Homestead, Florida: From Railroad Boom to Sonic Boom

by Seth H. Bramson, Robert J. Jensen

Overview

Originally settled prior to the coming of the Florida East Coast Railway in 1904, Homestead became only the second incorporated municipality in Dade County in 1913. A land of rich soil steeped in agricultural heritage, the area soon grew into a marvelously diverse city of more than sixty thousand residents. The foundation laid by the railroad gave way to the aviation industry when the city became home to Homestead Air Force Base, now Homestead Air Reserve Base. The city has also dealt with adversity, rebuilding itself from the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Homestead is now the gateway to two national parks and is home to Homestead-Miami Speedway, a unique winery and a thriving business community. Join authors Seth H. Bramson and Bob Jensen as they detail the rich history of this South Florida gem.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781626191877
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	08/20/2013
Series:	Brief History
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Seth Bramson is Miami's foremost local historian. He is America's single most-published Florida history book author, with sixteen of his twenty-two books dealing directly with the villages, towns, cities, counties, people and businesses of the South Florida Gold Coast. Bob Jensen retired in Homestead as a Navy Commander after serving 28 years. He served in Germany, the Philippines, the US Embassy in Cyprus, Iceland, and twice at the National Security Agency and at Naval Security Group Headquarters in Washington D.C.

Table of Contents

Foreword Yvonne Knowles 9

Acknowledgements 11

1 A Town Between the Railroad and the Farms 15

2 World War I, Booms, Busts and Hurricanes 37

3 The Great Depression, World War II and New Airplanes 55

4 The Changing Face of Homestead 75

5 Fastballs and Missiles 89

6 Changing Times, Increasing Diversity 95

7 Surprise! Homestead Is Known for Tourism! 107

8 Hurricane Andrew: Homestead Before and After 119

9 Our Friends and Neighbors 135

10 Taking Homestead into the Future 145

About the Authors 157