Map of City of Sanford and Environs, 1926
Dublin Core
Title
Map of City of Sanford and Environs, 1926
Alternative Title
Map of Sanford
Subject
Sanford (Fla.)
Description
Created in October of 1926 by Sanford’s city engineer, Fred T. Williams, this surveyor's map depicts the City of Sanford, Florida, and its environs. During his tenure as city engineer from the 1920s through the early 1940s, Williams created multiple maps that show how Sanford has changed as the city limits grew and the city become more populated. Unlike some of the previous maps created by Williams, there seems to be no legend detailing the map. This particular map is difficult to read due to fading.
The City of Sanford was founded by a lawyer and diplomat from Connecticut by the name of Henry Shelton Sanford (1832-1891), who purchased 12,548 acres of open land west of Mellonville. His vision was to make this new land a major port city. Situated on Lake Monroe at the head of the St. Johns River, the City of Sanford earned the nickname of “The Gate City of South Florida.” Sanford became not only a transportation hub, but a leader in the citrus industry globally. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development.
The City of Sanford was founded by a lawyer and diplomat from Connecticut by the name of Henry Shelton Sanford (1832-1891), who purchased 12,548 acres of open land west of Mellonville. His vision was to make this new land a major port city. Situated on Lake Monroe at the head of the St. Johns River, the City of Sanford earned the nickname of “The Gate City of South Florida.” Sanford became not only a transportation hub, but a leader in the citrus industry globally. The Great Fire of 1887 devastated the city, which also suffered from a statewide epidemic of yellow fever the following year. The citrus industry flourished until the Great Freezes of 1894 and 1895, causing planters to begin growing celery in 1896 as an alternative. Celery replaced citrus as the city's cash crop and Sanford was nicknamed "Celery City." In 1913, Sanford became the county seat of Seminole County, once part of Orange County. Agriculture dominated the region until Walt Disney World opened in October 1971, effectively shifting the Central Florida economy towards tourism and residential development.
Creator
Williams, Fred T.
Source
Original 43.5 x 28.5 inch map by Fred T. Williams, 1926: Museum of Sanford History, Sanford, Florida.
Date Created
1926
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original 43.5 x 28.5 inch map by Fred T. Williams, 1926.
Is Part Of
Museum of Sanford History, Sanford, Florida.
Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Format
image/jpg
Extent
578 KB
Medium
43.5 x 28.5 inch map
Language
eng
Type
Still Image
Coverage
Sanford, Florida
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Originally created by Fred T. Williams.
Rights Holder
Copyright to this resource is held by the Museum of Sanford History and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.
Curator
Fried, Aaron
Cepero, Laura
Digital Collection
Source Repository
External Reference
Sanford Historical Society (Fla.). Sanford. Charleston, SC: Arcadia, 2003.
"Sanford: A Brief History." City of Sanford. http://www.sanfordfl.gov/index.aspx?page=48.
The Seminole Herald. Sanford: Our First 125 Years. [Sanford, FL]: The Herald, 2002.
Still Image Item Type Metadata
Original Format
1 map
Physical Dimensions
43.5 x 28.5 inches
Collection
Citation
Williams, Fred T., “Map of City of Sanford and Environs, 1926,” RICHES, accessed May 20, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/6431.