Starke, Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Starke, Florida

City

City of Starke

From top, left to right: Santa Fe College's Andrews Center, Downtown Call Street at Sunset, Old Bradford County Courthouse, Florida Twin Theatre, David Hurse Stadium

Seal

Motto(s):

Southern Hospitality at its Finest

Location in Bradford County and the state of Florida

Florida

April 4, 1870

Government

• Type

Commission-Manager

Area

• Total

7.18 sq mi (18.59 km²)

• Land

7.18 sq mi (18.59 km²)

• Water

0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)

Elevation

167 ft (51 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

5,796

• Density

807.47/sq mi (311.74/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (EDT)

ZIP code

32091

Area code(s)

904, 324

FIPS code

12-68525

GNIS feature ID

0291634

Starke is a city in Florida, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Bradford County. In 2020, about 5,796 people lived there.

People aren't sure how Starke got its name. It might have been named after George W. Cole's fiancée's family. Or it could be named after Madison Starke Perry, who was the fourth governor of Florida.

History of Starke
- How Starke Began
- Starke in the 1900s and 2000s
Geography and Location
Population of Starke
Fun Things to Do in Starke
- Places to Visit
Education in Starke
- Learning After High School
Starke in Movies and TV
Famous People from Starke
Images for kids
See also

History of Starke

How Starke Began

Headquarters of The Bradford County Telegraph, Florida's oldest weekly news publication.

Before 1857, not many people lived in the area that is now Starke. But then, a railroad was planned to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. This brought the first settlers to the community.

In November 1857, George W. Cole opened the first post office here. In 1859, he bought 40 acres of land around the post office. This land became known as the "Original Town of Starke."

The railroad reached Starke in 1858, bringing more people. Starke officially became a city on April 4, 1870. In 1875, people in Bradford County voted to move the county seat from Lake Butler to Starke. After a few more votes, the Florida government decided in 1921 that Starke would remain the county seat. This happened when Union County was created.

Starke's weekly newspaper, The Bradford County Telegraph, started in 1879. It is still the oldest weekly newspaper in Florida today. In the 1880s and 1890s, Starke grew a lot because of Florida's citrus industry. Many people moved from the North to grow oranges. But a very cold winter in 1894-1895, called the Great Freeze, destroyed the orange groves. This caused the citrus industry to move further south in Florida.

Starke in the 1900s and 2000s

Starke grew quickly in the early 1900s. This was thanks to the new U.S. Highway 301 and the building of Camp Blanding during World War II.

Highway 301 was the fastest way for travelers from the northeastern United States to get between Jacksonville and Tampa. Starke was one of the biggest cities on this route. Its location on State Road 100 also brought many hotels to the area.

During World War II, Camp Blanding was built nearby as a military training base. This led to a building boom in Starke. By 1950, the city's population had doubled.

After World War II, Starke kept growing. More people moved there to work in service jobs and in strawberry fields. The famous Bradford County Strawberry Festival started around this time. It still brings thousands of visitors every year.

Geography and Location

Starke is in the eastern part of Bradford County. U.S. Route 301 goes through the middle of the city. This road leads north about 26 miles to Baldwin and Interstate 10, which goes to Jacksonville. It also leads southwest about 25 miles to Gainesville via State Road 24.

The city covers a total area of about 7.18 square miles (18.7 square kilometers), all of which is land.

Starke is located about 8 miles west of Camp Blanding, a National Guard base. It is also about 10 miles southeast of several prisons: Florida State Prison, Union Correctional Institution, and New River East Correctional Institution.

The exact spot for the City of Starke is at coordinates 29°56′39″N 82°06′35″W.

Population of Starke

Starke has grown steadily over the years. In 1880, there were 292 people. By 1950, the population had grown to 2,944. In the 2020 census, the population was 5,796 people.

The city has a mix of different groups of people. In 2020, about 59% of the people were White, and about 29% were Black or African American. About 5.6% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.

Fun Things to Do in Starke

Places to Visit

Looking north on Starke's Call Street. Call Street is listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Call Street Historic District - Starke's downtown area has local restaurants, antique shops, a jewelry store, and a movie theater.
Bradford County Strawberry Festival - This festival started in 1998 to celebrate the importance of strawberries in the community. It happens the first week of April and brings thousands of visitors each year.
Eugene L. Matthews Historical Museum - This museum is named after a long-time editor of The Bradford County Telegraph. It shows many items from Bradford County's history. You can visit on certain days or by making an appointment.
Andrews Center - This building used to be the Bradford County Courthouse. It was built in 1902 in a Romanesque style. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It's seen as a main symbol of Starke and Bradford County.
Florida Twin Theatre - Opened in 1941, this is one of the oldest movie theaters in north Florida. It has been a popular place for people from all around for many decades.

Education in Starke

Schools in Starke are run by the Bradford County School District.

Bradford High School
Bradford Middle School
Starke Elementary School
Bradford Elementary School (as of 2023)

Southside Elementary School closed in November 2023. Its building will become the new School District office.

The Bradford County Public Library is also in Starke. It is part of the New River Public Library Cooperative.

Learning After High School

Santa Fe College's Andrews Center helps students in Bradford and Union counties. It's an important place for learning and culture.
North Florida Technical College (Bradford-Union Technical Center) is also in Starke. It offers technical training and is managed by the school district.

Starke in Movies and TV

Starke has been a filming location for several Hollywood movies:

G.I. Jane, starring Demi Moore, was filmed east of Starke at the Camp Blanding Joint Training Center.
Joel Schumacher's film Tigerland, starring Colin Farrell, was filmed at Camp Blanding.
Basic, starring Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta, was filmed at Camp Blanding.
Why Do Fools Fall in Love, starring Halle Berry and Vivica A. Fox.

Starke has also been a location for television shows:

The Fox Broadcasting Company's reality TV show Boot Camp.

Famous People from Starke

Judy Canova, a film actress and entertainer.
Doyle Edward Conner Sr, a former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
Charley Eugene Johns, the 32nd Governor of Florida and former Florida State Senate President.