Aurantia, Florida facts for kids
Aurantia was a small, unincorporated community in the northern part of Brevard County, Florida, United States. It was located where Aurantia Road met the Florida East Coast Railway. This railway was very important because Aurantia had a station along the Enterprise Branch line. Being "unincorporated" means it was a settlement that didn't have its own official town government.
Where Was Aurantia?
Aurantia was located at 28°43′40″N 80°53′16″W / 28.72778°N 80.88778°W. To its north was Scottsmoor. To the east, it was bordered by U.S. 1, a major highway. South of Aurantia was Turnbull, Florida, and to the west was the Volusia County line.
Why Aurantia Disappeared
The main reason Aurantia faded away was the closing of its railroad station. When the tracks were no longer used, the community started to decline. Later, when Interstate 95 was built, it went right through Aurantia. This new highway created a bridge over the old railroad line and actually split the community in half. Many people had to move away from the main crossroads, and Aurantia lost its unique identity. Today, the area is served by the post office in Mims, Florida.
From Railroad to Rail Trail
The old railroad line that once passed through Aurantia has found a new purpose. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection took over the land where the tracks used to be on December 31, 2007. By 2008, a company had removed all the old tracks. This 51-mile long path is now being turned into a "rails-to-trails" project. This means an old railway is being converted into a path for walking, running, and biking. It will be Florida's longest such trail and is named the East Central Regional Rail-Trail (ECRRT). The land for this trail was bought from the Florida East Coast Railway using money from the Florida Forever program, which helps protect Florida's natural lands.
