Starke's Call Street keeps Bradford history near U.S. 301

Starke can look like a pass-through place if you only see it from U.S. 301. Call Street gives it more shape.

Visit Natural North Florida describes Starke as a town tied to the old rail route between Fernandina and Cedar Key, with U.S. 301 still running through its daily map. A short walk east of that highway brings you into the Call Street Historic District, where the town feels less like traffic and more like Bradford County’s front room.

The Florida Public Archaeology Network also points readers to Bradford heritage sites, including Call Street and the Woman’s Club of Starke. That is a good reminder that small inland counties still have public history if you slow down enough to look for it.

If you are passing through, do not judge Starke only from the highway lane. Park near Call Street, check what is open that day, and give the old courthouse and nearby blocks a few minutes. The town reads better on foot.