Harbor View an early settlement on the Peace

In the map above of the Peace River Valley, you can spot (arrow directs) a designation for Harbor View.   Still in existence now as a DRI off a road named for it, Harbor View is one of the oldest settlements in our area along the Peace River.  It was established by a man named Nathan DeCoster in 1871.  

DeCoster was the first person to take up a 160-acre homestead at Hickory Bluff ( right across the Peace River) in 1866 . He platted some of his acreage as Harbor View about 1871 and set up the first sawmill south of Tampa.  The sawmill was located at Live Oak Point along the lagoon north of Melbourne Street where logs could be floated in from the harbor.

Also visible on the map above is Fort Winder, where about twenty-five miles from the mouth of the Peace River on the west bank, he and John F. Bartholf, with $3,000 capital and money, opened a store, run briefly by Nathan.

You can see the location of Harbor View more clearly on the 1970s era map below.