In Florida, US 27 has been designated the Claude Pepper Memorial Highway by the Florida Legislature. It was named after long-time Florida US Senator and congressman Claude Pepper. The stretch running from Miami to South Bay was originally designated the Thomas E. Will Memorial Highway by the Florida Legislature in 1937 when that portion was known as Florida State Road 26. Will, the founder of Okeelanta, Florida, had been instrumental in getting the state to build the road from Miami to the area south of Lake Okeechobee. Nearly the entire length of US 27 in Florida is a divided highway.
