A town shaped by water, growing through community, and still defining its center

Ask most residents where the heart of Freeport is, and you might get a pause. A street? A corner where people gather? For years, the town hasn’t had a single, obvious center — but that also leaves room for opportunity.

Historically, Freeport did have a center. In the 1830s, life revolved around LaGrange Bayou, where Four Mile Creek met the Choctawhatchee River. The town was first called Genoa, then Four Mile Landing, and during the Civil War it became Freeport — perhaps because docking at the port was free, or maybe because a shipment of wine appeared and everyone was invited to enjoy a little “free port.” Either way, the waterfront was the hub of trade, mail, and community life.

Today, Freeport is evolving. Hammock Bay has grown into its own bustling hub, City Hall and its surrounding campus anchor another, and future developments may help define a town center that brings the community together in new ways. Yet the heart of Freeport isn’t just about buildings or streets — it’s about the people who live, work, and connect here.

That sense of community is visible in organizations like the Freeport Merchants Association (FMA). Founded in 2018, the FMA unites local businesses, encourages collaboration, and organizes events that bring residents together — from networking breakfasts to townwide celebrations. The group’s members meet at different businesses and venues around town, creating a shared “center” wherever people gather. By supporting both long-standing residents and newcomers, the FMA helps weave the town’s spirit into a living, active network.

Maybe the real center of Freeport isn’t a single building or street. Maybe it’s the community itself: families who’ve lived here for generations, new neighbors building homes and businesses, and groups like the FMA that help bring people together. As Freeport looks toward the future, the question remains: where will the town’s center be? And for a place full of potential, that’s an exciting question to ask.