Before Florida became a slave state in 1845, it served at times as a refuge for enslaved people escaping from other Southern states. Native communities and Spanish authorities sometimes offered protection, creating a complex early history.

This session follows Florida’s transition into American slavery and explores the local history of Marion County. Using census records and historical documents, we will examine who held enslaved people in the county and how this history still connects to families in the region today. The presentation brings attention to a local past that continues to shape the present.