Taylor County became the 34th county of Florida on December 23, 1856, and was named for President Zachary Taylor.  Taylor County was partitioned from Madison County's sprawling area as the 34th county of Florida, on December 23, 1856. The county's first census, taken in 1860,  stood at 1,384.  Taylor is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, Jefferson, Madison, Lafayette and Dixie Counties.

     During the earliest years of the 20th century railroads entered the County giving outlet to world markets for the abundant timber products for which the area had become famous.  This led the county to celebrate by forming the Florida Forest Festival.  The Florida Forest Festival  is the largest forestry event held in the state annually. Held in the month of October the festival has a popular event of over 40 years bringing up to 20,000 or more to the Taylor County area. The Forest Capital State Museum is the focal point for the industry. The Festival features the World's Largest Free Fish Fry, feeding thousands every year. Some of the popular annual events surrounding the Festival are the Little King and Queen Pageant, Fireworks, Carnival, Antique Car Show & Parade and the Annual Bed Race. On Festival Day families can look forward to the day kicking off with the Annual King Tree Parade.

     Perry was first named Rosehead by early Native Americans who resided in the area because of the abundance of wild rose bushes.   In 1875 it was changed to Perrytown after Governor Stark Perry, but later the "town" was dropped and the name became Perry.

     The first courthouse to be established in Taylor County was constructed from logs and built in 1858, with the first frame built courthouse following decades later in 1923.

     In 1910, a beautiful resort hotel patterned after the spas of the north was constructed just west of Perry. It was built with wide verandahs, swimming pool, tennis courts, and golf course. Hampton Springs Hotel was a marvel for the area. It had been built on the site of a sulfurous spring which was claimed to have highly medicinal qualities.

     With its own depot on the spur from Perry, trains delivered the wealthy tourists and weary industrialists directly to the resort. Pools and fountains filled with exotic fish were placed throughout the landscaped grounds. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in the early 1954 when the beautiful establishment burned to the ground. No attempts were ever made to rebuild. All that remains today is the fountain and the sulfur spring pools.