29O FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. 
SUMMARY. 
Bradford County is situated in the northeastern part of Florida, 
and has an area of 539 square miles, or 344,960 acres. Starke is the 
county seat and largest town. The topography varies from flat to 
hilly, and much of the county is poorly drained. There is a range 
in elevation from 135 to 175 feet above sea level. 
The climate is mild, the mean temperature for the coldest months, 
December, January, and February, being about 56° F., and the mean 
summer temperature 81 0 F. There is a mean annual precipitation 
of about 51 inches. 
There are about no miles of railroad in the county. Two* main 
lines of railroad connect the county with Jacksonville and a third 
with northern points. Two branch roads extend into the southern 
part of the county. 
Only a small part of the county is under cultivation, although 
agriculture seems to be entering a period of development. The 
lumber and turpentine industries are important. Where the forest 
growth has been removed the lands are being cultivated, and there is 
a general tendency toward more intensive farming', such as the 
growing of strawberries or truck crops in place of cotton or corn. 
The farm crops consist of corn, cotton, strawberries, cowpeas, 
velvet beans, peanuts, oats, rye, millet, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, 
Irish potatoes and rice. Of these corn occupies the largest total area, 
but strawberries bring the largest returns. Long-staple cotton is 
grown exclusively. Cowpeas, velvet beans, peanuts, oats, rye, and 
millet are grown mainly for forage. Sugar cane, sweet potatoes, 
Irish potatoes, and rice are minor crops grown largely for home 
consumption, though with several of these there is a possibility of 
commercial development. Oranges, grapefruit, and pecans are 
grown on a small scale for local markets. The greatest agricultural 
possibility of the county is along the line of truck farming. 
The soils consist of sands, fine sands, and fine sandy loams and 
owe their origin to unconsolidated deposits of the Coastal Plain. 
The types are comparatively few and belong to the Norfolk, Ports¬ 
mouth, Scranton, Leon. Coxville, and Johnston series, with the two 
miscellaneous types, Peat and Muck. 
The Norfolk series includes the light-colored upland soils, which 
occupy the higher areas and are comparatively well drained. The 
fine sand and sand are good early truck soils. The fine sandy loam 
