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Graceville is located in the Northwest
corner of Jackson County (30.956N - 85.516W). Bordered
by Holmes County on the West, and a few miles from the
Alabama border on the North, it was incorporated in
1903. Graceville was named for a community populated
largely by the Grace family. Early paternal ancestor of
the family, Captain H.B. Grace, was a surveyor and
Confederate Officer. The Graces originally owned land
near Campbellton, Jackson, Florida.
Graceville was once home to the largest
operating peanut mill in the world. The old mill can
still be seen near the downtown area. Graceville became
the smallest town in the United States to have a
professional baseball team in 1952. The Graceville
Oilers played in the Alabama-Florida League for seven
seasons.
Graceville is home of the
Baptist College of Florida,
founded in 1943. Many historic buildings have been
brought onto the college campus' Heritage Village,
including an old, one room schoolhouse, churches and
others.
Today, Graceville, with a population of
about 2,000 people, is still home to the kind of shops
that truly take you to a time in the past, including the
Service Drug Store which still offers fountain drinks.
Cemeteries in or near Graceville
include: The Damascus Baptist Church Cemetery, Galilee
United Methodist Church Cemetery, Hinson Cemetery and
Selma Cemetery.
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