The Rich History of Millville

PANAMA CITY, FL – Millville, with its origins in the late 19th century, is a historic community lying just outside Downtown Panama City, along the Watson Bayou. Once the main source of commerce for the region, Millville’s history is one of opportunity, industry, and a distinct character that lingers today. 

Millville’s success in the late 19th and early 20th centuries can be partly attributed to its geography. The area possessed an extensive waterfront and an abundance of large trees, particularly yellow pines. Both of these features made it the perfect site for sawmills and shipyards, businesses in high demand in the late 19th century. 

Millville’s industrial history can be traced back to a man named Henry Bovis, who saw the opportunity to build a lumber business along the Watson Bayou and laid the foundations for the St. Andrews Lumber Company in 1886. People looking for work moved to the area, and the community began to grow. Soon, there was a shipyard, a post office, a schoolhouse, and several homes. 

By 1910, Millville was the largest community in the bay area as well as an industrial powerhouse. Several other businesses had taken root in the community, including, but not limited to, general stores, drug stores, hotels, a theater, and a courthouse. The community had begun to take on the role of a town, and in 1913, Millville was incorporated and elected W.I. Singletary as its first mayor. 

The town reached a population of 2,000 people by 1918 and was the largest town in the St. Andrews Bay area. In 1926, it was incorporated into the limits of Panama City, located just to the east.

As the community lost its abundant source of lumber and was gradually de-industrialized, several businesses closed down and Millville’s economic prowess began to weaken. However, the area still plays an important role in the regional economy with its current prominent businesses. The paper mill, built in 1930, closed in 2022. 

Millville was designated as a Community Redevelopment Area in 2004, with the hopes of strengthening the area’s community life and preserving its character.

The historic character of Millville is that of an industrial frontier town, still visible in its architecture and historic sites. Many old buildings in the community were built by hand, giving the area a bespoke, traditional look. The community is walkable and many of its stores are found close together.

The efforts to revitalize Millville have persisted, with an eye for historic context, community life, and the area’s unique personality. Residents and visitors today can enjoy its traditional architecture, community of small businesses, and the waterfront that played such an important role in its history.  https://www.rebuildpc.org/panama-city-neighborhood-plans/