Starke has evolved over the years into a bedroom community of both Gainesville and Jacksonville. Residents can take advantage of the job market in both communities without moving to either. Starke is also home to Bradford-Union Technical Center and Santa Fe Community College Andrews Center. The 61-mile Starke-Lake Butler Loop bicycle route passes through Starke as well as through the small Bradford County communities of Hampton and Brooker on its way to Lake Butler and back again.
Camp Blanding, about 7 miles east of Starke, was activated with World War II and is the primary training site for most of the Florida National Guard's military units. Camp Blanding also houses several non-flying units of the Florida Air National Guard.
East of U.S. Highway 301 in central Starke is the Call Street Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The old Bradford County Courthouse which is also on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, houses the Eugene L. Mathews Historical Museum. The museum showcases many items from the history of Bradford County.
Starke has a small hospital that is associated with Shands Hospital at the University of Florida. From here it is a relatively short distance to the main UF Shands Hospital in Gainesville. There are a number of fast food restaurants and several individually owned restaurants in Starke. In addition there is a Wal-Mart Super Center and a KOA Campground.
Starke has 2 elementary schools, a high school, a vocational-technical center and several private schools. There are several banks that have branches in Starke.
Starke hosts two popular festivals annually. The Strawberry Festival, which is typically held during the first weekend in April and the Starke Bike Festival with its motorcycle-related games, swap meet, live music, and food is held in August.
According to the census of 2000, there were 5,593 people now residing in the Bradford County seat of Starke, with a median age of 36 and a median family income of $35,203. Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2016: $650. Law enforcement officers per 1,000 Starke residents was 3.53.
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