The trail blazers were the first men to cross the unfinished portion of the trail (from Fort Myers to
Everglades City) in automobiles. The group included one commissary truck, 7 model T Fords, and a new
Elcar but only the 7 Fords made it. Photo credit: State Archives of Florida.
Tamiami Trail Came Through Englewood
Written by Diana Harris
The year 1923 is an important date in Florida history. The building
of the Tamiami Trail started that year. When completed it would
go from Tampa to Miami, blazing across Florida’s last frontier, the
Everglades. Of course, all towns along the way wanted to be included on “The Trail” as it was soon called. Englewood was no
,
exception.
1925 saw Englewood become an incorporated town. It included
13 square miles which qualified it to be the second largest town
in Sarasota County, the first being Sarasota. The population was
a couple of hundred people, but growing almost daily with the
Florida land boom under way.
It was estimated, that year, 50 to 200 cars were passing through
Englewood daily. The exciting rumor had started that the Tamiami
Trail was going to come thro