The City of Homestead is the second oldest city in Miami-Dade County. The South Dade area opened to homesteaders in 1898. In 1904 Flagler decided to extend the railroad to Key West from Miami, enabling area farmers to transport their fruits and vegetables to Miami and other parts of the state. Many of the railroad workers stayed in the area and became city founders. In 1912 the Overseas Railroad was completed and in 1913 the City of Homestead was incorporated. The historic district developed from the 1910s through the 1920s in the vicinity of the main railroad depot.

Today Homestead encompasses 16 square miles, with a population of approximately 38,000 residents. Homestead is an integral part of the multi-billion dollar vegetable, fruit and tropical foliage market in Miami-Dade County and the United States. Agri-business remains a significant job base. In addition, the presence of two National Parks, Biscayne and Everglades, attracts 1.5 million visitors annually. Homestead's Historic Downtown District is the home to three nationally designated and four locally designated structures. The District itself has recently been approved by the Florida National Review Board for National Designation. This rural town center is representative of the unique character of small town America that the Main Street program strives to protect and preserve.

The National Main Street Program was initiated in 1977 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Currently, Main Street is a nationwide program committed to downtown revitalization in more than 1,600 communities. In Florida, more than 50 communities are active in the Florida Main Street Program.  

The Main Street approach advocates a return to community self-reliance and emphasizes the downtown district’s traditional assets of personal service, local ownership, unique architecture, and sense of community. The program integrates four organizational functions into a “Four-Point Approach” and establishes a practical revitalization strategy to produce fundamental and lasting improvements to Homestead’s economic base.

Homestead Main Street works closely with the City of Homestead’s Community Redevelopment Agency and other local cultural and economic development organizations and associations to initiate downtown economic revitalization. 
 

If you are interested in becoming a member or volunteer of Homestead Main Street, please contact us.

Site Last Updated: 03/12/2008