Florida Historical Markers Programs - Marker Detail

Description: In 1822, John J. Triggs was sent as a Methodist missionary to a new mission called Alapaha. This mission extended from south Georgia into parts of north Florida, extending east and west of the Suwanee river. Four missions were established in this northeast section of Florida, and one of those was known as Dell. It was named after Maxey Dell, one of the early settlers in the area. Dell's Courthouse became one of the first meeting places for Methodist circuit riders to the area. In November of 1828, the Florida Territorial Council changed the name of the community from Dell to Newnansville and established it as the seat of Alachua County. Home churches and circuit riders continued to serve the people of Newnansville until 1865 when services began after the erection of a church building. In 1882, the Florida Railroad came through the area, missing Newnansville by 1.5 miles. This led to the new community of Alachua and subsequent move of the Methodist church to its current location in 1897. In 1910, fire destroyed the church building and a new brick building was erected and consecrated in 1912. Alachua Methodist Church is one of the longest, continuously operating churches in Florida.