The city of Starke, Florida, is a small town filled with southern charm and friendly faces. Its population is around 5,796 people and it is the county seat of Bradford County. The city has a lot of history to offer its residents and visitors and one of the main attractions is the Call Street Historic District. The city is also home to a number of prisons and military bases, including Camp Blanding, Florida’s National Guard base.

The exact origin of the name of the city is a bit of a mystery, though there are a couple of different versions. One is that the post office was named after George W. Cole, a land speculator who purchased the rights to 40 acres of land on both sides of the railroad for a bargain-basement price of $100. Another theory is that the name of the city was a tribute to Governor Madison Starke Perry, who served from 1857 to 1861.

Historically, Starke and the surrounding region were associated with farming, especially strawberry cultivation. The city still has a strong agricultural economy today and the area is known for its beautiful landscapes and rolling hills.

Starke has a large number of locally owned shops and restaurants that feature fabulous southern meals. Several of these are located in the historic downtown district, and others can be found in the surrounding communities. In addition, there are many fast food establishments and a few larger chain stores, such as Walmart. The town is also home to a variety of smaller, mom and pop businesses as well as an independent movie theater.