Ancient Use and Subsistence
Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans used the island for seasonal hunting and fishing, harvesting the rich bounty of the Apalachicola Bay—one of the most productive estuaries in North America. Shell middens (ancient refuse piles) found in the region reveal consumption of oysters, clams, fish, and marine mammals.
The island's dunes, freshwater ponds, and maritime forests also supported deer, turkey, and small game. These early inhabitants would have traveled via dugout canoes, moving between the barrier islands and mainland villages.
The name of the island reflects this heritage: while today it bears an English name, “St. George” is thought to have been applied by early European cartographers, replacing lost Indigenous terms.
European Encounters and Coastal Contestation
With the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century, Florida's coastal areas—including St. George Island—became part of a greater colonial struggle between Spain, France, and later Britain.
Although the island remained sparsely inhabited, it was strategically important due to its proximity to Apalachicola Bay and the river system inland, which served as a trade route and source of timber, cotton, and naval stores.
During the colonial period, the surrounding waters became contested zones, patrolled by foreign navies and threatened by pirates. While there are no known permanent colonial settlements on the island itself, it was likely used occasionally as a landing point, lookout post, or stopover for fishing and resource extraction. shutdown123