Apopka-Vineland Road
Encyclopedia
Apopka-Vineland Road is the name of several roads in Orange County, Florida
, roughly forming a line from Apopka
south to Vineland
. As of now, there is one gap, from Old Winter Garden Road to State Road 50 (Colonial Drive), which will probably never be filled because of existing residential neighborhoods.
The whole southern section from Vineland
to Old Winter Garden Road is four lanes wide (the last section, from Florida's Turnpike
to Old Winter Garden Road, was completed in 2005). The north section from State Road 50 to A.D. Mims Road in Clarcona, Florida is newly constructed four lanes but from there to Apopka the road remains two lanes. North of McCormick Road the name changes to Clarcona Road. This section will connect to the new John Land Apopka Expressway (Apopka Bypass) State Road 414 via Keene Road.
In the city of Apopka the name changes again to Park Avenue.
from Orlando
to Gotha
. The north section (north of SR 438) was all there, but was known as Clarcona Road, as it passed through Clarcona.
On February 9, 1926, the Orange County
Board of County Commissioners approved a $7 million bond issue to build a system of paved roads, supplementing the limited network already existing; the voters approved it 993 to 143 on March 23, 1926. Included in this system was road #24, "Apopka-Vineland to County Line". This road was planned to use what is now Apopka-Vineland Road and State Road 535
(Kissimmee-Vineland Road) from the existing brick
road on Park Avenue in Apopka south to the Osceola County
line. It would have used short sections of SR 438 and Old Winter Garden Road, connecting between the two using Good Homes Road (which was at the time a dirt road, and is now paved). Thus the original planned Apopka-Vineland Road all exists, but is not all called that.
Not all the roads in the bond issue were built; this included the center section of Apopka-Vineland Road. Over the years, plans were made to fill the gap; the most recent continued straight from Old Winter Garden Road across SR 50, north across SR 438 about 1/4 mile east of the existing road, and curving back to join the road north of SR 438. This has been built between SR 50 and SR 438, and is being built north of SR 438, but housing subdivisions were built in the way south of SR 50.
Short realignments have also been built. Of note are the bypass around Vineland (the old road is Lake Street and Ruby Lake Road), the realignment at Keene Road south of Apopka (moving it back to the old location next to the Florida Central Railroad
, now the West Orange Trail
), the realignment just south of Old Winter Garden Road, and the realignment just north of Florida's Turnpike
, crossing an arm of Lake Steer. As a result of these last two realignments, most of the old road towards Gotha is no longer used by through traffic.
The road named Old Clarcona Road, south of downtown Apopka, was never the paved through road; it served through traffic before the 1926 bond issue.
The part north of SR 438 was taken over by the state at some point, as SR 435, and is now a county road again, CR 435. SR 435 continued east on SR 438 and south on Hiawassee Road, jogging east on SR 50 to reach Kirkman Road, which is still SR 435. SR 435 also continued north into Lake County
to end at SR 46 in Mount Plymouth
; this is also CR 435.
A while ago, CR 435 signs were installed at the south end, where it meets CR 535 (former SR 535); this section was never SR 435 but may have been state-maintained (along with Good Homes Road). Orange County has stated that the road is not CR 435, but has not removed the signs, and in fact new county-installed green signs at the intersection still mention the number.
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
, roughly forming a line from Apopka
Apopka, Florida
Apopka is a city located in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,969 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2006, the city grew to 53,563. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. Apopka is an Indian word for “Potato...
south to Vineland
Vineland, Florida
Vineland is an unincorporated community in southwest Orange County, Florida, United States. It is just north of Interstate 4 along State Road 535. The name is not used much any more, since the City of Lake Buena Vista lies just to the south and west and is a more well-known name. Orange County...
. As of now, there is one gap, from Old Winter Garden Road to State Road 50 (Colonial Drive), which will probably never be filled because of existing residential neighborhoods.
The whole southern section from Vineland
Vineland, Florida
Vineland is an unincorporated community in southwest Orange County, Florida, United States. It is just north of Interstate 4 along State Road 535. The name is not used much any more, since the City of Lake Buena Vista lies just to the south and west and is a more well-known name. Orange County...
to Old Winter Garden Road is four lanes wide (the last section, from Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
to Old Winter Garden Road, was completed in 2005). The north section from State Road 50 to A.D. Mims Road in Clarcona, Florida is newly constructed four lanes but from there to Apopka the road remains two lanes. North of McCormick Road the name changes to Clarcona Road. This section will connect to the new John Land Apopka Expressway (Apopka Bypass) State Road 414 via Keene Road.
