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.]]>
Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.]]> Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Museum of Seminole County History and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

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.]]>
Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.]]> Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Museum of Seminole County History and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

Seminole County separated from Orange County on April 25, 1913, and was named for the Seminole tribes that originally inhabited the area. In the early-1900s, Seminole County was known for its agricultural development and close proximity to shipping lanes. By the 1920s, citizens in Seminole County, particularly in Sanford, soon shifted their interests in making the area a tourist destination.]]>
Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.]]> Museum of Seminole County History, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Museum of Seminole County History and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>

The Timucuan Native Americans originally inhabited the area of present-day Oviedo, although the remains of their settlements have disappeared. Homesteaders arrived along the shores of Lake Jesup in 1865 just after the Civil War ended and began growing celery and citrus. The area was called the Lake Jesup Community until March 13, 1879, when postmaster Andrew Aulin, a Swedish immigrant, chose the name Oviedo.]]>
Oviedo Historical Society Collection, Oviedo Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County Public Schools Collection, Student Museum and UCF Public History Center Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Student Museum and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
In November 23, 1984, the main school building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and converted into the Student Museum. However, despite objections from the community, the lunchroom was demolished on September 25, 2008. The main school building reopened as the University of Central Florida's Public History Center in 2012.]]>
UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County Public Schools Collection, Student Museum and UCF Public History Center Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Student Museum and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>
Seminole County School Board]]> Seminole County School Board: Seminole County Public School System Collection, box 2, folder 1A, UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County School Board.]]> UCF Public History Center, Sanford, Florida.]]> Seminole County Public Schools Collection, Student Museum and UCF Public History Center Collection, Sanford Collection, Seminole County Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.]]> Adobe Acrobat Reader]]> Seminole County School Board.]]> UCF Public History Center and is provided here by RICHES of Central Florida for educational purposes only.]]>