Astor

Astor – Trader James Spaulding opened his “Upper Store” on the St. Johns River in 1763, noted by William Bartram as a stop along his Travels. By 1838, a crude log fortress, Fort Butler, replaced the trading post along the riverbank, and Astor’s post office opened in 1839. Travel was by water, not road. But the old Indian and Spanish trails were traversed on horseback by settlers and circuit riders, and eventually a road – requiring a ferryboat across the St. Johns – connected Ocala with Astor and Barberville. The first bridge across the river opened in 1926, when the road was paved.

The name Astor came from William Astor, grandson of New York shipping magnate John Jacob Astor, who purchased a large chunk of Moses Levy’s land grant and proceeded to lay out a 12,000-acre town called Manhattan. He built the Hotel Astor and a steamship dock, planning to cash in on the tourist trade. The town took the name “Astor” in 1884.

Today’s Astor offers relaxing accommodations along the St. Johns River, campgrounds with RV sites, and several fine restaurants. Put in your boat at the public ramp just south of the police station, or follow CR 445 south for an unforgettable day at Alexander Springs, one of the state’s most beautiful first-magnitude springs set amid the pines and scrub of the Ocala National Forest. Lake George State Forest lies just east of the river and offers miles of forest roads and trails to explore.

More Information:  astorflorida.com, Astor Chamber of Commerce

Map: Astor