'Redland' is an unincorporated agricultural community about 20 miles southwest of
Miami,
Florida. Many farms, original clapboard homes of early settlers, u-pick'em fields and
coral rock walls dot the landscape. It is named for the red
clay that dominates the area, on top of a massive layer of
oolite rock. The entire area is nourished with pure water from the
Biscayne aquifer.
It has been a source of amazement to agriculturalists, botanists and naturalists around the world, including
John James Audubon and
David Fairchild.
[1]
With its
tropical climate, many
tropical fruit crops are grown in the Redland that cannot be grown commercially elsewhere in the
United States but
South Florida, such as
mango,
avocado,
guava,
passion fruit,
lychee nut,
jack fruit,
canistel,
sapodilla,
longan,
mamey sapote,
black sapote ("chocolate pudding fruit"),
miracle fruit,
jaboticaba,
cecropia ("snake fingers") and
coffee beans, all of which can be sampled for free at the
Fruit and Spice Park, a local attraction.
Florida is the only state in the
United States where
tomatoes are grown in the winter, and Redland supplies them, along with a variety of
winter squash and
vegetables.
Some are referring to the area as the "New Hamptons", since there are many people from the northern states buying property and moving into the area.
[1]
Many houses built in the area must be on a minimum of 5 acres of land, a law put into place to thwart development that has so far worked perfectly to preserve the area.
[1]
Peacocks live abundantly and freely within the many groves. Redland has also been designated a Wild Bird Sanctuary.
[1]
The area has many historic markers that tell the history of certain spots.
[5]
History
Redland originated in anticipation of
Henry Flagler's railroad when pioneer homesteaders in the early 1900s developed a way of working the difficult soil, called
scarifying or
plow-breaking. This revolutionary method of agriculture allowed the land there to develop into the "winter greenery basket of America" and the "garden capital of the world".
[1] The center of town was located near Redland Road and Bauer Drive.
Points of interest in Redland
★
Monkey Jungle
★
Fruit and Spice Park
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Coral Castle
★
Cauley Square
References
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Rob's Redland Riot
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Map of Redland
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Aerial Shots of Redland
1. About the Redland
2. About the Redland
3. About the Redland
4. About the Redland
5. Redland Community Historical Markers
6. About the Redland