One of Florida's most historical roads, Highway A1A, travels along the Atlantic coast.

The mostly two-lane highway winds along the coast of Florida, often leaving the mainland and traversing the many barrier islands that form along much of Florida's eastern seaboard.

Florida's Highway A1A, offering incredible ocean views, passes by some of the most famous beach destinations in the state and sought-after beachfront property. Here's a look at the history of the famous roadway, its role in the development of the Florida coast, and how it plays such a significant part in the lives of those who call Volusia County home today.

Looking back

Over 100 years ago, Highway A1A began as a narrow brick-paved road used to facilitate the movement north of Florida citrus and other exports. In the early 1900s, the automobile started to revolutionize the transportation industry and the future of Florida. Henry Ford completed the first production Model T in 1908, and by 1927 his company had built and delivered around 15 million vehicles.

The ease of travel that the automobile offered created a demand for improved roads. In the early 1900s, Carl Fisher, Indianapolis Motor Speedway Founder, and other early automobile enthusiasts formed the Dixie Highway Association. The group was established to create a reliable route from the Canadian border to the still remote Miami, Florida, area. Highway A1A received improvements, becoming part of the Dixie Highway.

By 1915 the Dixie Highway had become the primary route to the south, delivering goods to the northern states and offering tourists the luxury of a warm winter vacation in the Sunshine State. Highway A1A opened Florida up to tourists and became known as a route south for escaping the cold.

Traveling to Florida via A1A

Florida's popularity as a vacation spot created a travel industry, and as more tourists became residents, cities grew and prospered. Highway A1A became the main thoroughfare for many of the state's east coast destinations. Today, the highway is still one of the most well-traveled vacation routes in Florida.

A1A & Volusia County

Highway A1A and Volusia County's history became intertwined with motorsports in the early 1900s when Daytona Beach became associated with high-speed automobile testing and racing. The vast, smooth, hard-packed sand of Daytona brought race fans from across the country and earned it the reputation as the "World's Most Famous Beach" by the 1920s.

Racing continued to play a significant role in the county's economy in the '50s when the Inaugural Daytona 500 was held at Daytona International Speedway. The Daytona 500 has grown consistently since then, bringing an estimated $1.6 billion to the state.

The beautiful beaches and sands of Volusia County attracted race enthusiasts as well as those seeking breathtaking ocean views and the recreation opportunities the area offers.

Highway A1A has brought commerce and tourism to Volusia County for over 100 years and will continue to fuel future growth. As a result, Real Estate options in the area have continued to grow and prosper and provide a variety of attractive lifestyles throughout Volusia County.

There is a wide range of Real Estate options in the area. For example, enjoy waterfront homes for serene views and sought-after recreation. Choose an active lifestyle with a golf-course front home, or one near one of the area's many springs for top area recreation! Thanks to the combination of economic opportunity, climate, and environment, Volusia County is a special and sought-after place to call home.

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