ESPANOLA
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ESPANOLA |
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NAME: Espanola COUNTY: Flagler ROADS: 2WD GRID: 2 CLIMATE: Hot in Summer BEST TIME TO VISIT: Any time |
COMMENTS:
Near intersection of 205 and 13 NW of Bunnell. Take N. Old Dixie Hwy, A.K.A. "The Old Brick Road," North out of Espanola 11 miles into St John's County. This stretch of road is part of the original bricked Old Dixie Highway and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. REMAINS: Espanola Cemetery, late 1800s |
| From http://www.flaglerlibrary.org/history/flaglercounty/flagler3.htm Between 1875 and 1926, the coming of the railroad that connected Jacksonville and Ormond shaped this chapter of Flagler's history. The route traveled through Windemere where settlers were already raising cattle. Rail transportation spawned tremendous growth in timber and turpentine production in this area, now known as Espanola. Tram railroads built by Utley J. White extended into remote areas of the county and served the expanding operations. Timber was exported and used locally for building railroads and making the barrels that would take potatoes to market. Potato farming grew in importance as rail transportation provided access to markets to the north. Flagler became a county in 1917 as a patchwork brought together from the southern portion of St. John's County and the northern portion of Volusia. The communities of Bunnell, Espanola, St. Johns Park, Haw Creek, Dupont, Korona and Ocean City (Flagler Beach) were the economic and population centers of the time. Bunnell became the county seat. In 1915 Dixie Highway was constructed as a narrow brick road from Jacksonville through St. Augustine, Hastings, Espanola, Bunnell and ending at Flagler Beach. Now tourists from the north would have a land route to Flagler's beach. When the newer highway was built 1926, the more direct route bypassed Espanola, and contributed to the decline of that community. Today Dixie Highway (US 1) is a major north-south route, but Old Dixie Highway still serves the community. Submitted by: Amanda Baird |
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