Thanks for your explanation of political sentiment in this part of Florida. People forget that political sentiment isn't set on stone. If it was, there really wouldn't a need to take more than one opinion poll per generation.

Secession wasn't a popular position among Southerners until the events of 1859-1860. At this time people who read newspapers began thinking in terms of self-preservation. On the other hand, folks who paid little attention national politics were far less influenced.

In general, counties which tended to be more Unionist (or anti-Confederate) during the war were thinly populated and more isolated than those that supported the Confederacy. A more detailed explanation on this topic can be found in a recent post on this board.