The cattle drives of the 19th century were epic journeys, often lasting weeks, through mosquito-infested swamps and unpredictable weather. The Crackers herded the tough “Florida scrub cattle”, descendants of Spanish stock known for their resilience.
Markets in St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and later Tampa bought these cattle to supply beef to Cuba and the Caribbean. The open-range system fostered a rough, egalitarian culture. A cowman’s reputation depended on his skill, courage, and honesty rather than wealth.
The cow camp became an institution of Cracker life—a makeshift home on the prairie where cowboys gathered around campfires, cooked beans, and shared tales that would become the folklore of rural Florida.
The Civil War and Its Aftermath
During the Civil War (1861–1865), Cracker Country played a vital role in supplying the Confederate army with beef and salt. Florida’s cattle were driven north to feed soldiers, while local salt works along the coast supported food preservation.
The war devastated plantations and towns, but many Crackers survived relatively unscathed due to their self-sufficiency. After the war, Florida’s cattle industry boomed again, exporting thousands of head to Cuba.
However, Reconstruction brought new challenges—federal troops, economic instability, and competition from Northern interests. Still, the Crackers endured, continuing to rely on the land that had sustained them for generations. shutdown123