Eileen Cvitkovich

Bay County (Fl) (Images of America) Eileen Cvitkovich

Populated by an abundance of wild game and fish, Bay

County, Florida, once the home of various Native

American groups, evolved from a series of sleepy little fishing villages along Saint Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. With such communities as Panama City and the early towns of Millville and Saint Andrews, Bay County has transformed itself over the decades, enticing millions to visit its sugar-sand beaches and to discover the rich and varied history the county calls its own. From the Civil War to spring break, the fishing industry to May Day celebrations, Bay County's heritage is certainly

diverse. Skirmishes erupted in the region during the Civil War, and the county became home to perhaps the only monument in the South dedicated to fallen Union soldiers. In early 1941, Tyndall Field was constructed and became the training site for actor Clark Gable. Communities throughout the county saw the construction of reliable bridges that brought an influx of residents and tourists into the area, and

industries, such as fishing, timber, and turpentine, flourished through the years.