Moonshining - Bootleggers in the Backwoods

Florida was made to order for bootleggers. The state has large tracts of dense forests, a long coastline with many inlets, and a close proximity to Cuba and the British West Indies, where alcohol was readily available. 

Summarizing the attitude of many Floridians toward Prohibition, state historian Charlton Tebeau observed: "Local authorities proved indifferent if not outright hostile to enforcement, which was left to federal agents of whom there were never enough. Floridians resented federal interference with individual freedom and feared that enforcement would harm the tourist industry." 

The state's economic life became deeply involved in taking advantage of the dry laws. In frustration, one Coast Guard man charged with patroling Florida's coast exclaimed, Floridians "would stagger to the polls and vote Dry.”

Prohibition in Hernando County, Florida, during the 1920s and 1930s created a unique economic opportunity amid the Great Depression, with widespread illegal liquor production and smuggling becoming deeply embedded in the local social and political fabric.

• Prohibition's rural impact: Unlike the common image of urban gangsters, Prohibition brought economic benefits to rural areas like Hernando County, where moonshining and rumrunning became profitable alternatives to traditional agriculture.

• Florida's geography favored bootlegging: The state's dense forests, extensive coastline, and proximity to Cuba made it ideal for smuggling, with local authorities often indifferent or hostile to enforcement.

• Hernando County's environment and economy: The county's marshlands, forests, and isolated communities provided cover for illicit activities, while economic decline left few alternatives to bootlegging. 

• Widespread local involvement: Moonshining was common, with many residents, including law enforcement, participating or turning a blind eye, ensuring the illegal trade flourished. 

• Law enforcement complicity: Local officials often accepted bribes and warned bootleggers of federal raids, undermining Prohibition enforcement efforts. 

• Limited legal actions: Court and grand jury records show minimal prosecutions or convictions for liquor violations, reflecting the community's tolerance and complicity. 

• Organized smuggling operations: Tampa-based leaders coordinated rumrunning, using Cuban fishing boats to bring liquor to Bayport, where it was distributed inland, often under armed protection. 

• Violence and intimidation: The lucrative trade led to murders, including the assassination of a city attorney gathering evidence against bootleggers, highlighting the dangers tied to the illegal liquor business.

Prohibition ended in 1933, cutting off this income source, but during its enforcement, illegal liquor trade was a significant economic force in Hernando County.

Summary from "BOOTLEGGERS IN THE BACKWOODS: PROHIBITION AND THE DEPRESSION IN HERNANDO COUNTY"

By Richard Cofer