1. Bayard was established in 1884
Bayard was platted in 1884 along the new Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railway (JStA&HR;). The JStA&HR; was a narrow gauge railroad that began service in 1883 between South Jacksonville and St. Augustine.
Located halfway between the cities and just south of Big Davis Creek, Bayard was one of several small towns established along the railroad that were economically supported by turpentine camps and sawmills in the vicinity.
A year later, Henry Morrison Flagler acquired the railroad and converted the track to standard gauge. In 1895, Flagler officially changed his railroad’s name to the Florida East Coast Railway Company (FEC). After the 1934 completion of U.S. Highway 1, Bayard evolved to become a popular rest stop for tourists traveling through the area.
2. Bayard: A name shrouded in dispute
The origin of Bayard’s name has been disputed throughout history. Some claim the community was named after Thomas Francis Bayard (1828-1898). A friend of railroad tycoon Henry M. Flagler, Bayard was from Wilmington, Delaware and served three terms as a United States Senator. In 1885, he was appointed Secretary of State by President Grover Cleveland…