Railroads have served the northern counties of Central Florida since
before the Civil War. Following the war, railroads expanded down the
peninsula to bring transportation services to even more people and
places throughout the region. By 1929, the railroad network in the state
had reached its peak, with some communities being served by two or more
railroad lines. Trains provided the means for growth and development,
and the local depot was the focal point of every town throughout
Florida's central region. Stretching across the middle section of the
peninsula from coast to coast, the Central Florida area includes Levy,
Gilchrist, Alachua, Putnam, and Volusia Counties to the north, while the
counties of Sarasota, Desoto, Highland, Osceola, and Brevard define the
southern boundary. Featuring depots of the Atlantic Coast Line, Seaboard
Air Line, Florida East Coast, and their predecessor railroads, the
photographs used by the author were obtained from local historical
groups, the Florida State Archives, and private collections.