 Milton (formerly known as Scratch Ankle, because of the briars and bramble that grew in the area), or Milltown, because Milton had the largest mill around) is a city in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. The city was incorporated in 1844 and is home to Naval Air Station Whiting Field. The population was 7,045 at the 2000 census. In 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 8,044. It is the county seat of Santa Rosa County. It was also called “Scottman’s Anchorage” for the many lumber barges that traversed the Blackwater River – thus lending further support to the nickname “Scratch Ankle” (Scottsman’s Anchorage – Scratch Ankle) |
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The first Courthouse in Milton, located on Berryhill Road on the site of the current Berryhill School Administration building, served as the Town Hall. Three devastating fires struck Milton in 1885 and 1892. Each largely destroyed the commercial sections of town. The worst fire of all, in 1909, razed almost every building within two blocks of the river, including the Town Hall. One of the few buildings remaining was the old courthouse. Downtown Milton today reflects the aggressive rebuilding effort that took place in the years following after this fire. In the early part of the 20th Century, the City of Milton began to provide many of the services and conveniences of larger cities. In 1910, an electrical plant was installed at the edge of town on Berryhill Road. Shortly after, a modern waterworks, with 110-foot tall steel water tower, was erected at the same site. The Milton Fire Department was established in 1914. Over the next several years infrastructure began as sewer lines were laid, and streets were paved. A bridge was built across the Blackwater River at the foot of Grace Street, replacing the ferry which operated from the end of Berryhill Road for over 70 years.
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In the early 1880’s, the railroad came to town, bringing a new dimension to the commercial activities of the area. Soon, railroad tracks covered the county, extending deep into the forests north of town as timber related industries flourished. Small towns such as Munson and Belandville began to spring up along the tracks. As virgin forestlands were cleared, farming became a major industry, with cotton and peanuts becoming the staple crops.
