Port Saint Joe, Florida

Located on the Florida panhandle just east of Panama City, Port Saint Joe was one of Florida’s largest communities during the 1830s and 1840s It was not until 1912 when the city was officially founded, after several large shipping interests were attracted to the city’s strategic location on the naturally deep water port of St. Joseph Bay Soon, the Apalachicola Northern Railroad extended its railway to Port Saint Joe; the extension became known as the “Panama Route”.

Port Saint Joe struggled economically through the Depression era and first half of the 20th century In 1938, Port Saint Joe’s first major industry was introduced when the Port St. Joe Paper Mill opened its doors The St. Joe Paper Company operated the mill for sixty years and owned more than one million acres of land The company had a great effect on local economy as forestry and maritime industries flourished The Port St. Joe Paper Mill ceased operations in 1996 after selling the mill to Florida Coast Paper, who later filed for bankruptcy. In the 1960s, Port Saint Joe witnessed the rise of yet another big business the chemical industry A four-plant chemical processing complex was run by four firms – Allied Chemical Corporation, Glidden Chemical Company, Michigan Chemical Corporation, and Florida Gulf Fibre Company The corporations were drawn to Port Saint Joe by the presence of St. Joe Company and its chemical bi-products. In 1996, the local community was devastated by the employment loss caused by the closing of the Port St. Joe Paper Mill however, after demolition was completed in 2003, the St. Joe Company revealed a $344 million plan to redevelop the former mill site The restoration includes upscale residential districts, clean beaches, and entertainment venues.

Port Saint Joe’s extensive manufacturing history puts the city in a high risk category for asbestos exposure If you were exposed to asbestos in Port Saint Joe and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should consider contacting a mesothelioma law firm.

Jobsites in Port Saint Joe where Asbestos Exposure Occurred

A number of jobsites in Port Saint Joe, FL have been identified as harboring asbestos containing materials. These sites, at one point in their history, were known to have exposed a variety of tradesmen to asbestos. We will be documenting in more detail how asbestos exposure occurred at these sites in the future on this web site.