Mexico Beach

A part of Bay County was located just east of the boundaries
of Tyndall Field and Gulf County. It contains the most easterly incorporated
city in Bay County. The land developed as a promotional scheme of W. T. McGowan
and Gordon Parker. They purchased 1,850 acres from J. W. Wainwright and platted
the land for lot sales in October 1946. It is the former location of Fort Chateuge,
constructed by the French in 1718 and abandoned in mid-1720’s.
W. T. McGowan was well known in Panama
City for promoting the city in the 1930’s. Mexico Beach attracted national
attention when he advertised that it was the only place in the world that
served milk-fed fish. He claimed that cows were driven into a lake at Mexico
Beach so fish could feed from their udders. Mildred Curi traveled to Mexico
Beach to witness the event, only to be told it was dog fly season and the cows
were dry.
The real developer of the community was Gordon U. Parker. He purchased an
additional 1,500 acres from Felix DuPont with the three miles of Gulf of Mexico
frontage. He was president of the Parker Realty Agency.
Area citizens began to visit Mexico Beach and purchase property. A group met
June 7, 1967 to organize an incorporation of the town. With the support of Bay
County Commission, incorporation papers were drawn up and sent to the Florida
Legislature. A bill was signed by the governor in 1967. McGowan sold his
interest and moved to Bristol, Florida. He wrote a book attempting to prove
that the Apalachicola River was a biblical Garden of Eden.
The population overwhelmingly approved the incorporation and elected Charley Parker
the first mayor. Councilmen were William Lyles, and R. C. Parker. The council
meetings were held in members’ homes until the city hall and fire station was
constructed in Mexico Beach.
Citizens were concerned about a school as their children were being transported
to Tyndall Field Elementary School and secondary schools in Springfield. Tommy
Smith (Bay County Superintendent) and Tommy Owens of Gulf County secured their
boards agreement to transport Mexico Beach students to closer Port St. Joe
schools.
Mexico Beach has grown from 475 people in 1975 to over 1,000 today.
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