Amelia Island

The first Spanish reign was from 1565 to 1763 and they set up the mission of Santa Maria on the northern end of Amelia Island in what is now known as Old Town in order to convert the Indians to Christianity. In fact the island became known as “Isla de Santa Maria.” From this point on the Timucuan numbers started to decline because of the influx of European disease and the stresses due to the disruption of their lifestyle. Though their numbers were once about 30,000 they were almost completely extinct within about 100 years of their first contact with the Europeans.

Continue this article for the Spanish-British period Here