Why is it Called Saint Augustine?
St. Augustine is a city on the northeast coast of Florida. It’s home to over 14,000 residents and receives approximately 6 million visitors every year. Known for its beautiful sandy beaches and quaint colonial architecture, this popular tourist destination has a rich history that dates back over 450 years.
So, where did the name St. Augustine originate? The story involves a Spanish admiral and a 5th-century monk. Keep reading to learn how St. Augustine, Florida came to be.
History of St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565 by Don Pedro Menéndez de Aviles, a Spanish admiral who was commissioned by King Phillip II of Spain to explore the area and defeat the rival French that had already set up a settlement there. When the admiral and his army arrived at a coastal inlet in Florida, it was August 28, 1565, also known as the feast day of St. Augustine. As the patron saint of Spain, a devout Catholic country, St. Augustine was the perfect name for this newly founded colony.
Many people may not realize that Admiral Menéndez’s arrival in St. Augustine occurred more than five decades before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. That makes it the oldest European settlement and port in North America.
The Spanish would in fact go on to defeat the French, but St. Augustine’s story wouldn’t end there. Settlers, rulers, and even pirates from all over the world would make their mark on its rich history – which can often still be seen today in its monuments, museums, and architecture.
Who Was St. Augustine?
Augustine was the name of a man long before it was the name of a city. He was a theologian and an important figure in the early Christian church. Hailing from Hippo, a Roman city in Northern Africa, Augustine struggled with morality in his early life but eventually, he would convert to Christianity and become a priest, bishop, writer, and one of the most revered philosophers of his time.
Augustine of Hippo was canonized and recognized as a Doctor of the Church in 1303 by Pope Boniface VIII. He became known as the patron saint of brewers, a nod to his early life of struggling with vices and partying. He is also the patron saint of printers and theologians because of his writings and contributions to the Catholic church.
St. Augustine Through the Years
Similar to Augustine the man, the town of St. Augustine has seen its share of conflict over the years. It has been burned and pillaged by pirates, fought over by the Spaniards, French, and the British, and eventually became part of the United States when Spain ceded Florida in 1821. It wasn’t until 1845 that Florida officially became a state after a long and fierce war with Native Americans. However, it would be several decades before St. Augustine would become the beautiful coastal city it’s known as today.
Modern-Day St. Augustine
After centuries of wars and ownership battles, St. Augustine was looking a little worse for wear. But, in the latter part of the 19th century, all of that started to change when Henry Flagler, a former partner of John D. Rockefeller, took interest in the town and started making a plan to turn it into a winter destination for wealthy Northerners.
In the late 1880s, Flagler began construction on many new buildings and establishments in St. Augustine including a couple of extravagant hotels, several churches, a hospital, and a baseball park, among other things. Today, residents and tourists alike cherish St. Augustine for its rich history, beautiful architecture, and stunning beaches.
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