Main Street Starke named as December 2008 Florida Main Street Community of the Month

Main Street Starke named as December 2008 Florida Main Street Community of the Month

Home to the "sweetest strawberries this side of heaven," Starke, Florida is a small city just 24 miles northeast of Gainesville, with an energetic and committed Main Street community determined to enhance and expand their downtown district. Starke was designated a Florida Main Street Community in 2005.

Settlers first began moving to what became Bradford County in the early nineteenth century, and by 1857, the town of Starke had its own post office. The city was named for the fiancée of the first postmaster, George W. Cole, whose family name was Starke. With the introduction of refrigerated trains, strawberries became Bradford County's main crop and remain Starke's calling card.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor and America's entrance into World War II changed Starke practically overnight. Within months, Camp Blanding, one of the largest troop training centers of the war, brought 20,000 construction workers and 60,000 troops to the small railroad and farming community. In the 1950s, the DuPont corporation began mining heavy minerals in the area, and the Florida State Prison helped extend Starke's economic expansion.

Starke's approach to revitalizing and beautifying its downtown has been successful on many levels. With several early commercial buildings undergoing rehabilitation, Starke's downtown has been fortunate to retain much of its historic aesthetic charm. This has attracted production company interest to the town as a setting for Hollywood films such as G.I. Jane, Joel Schumacher's Tigerland, Basic and What's Love Got To Do With It. Constructed in 1902, the Romanesque Revival Old Bradford County Courthouse now serves as the Andrews Center at Santa Fe Community College. The Old Starke Post Office now houses the Sugar Tree Café at street level, and apartments on the second floor.

Since 2005, Main Street Starke has seen a reinvestment of over $16 million through public and private projects. The downtown has grown, with 27 new businesses opening, and the creation of 128 new jobs. Starke's Main Street Program also hosts many events each year, including the popular Strawberry Festival in April and the Starke Bikefest in June.

Main Street Starke will share the designation of December 2008 Florida Main Street Program of the Month with MainStreet DeLand. Communities are selected for this award based on active participation in the Florida Main Street Program.

"The communities of DeLand and Starke have shown extraordinary determination to restore and revitalize their downtowns," said Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning. "The unique qualities and heritage of these towns have been respected and cherished for the enjoyment of the community and visitors."

Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program of the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State. The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving Florida's historic resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy for achieving these goals in Florida's historic retail districts. Since 1985 the Bureau has offered manager training, consultant team visits, design and other technical assistance, as well as the benefit of experience gained by other Florida Main Street programs.

To learn more about Main Street Starke, visit www.mainstreetstarke.com or call 904.964.5278.