FLORIDA VINTAGE ROAD MAPS

Florida was the smallest state in population in the Confederate States of America at the time of the Civil War.  Its population at that time was 140,424.

Growth was very slow in the decades up until World War Two.  When the war began, Florida's population was 1,897,414. That number has now swollen to an estimated 23,000,000 in 2024.

Some Vintage Florida Maps

The state's transportation routes began with Spanish and Native American trails, rivers, and streams.  These evolved into wagon roads and railroads and finally paved roads for cars.

The tremendous growth in Florida (it's been growing by at least one thousand people a day for years) has put a constant strain on the local and regional road network.

This web page is an interesting way to track the growth of the Sunshine State.

Many of these Florida vintage road map images are from the Florida State Archives.  Credit to the source is given on each image.  You can use your browser to zoom in for a closer look.

John de Solis Map of 1764

Territory of Florida, 1823

Tanner's Florida Map 1833 - Florida Memory

Central Florida 1834, Orange County Regional History Center

First Map of Florida After Statehood 1846

Lloyd's Map of Southern States, 1862

Colton's Map, 1868 - Florida Memory

Whitney's Pathfinder circa 1881

Hamilton Disston's 4 Million Acre Land Purchase circa 1883

Florida 1890 - Florida Memory

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Correct Map 1894

Florida Phosphate Fields 1898

Florida 1900 - Florida Memory

Best Roads of Florida 1915 - Florida Memory

Florida East Coast Railway 1915 Key West Extension

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Florida 1917 - Florida Memory

The map above is from Florida Memory, the Archives of the State of Florida.  It's fun to zoom in and see what roads were here in 1917.

Florida 1921 - Florida Memory

Florida 1923 - Florida Memory

Suwannee County, 1926

Best Roads of Florida 1927 - Florida Memory

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Clayson's Guide Map of Florida, c.1927

If you click on the image above of Clayson's Guide Map, you will be taken to a Florida State Archive page that lets you zoom in and out all over the state.  Try it, you'll like it.

Standard Guide Florida 1928 - Florida Memory

Florida 1929 - Florida Memory

Florida 1930 - Florida Memory

Florida 1946 - Florida Memory

SPECIAL ZOOMABLE FUN FEATURE 1959 ROAD MAP
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Florida 1959

Florida 1959 - Promotional Material

If you click on either of the images of the 1959 Florida road map, you will be taken to a PDF file that lets you see everything in greater detail.  This is Florida immediately before the Turnpike or Interstates began to pop up.

Florida Turnpike 1964 - Florida Memory

Cross Florida Barge Canal 1971 - Florida Memory

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The map below is an image I copied from a folded paper map I purchased at Amazon.  The map is on a wall of my office and is about 18"x24".  If you like it, see Amazon link for Unique Media Map.

The changes on the map are dramatic when compared to the earliest map on this page:  John de Solis map of 1764.

Florida Map from Unique Media 2015

Florida 2018

More information about these Florida vintage road maps and more can be found at Florida Memory State Library & Archives of Florida.

The Florida Department of Transportation has a collection of all official highway maps they published from 1917 through 2020.  They are downloadable PDF files. 

FDOT MAP ARCHIVE