Florida East Coast Railway Workers in Fort Pierce, 1947

Florida East Coast Railway Workers in Fort Pierce, 1947

FEC Rail Workers

Railroads--Florida

Fort Pierce (Fla.)

Florida East Coast Railway working grading for railroad expansion in 1947 in Fort Pierce, Florida. The Fort Pierce train station was located along the tracks that now run through Downtown Fort Pierce. Henry Flagler (1830-1913) expanded his Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) down the Florida east coast from Jacksonville in 1894, forever transforming the economic development of Florida. In 1911, Fort Pierce was established as a division point for the FEC. This new and efficient form of transportation began to take the place of coastal and canal transportation such as cargo shipping and commuter travel and significantly developed the connection between northern markets and southern products. Citrus, sugar, and pineapple farmers and fishermen located on the coast established packinghouses near the station. It also affected the population growth of these areas, as passengers found it easier, faster, and more comfortable to travel further south. New employment opportunities also drew in a heavy population, rapidly expanding the agricultural economy of Fort Pierce, which economically benefited immensely from this expansion.

The original Fort Pierce train station was torn down and replaced in 1967. A replica of the old depot is located at the entrance of the St. Lucie County Regional History Center building and also houses the "Train Station Room," which includes dioramas, models, murals and photographs of historic Fort Pierce.

Digital reproduction of original 8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint: Reference Collection, shelf number 14029, image number RC02257, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida.

1947

Original 8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint, 1947: Reference Collection, shelf number 14029, image number RC02257, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.

Reference Collection, shelf number 14029, Florida Photographic Collection, State Library and Archives of Florida, Tallahassee, Florida.

Central Florida Railroad Depots Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.

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8 x 10 inch black and white photoprint

Still Image

Florida East Coast Railway Train Station, Fort Pierce, Florida

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Copyright to this resource is held by the State Library and Archives of Florida and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.

Dr. Connie L. Lester's American Economic History Undergraduate Class, Spring 2014

Moore, Samantha

Cepero, Laura

"History." Florida East Coast Railway. http://fecrwy.com/about/history.

Bramson, Seth. Speedway to Sunshine: The Story of the Florida East Coast Railway. Erin, ON: Boston Mills Press, 2003.

Mulligan, Michael. Railroad Depots of Central Florida. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub, 2008.

Turner, Gregg M. A Journey into Florida Railroad History. Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2008.

Turner, Gregg M. A Short History of Florida Railroads. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub, 2003.

Murdock, R. Ken. Outline History of Central Florida Railroads. Winter Garden, Fla: Central Florida Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, 1997.

"RICHES Podcast Documentaries, Episode 25: The Railways of Central Florida." RICHES of Central Florida. https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka2/items/show/2477.

"The Train Station Room." St. Lucie County Government. https://www.stlucieco.gov/history/train_station.htm.

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