March 18, 2024

It's Official: St. Joe No Longer Florida's Largest Private Landowner

Cynthia Barnett | 5/27/2009

The nation’s largest private landowner is now Florida’s largest private landowner.

That title has long been held by Jacksonville-based St. Joe Co., a former paper and timber company-turned real-estate conglomerate that owned more than a million acres, mostly in Northwest Florida between Tallahassee and Pensacola. But the company has been selling off rural land in recent years as it turns its focus to community and commercial development.

In its first-quarter earnings report issued earlier this month, St. Joe (NYSE: JOE) said it’s down to 585,000 acres statewide. That puts it second to Plum Creek Timber Co., which now takes the title of Florida’s largest private landowner.

Plum Creek (NYSE: PCL) is a Seattle-based Real Estate Investment Trust whose primary business is to grow, harvest and sell timber. It owns just over 600,000 acres in 22 Florida counties, with concentrations in St. Johns Forest, Gulf Hammock Forest, Lake Butler Forest and the Wire Grass Forest in Northwest Florida. About 90% of its holdings are in forestry operations.

Plum Creek is also the largest private landowner in the United States, with more than 7 million acres nationwide. The company began doing business in Florida in 2001, when it merged with the Timber Group. State headquarters are in Gainesville.

Now, the timber giant had better update its website, where it calls itself “the second largest private landowner in the state of Florida.”

insurance news

Tags: Northeast, Environment, Housing/Construction

Florida Business News

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

Incoming income tax instructor indicated
Incoming income tax instructor indicated

Affordable housing remains an issue; Income tax guidance on its way; What's in the 2024 budget; A mysterious threat to endangered sea life; Bass Pro Shops founder's "Florida Dream"

 

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Should Congress ban the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S.?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Need more details
  • What is TikTok?
  • Other (Comment below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.