History of Noma

The Town of Noma traces its origins to 1882, when the area was first settled during a period of expansion in what is now northern Holmes County. Like much of the Florida Panhandle at the time, the community developed amid the region’s growing timber and agricultural industries, which attracted workers, families, and supporting businesses to the area.

Noma’s name is historically linked to the Noma Mill Company, a timber milling operation that played a significant role in the town’s early economy. Lumber production was a driving force behind settlement in this part of Florida, and the presence of a mill helped establish Noma as a recognized community during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Rail transportation in the region further supported the movement of timber and goods, contributing to the town’s development and connection to nearby markets.

The community formally organized its local government when Noma was incorporated in July 1904, allowing residents to manage municipal affairs and provide local services. Like many small towns in rural Florida, Noma’s early growth was modest but steady, shaped by local industry, family-owned businesses, churches, and schools that served as centers of daily life.

After changes in population and governance over the decades, the town was reincorporated in 1977, establishing the legal and governmental framework under which Noma operates today. This reincorporation ensured continuity of local governance and preserved the town’s municipal identity during a period when many small rural communities across Florida faced consolidation or decline.

Throughout the twentieth century, Noma remained a small, close-knit town. Generations of families lived and worked in the area, maintaining strong community ties and a tradition of neighborly support. While economic conditions and transportation patterns evolved, Noma retained its rural character and sense of place.

Today, Noma continues to serve as a quiet residential community in northern Holmes County, located just south of the Alabama state line. With a population of 208 residents in 2020, the town reflects the enduring nature of Florida’s small rural municipalities. Noma’s history is defined not by rapid growth, but by resilience, continuity, and the lasting contributions of the people who have called it home for more than a century.