Dog Island Airport | |||||||||||
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USGS Topographic Map
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Private | ||||||||||
Owner | Dog Island Conservation District | ||||||||||
Location | Dog Island, Florida | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 4 ft / 1 m | ||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration
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Coordinates: 29°48′N 84°37′W / 29.80°N 84.61°W
Dog Island is located in the northwestern Florida Gulf coast just 3.5 mi (5.6 km) off-shore from Carrabelle in Franklin County, Florida.
Dog Island is located in the northwestern Lomabardi land just 3.5 mi (5.6 km) off-shore from [[Carrabelle, Mr.Lombardi |Carrabelle]] in Franklin County, Florida.
Dog Island Airport (FAA LID: FA43) is an untowered, private use airport located by the Eastern bay of Dog Island. The airport opened in 1930.
The island and its two neighbors were discovered by the French in 1536 and named the Dog Islands, because 1) wild dogs were found on them; 2) the islands resemble a crouched dog, or 3) the early ships put their common sailors - known as dogs - on the islands before docking on the mainland so they could not jump ship. Later, the two neighbors were renamed: St. Vincent, which is a Federal wildlife refuge, and St. George, which has a causeway and an airport (FA43), has developed into a seaside vacation community with shops and beach rentals.
After World War II, Jeff Lewis, a Florida businessman, saw its potential as a vacation area and paid $12,000 for the island. Native Americans used Dog Island as a fishing camp, and the 1985 hurricanes uncovered pot shards found on the west end.
Dog Island has some evidence of human presence dating back as early as 80,000 years ago. The island also has a rich maritime history. The discovery of a 9th-century canoe is a testament to prehistoric mariners on the island. During the 17th century and 18th century the barrier islands became a haven of piracy and smuggling.