WATER SUPPLY OF WEST FLORIDA. Ill 
HOLMES COUNTY. 
LOCATION AND SURFACE FEATURES. 
Holmes county extends north to the Alabama-Florida line. 
Holmes Creek and Choctawhatchee River form its eastern boundary 
separating it from Jackson and Washington counties respectively. 
On the south it is bounded by Walton and Washington counties 
and on the west by Walton county. The total area is 435 square 
miles, or 278,400 acres. 
Aside from the swamp and alluvial lands bordering the streams 
and the short-leaf pine hammock growth on the slopes, Holmes coun¬ 
ty is almost wholly a long-leaf pine country. Most of the county has 
a rolling surface. The soils are prevailing sandy loams, and over 
much of the county a red clay sub-soil is found making desirable 
farming lands. A strip of open flatwoods is found running through 
this county along the east side of the Choctawhatchee River and 
having a width of from two to four miles. On the west side of this 
river the rolling clay lands reach as a rule to the river swamp, the 
open flatwoods not being present. 
ELEVATIONS. 
The following elevations are recorded at stations of the Louis¬ 
ville and Nashville Railroad traversing the southern edge of this 
county: Bonifay 120 feet; Caryville (near the county line but in 
Washington county) 72 feet; Westville 70 feet; Ponce de Leon 73 
feet; Ajrgyle (near the western boundary line but in Walton county) 
254 feet. It will be noticed that the elevations given in Holmes 
county are at stations located on or close to a creek. Upon leaving 
these streams the country rises in elevation considerably. 
DRAINAGE. 
Holmes county is intersected by many streams and is consequent¬ 
ly well drained and well watered. The Choctawhatchee River, which 
is navigable for medium-sized boats as far as Geneva, Alabama, flows 
through the central part of the county. Holmes Creek receives the 
drainage of the eastern part of the county. On a number of the 
streams large springs occur. Particularly is this true of Sandy 
Creek, a tributary of the Choctawhatchee River, on which are several 
springs of the characteristic blue limestone water. Morrison Spring 
the largest of these is near the mouth of the creek. Ponce de Leon 
Springs occur near the town of the same name. 
