STARKECOMMERCIAL REAL ESTATELet’s talk
FUN FACTS · STARKE, FLORIDA

Fun facts about Starke, Florida

Starke covers 7.178 square miles of land, had an estimated 5,963 residents in July 2025, and, in the city's words, "served as the halfway point" on the railroad between Fernandina and Cedar Key.[4][6][1] Here are twelve facts about Starke and Bradford County, each checked against a public source, each with a practical note for a business or property owner. County facts are labelled as county facts.

Last updated · By Makayla Richardson, Commercial Real Estate Advisor

1. Nobody knows for sure how Starke got its name

The City of Starke's own history offers two versions of the naming story and admits: "No one actually knows which version of the naming is correct."[1]

Why it matters: If you use local history in your marketing, stick to what the record documents.

2. It started as the halfway point of a railroad

Starke grew up on the railroad between Fernandina and Cedar Key, and the city says it "served as the halfway point on the route."[1]

Why it matters: Today's through route is US 301; see the FDOT traffic counts on the market outlook.

3. Starke was incorporated in 1870

The city was "officially incorporated on April 4th, 1870," according to the City of Starke.[1]

Why it matters: In a town this old, a current survey and a full title search are worth ordering before you buy.

4. The county had a different name first

Bradford County "was founded as New River County in 1858 but was renamed Bradford County in 1861."[2] Starke is its county seat.[3]

Why it matters: If your business works with county government, being in the county seat may be worth weighing in your search.

5. Starke won the county seat by 46 votes

The county's history records an 1875 vote on the location of the county seat, "with Starke winning by 46 votes."[3]

Why it matters: A reminder that local votes decide where things go; zoning and land-use votes still do.

6. The Starke area was one of the South's big strawberry exporters

In the early 1900s the area was "one of the biggest strawberry exporters in the South," according to the City of Starke.[1] The 2026 Bradford Strawberry Festival had "local vendors, farmers, and families filling the streets," WUFT reported.[14]

Why it matters: If you run a downtown business, plan for festival weekends.

7. The festival's usual home is downtown Starke

When the 2021 festival moved to the Bradford County Fairgrounds, WCJB noted it was "as opposed to its usual location in Downtown Starke."[15]

Why it matters: If festival exposure matters to you, ask where the event is being held that year; in 2021 it moved to the fairgrounds.

8. Camp Blanding covers 73,000 acres

Camp Blanding Joint Training Center is "a 73,000-acre military training installation located in northeast Florida," near Starke, and the Florida National Guard's "primary center utilized for training," according to the Florida Department of Military Affairs.[8]

Why it matters: If your business serves the military or its visitors, the Florida National Guard's primary training center is nearby.

9. Three Starke properties are in the National Register

The Old Bradford County Courthouse (209 W. Call St., significant year 1902), the Call Street Historic District and the Woman's Club of Starke (201 N. Walnut St., significant year 1922) have records in the National Register of Historic Places.[9][10][11]

Why it matters: If you are buying or renovating a historic building, ask the City of Starke what local rules apply.

10. A US 301 segment at Starke carries 17,900 vehicles a day

FDOT counted 17,900 vehicles a day in 2025 on the US 301 segment in Bradford County between SR 100 (Madison Street) and SR 16 (MLK Jr. Boulevard).[12]

Why it matters: If your business depends on drive-by traffic, compare sites against the FDOT counts on the market outlook.

11. US 301 is the direct route between two cities

Visit Natural North Florida calls US 301 through Starke "the quickest and most direct route between Jacksonville and Gainesville."[16]

Why it matters: If you are choosing between Starke and a larger city, factor in where the route runs.

12. Bradford County (not just Starke) covers 293.964 square miles of land

Bradford County covers 293.964 square miles of land and 6.527 square miles of water, with an estimated 28,307 residents in July 2025.[5][7] Its employers reported 10,509 jobs in March 2026.[13]

Why it matters: If you are looking for land, follow the bypass water and sewer contract on the market outlook.

Thinking about a business or a building in Starke? Start with the site and the plan.

Talk with Makayla

Questions people ask

What county is Starke, Florida in?

Bradford County. Starke is the county seat. The county was founded as New River County in 1858 and renamed Bradford County in 1861.

How big is Starke, Florida?

The Census Bureau's 2020 Gazetteer lists Starke at 7.178 square miles of land, and its July 2025 estimate puts the population at 5,963.

What is notable about Starke's history?

The City of Starke says it served as the halfway point on the Fernandina to Cedar Key railroad and describes the area as one of the biggest strawberry exporters in the South in the early 1900s. The Bradford Strawberry Festival is held there, and Camp Blanding is nearby.

Sources

  1. History, City of Starke. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  2. Bradford County, Florida, Bradford County Board of County Commissioners. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  3. About Us, Bradford County, Florida. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  4. 2020 Gazetteer Files, Florida places, U.S. Census Bureau, 2020. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  5. 2020 Gazetteer Files, Florida counties, U.S. Census Bureau, 2020. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  6. City and town population estimates, Vintage 2025 (Florida), U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2025. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  7. County population estimates, Vintage 2025, U.S. Census Bureau, July 1, 2025. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  8. Long Range Program Plan, Fiscal Years 2024-2025 through 2028-2029, Florida Department of Military Affairs, September 2023. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  9. Old Bradford County Courthouse (NRIS 74000611), National Park Service. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  10. Call Street Historic District (NRIS 85003329), National Park Service. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  11. Woman's Club of Starke (NRIS 97000350), National Park Service. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  12. Annual Average Daily Traffic, Florida Department of Transportation, 2025. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  13. Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, Bradford County, FL, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Q1 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  14. Starke Strawberry Festival reflects Bradford County heritage, WUFT, April 3, 2026. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  15. People enjoyed the Strawberry Festival as it was canceled last year due to COVID-19, WCJB TV20, March 28, 2021. Accessed October 12, 2026.
  16. Starke, Visit Natural North Florida. Accessed October 12, 2026.