In the city of Apopka the name changes again to Park Avenue.
History
Before 1926, there was no road named Apopka-Vineland Road. The only part of the south half to exist was the diagonal section from Old Winter Garden Road south to Gotha Road, part of the old dirt roadDirt road
Dirt road is a common term for an unpaved road made from the native material of the land surface through which it passes, known to highway engineers as subgrade material. Dirt roads are suitable for vehicles; a narrower path for pedestrians, animals, and possibly small vehicles would be called a...
from Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
to Gotha
Gotha, Florida
Gotha is a census-designated place in Orange County, Florida, United States. Gotha is located between Ocoee, Florida and Windermere, Florida, and had a population of 731 as recorded by the 2000 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The town of...
. The north section (north of SR 438) was all there, but was known as Clarcona Road, as it passed through Clarcona.
On February 9, 1926, the Orange County
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
Board of County Commissioners approved a $7 million bond issue to build a system of paved roads, supplementing the limited network already existing; the voters approved it 993 to 143 on March 23, 1926. Included in this system was road #24, "Apopka-Vineland to County Line". This road was planned to use what is now Apopka-Vineland Road and State Road 535
Florida State Road 535
Florida State Road 535, also known as Kissimmee-Vineland Road, is a state road in the U.S. state of Florida. The road begins at U.S. Highway 192 in Kissimmee, Florida, heading north, ending in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, formerly Vineland, Florida...
(Kissimmee-Vineland Road) from the existing brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
road on Park Avenue in Apopka south to the Osceola County
Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
line. It would have used short sections of SR 438 and Old Winter Garden Road, connecting between the two using Good Homes Road (which was at the time a dirt road, and is now paved). Thus the original planned Apopka-Vineland Road all exists, but is not all called that.
Not all the roads in the bond issue were built; this included the center section of Apopka-Vineland Road. Over the years, plans were made to fill the gap; the most recent continued straight from Old Winter Garden Road across SR 50, north across SR 438 about 1/4 mile east of the existing road, and curving back to join the road north of SR 438. This has been built between SR 50 and SR 438, and is being built north of SR 438, but housing subdivisions were built in the way south of SR 50.
Short realignments have also been built. Of note are the bypass around Vineland (the old road is Lake Street and Ruby Lake Road), the realignment at Keene Road south of Apopka (moving it back to the old location next to the Florida Central Railroad
Florida Midland Railroad (defunct)
The Florida Midland Railway Company was incorporated under the general incorporation laws of Florida, and surveyed a line* from Lake Jessup, in Orange county, to Leesburg, in Sumter County....
, now the West Orange Trail
West Orange Trail
The West Orange Trail is a long multi-use rail trail owned by Orange County Parks and Recreation in Orange County, Florida, in the United States.It passes through downtown Oakland, Winter Garden, and Apopka...
), the realignment just south of Old Winter Garden Road, and the realignment just north of Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike
Florida's Turnpike , designated as the Ronald Reagan Turnpike, and originally known as the Sunshine State Parkway is a north–south toll road that runs through 11 counties in the Florida peninsula, from U.S...
, crossing an arm of Lake Steer. As a result of these last two realignments, most of the old road towards Gotha is no longer used by through traffic.
The road named Old Clarcona Road, south of downtown Apopka, was never the paved through road; it served through traffic before the 1926 bond issue.
The part north of SR 438 was taken over by the state at some point, as SR 435, and is now a county road again, CR 435. SR 435 continued east on SR 438 and south on Hiawassee Road, jogging east on SR 50 to reach Kirkman Road, which is still SR 435. SR 435 also continued north into Lake County
Lake County, Florida
Lake County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 210,528. The Census Bureau estimated the population in 2008 to be 307,243. Its county seat is Tavares...
to end at SR 46 in Mount Plymouth
Mount Plymouth, Florida
Mount Plymouth is a census-designated place in Lake County, Florida, United States. As of the 2000 census, the CDP population was 2,814. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
; this is also CR 435.
A while ago, CR 435 signs were installed at the south end, where it meets CR 535 (former SR 535); this section was never SR 435 but may have been state-maintained (along with Good Homes Road). Orange County has stated that the road is not CR 435, but has not removed the signs, and in fact new county-installed green signs at the intersection still mention the number.