Arcadia’s Cotton Textile Mill

The Arcadia Manufacturing Company's textile mill was the first and largest cotton factory in antebellum northwest Florida. In 1845, a two-story structure measuring 94 feet by 38 feet was built within the foundation of the second, smaller sawmill to house the textile equipment. About forty enslaved African American women ran 960 spindles and 24 looms. During its first year, in 1846, the mill produced 4,000 to 5,000 yards of coarse, heavy cotton cloth and yarn per week. By 1848, production reached 6,000 yards of cloth a week and used 1,000 pounds of cotton each day, benefiting area cotton farmers. By 1850, the mill produced 660,000 yards of cotton cloth and yarn worth approximately $50,000. Despite its success, it was plagued by financial problems, limited demand for its products in local markets, lack of transportation to access larger markets, and yellow fever epidemics. In 1855, the textile mill was destroyed by fire, and the owners did not rebuild it.

Florida · United States