Bristol

According to the Köppen Climate Classification, Bristol experiences a humid subtropical climate with mild and short winters and hot, long, and humid summers. Temperatures rarely exceed 36.1°C or go below -3.3°C. Instead, they typically vary between 33.3°C and 5°C. The hot season occurs from May 12 to September 27, with an average daily high of 30°C. The year's hottest month is July, as it records an average daily high of 32.7°C and a low of 22.7°C. Bristol's cool season, which occurs from December 2 to February 24, records an average daily high below 20°C. January serves as the year's coldest month, with an average daily low of 5°C and a high of 17.2°C. When it comes to precipitation, Bristol receives an annual average of 61 inches of rain and 0 inches of snow. The overall wet season lasts from June 4 to September 12, with a 40% chance that any day within this period is a wet day.

Brief History Of Bristol And Its Garden Of Eden

The city of Bristol's history stretches back to when the area was first settled in 1859. Upon its settlement, the city was only comprised of a hotel, three sawmills, grist mills, one store, as well as a few churches. Throughout the years, the city gained attention after Elvy Callaway, a Baptist preacher and country lawyer's claim of locating the biblical Garden of Eden in Florida's Panhandle, particularly in none other than Bristol. Callaway's evidence included how the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee River system resembles the four heads system of the river described in the Bible. Each of these Floridian rivers was linked to its Biblical name, with Fish Pond Creek representing the Pishon, the Chattahoochee River representing the Tigris, Spring Creek representing the Euphrates, and the Flint River representing the Gihon. Further evidence brought up by Callaway is the area's richness in gopher wood, as it was biblically mentioned that this wood was used to construct Noah's ark. Moreover, Callaway noted how the Chattahoochee River region just south of Bristol contains 28 out of 30 tree varieties mentioned in the Bible. Given his evidence, Callaway claimed that the Garden of Eden extended from northern Georgia to 4 miles north of Bristol. Furthermore, he claimed that the Garden was 35 miles long in the north-south direction and 25 miles wide in the east-west direction. Thus, from the 1950s until the 1970s, this area became a well-known tourist attraction known as Callaway's Garden of Eden.

Population And Economy Of Bristol

The City of Bristol had a population of only 959 individuals as of the most recent US Census. This tiny city is considered only the 337th largest city in Florida by population size, as it is currently declining at an annual rate of -0.72%. Since its 2010 population of 996 individuals, the city has decreased by -3.71%. Bristol has 586 individuals per square mile in terms of its population density. As for the population's ethnic breakdown, 88.38% are White, 9.00% are Black or African Americans, 1.50% are Asians, 1.03% are of other races, and 0.09% are of two or more races. The population's median age is 38, with 52.39% of the population being female and 47.61% being male.

As of 2019, the city has an average household income of $52,465. The city's economy employed a total of 380 people, with 95 people working in public administration, 56 people working in construction, and 53 people working in health care and social assistance. The city's highest paying industries include healthcare, social assistance, educational services, and construction. Bristol has a median property value of $85,000 and an average monthly rental cost of $591.

Current Tourist Attractions In Bristol

Veterans Memorial Railroad

Built within Veterans Memorial Park in 2001, Veterans Memorial Railroad features restored passenger trains and offers rides along the one-mile perimeter of the park. The Railroad was founded after the Liberty County Board of Commissioners issued their permission to dedicate a significant portion of the park for the Railroad. The Railroad has been expanded on multiple instances throughout the years, and various restored locomotives have been added.

Torreya State Park

Offering visitors with exceptional scenery from the high bluffs that overlook the Apalachicola River, Torreya State Park is frequently cited as one of Florida's most scenic destinations. The park is named after the extremely rare Torreya tree species that are found throughout the park. The park currently plays a crucial role in preserving several rare and endemic plant and animal species that are considered of regional importance. Moreover, the park is a popular birdwatching, hiking, picnicking, and camping destination.