Florida City tourist information
Florida City Florida
Florida City is an old city by South Florida standards. Its early history involved conflicts between Southern and Northern Settlers. The first settlers, originally from Topeka, Kansas has settled in Homestead but moved out into the wilderness area that became Florida City in 1910. Many southern families seeking homesteads followed. In 1913 the Model Land Company from Michigan purchased 22,000 acres. They advertised heavily in Detroit and attracted northerners to their "Garden of Eden" . Detroiters named the area Detroit but apparently became dissatisfied with their purchases. Conflict developed with the Southern families and the Detroiters moved back north shortly thereafter. In 1914 the city was incorporated. The remaining families named it Florida City.
By 1922, Florida City had grown to a population of over 800. The city had a drug store, a hardware store, and a three story hotel. South of the town was the largest Ice Plant in the state and a lumber mill; however most of the towns economy came from farming. Florida City's limits were extended to Biscayne Bay in 1925. Because of its lack of development, the land owners successfully petitioned to have the city restored to its original boundaries. A hurricane in 1926 leveled several buildings and greatly damaged others. The area economy returned to agriculture.
The Pavilion was constructed by the developers of Detroit, later Florida City, the Miami Land and Development Company, owned by the Tatum brothers. The Pavilion served as the main social venue for the early pioneers. Under the Pavilion was a swimming area. The bottom of the canal was covered with boards. Dancers were held upstairs. The company also constructed a recreation building at the mouth of the Detroit / Florida City Canal. The townspeople raised #1,000 in contributions for the construction of the building on Palm Drive which was used as a school and a church until it became town hall later.
Florida City aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Florida City aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of Florida City.
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