Zolfo Springs is a town in Hardee County,

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and ...

, United States. The population was 1,827 at the 2010 census, up from 1,641 at the 2000 census.

History

Early prosperity in the area (known initially as simply Zolfo) was due to its location along the

Florida Cracker Trail The Florida Cracker Trail runs from just east of Bradenton, and ends in Fort Pierce, a total distance of approximately . In years past, this route was used for both cattle and horses. Today it includes parts of State Road 66, State Road 64, an ...

, a cattle trail from Bradenton to

Fort Pierce Fort Pierce is a city in and the county seat of St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. The city is part of the Treasure Coast region of Atlantic Coast Florida. It is also known as the Sunrise City, sister to San Francisco, California, the Su ...

. Cattle herded from this area and the Florida Heartland was run to the coasts along this route as early as 1850. The Florida Cracker Trail today includes parts of State Road 64 and State Road 66 through Zolfo Springs. In 1886, transportation improved through Zolfo when the Florida Southern Railway (later the

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was a United States Class I railroad formed in 1900, though predecessor railroads had used the ACL brand since 1871. In 1967 it merged with long-time rival Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coas ...

) was built through the town on its way from Bartow to Punta Gorda. The railroad built a depot in the town and a post office was established the same year. The railroad was removed in the early 1980s. Today

US 17 U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 (US 17), also known as the Coastal Highway, is a north–south United States Highway that spans in the southeastern United States. It runs close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length, with ...

runs along the former railroad right of way (with Main Street being the original alignment of US 17). The town incorporated into the city of Zolfo Springs on September 13, 1904.

Geography

Zolfo Springs is located at the geographic center of Hardee County, at (27.496211, –81.796878). U.S. Route 17 runs through the center of town, leading north to Wauchula, the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US ...

, and south to Arcadia. Florida State Road 64 crosses the northern side of town, leading northeast to Avon Park and west to Bradenton. SR 66 leaves US 17 at the center of Zolfo Springs and leads east to U.S. Route 27 at the south end of Sebring. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...

, Zolfo Springs has a total area of , all of it land. The

Peace River The Peace River (french: links=no, rivière de la Paix) is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River joins the Athabasca River in ...

, which flows south to Punta Gorda, forms part of the northern town boundary. Pioneer Park Lake and Pioneer Park are also inside the town's boundaries.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...

of 2017, there were 1,816. In 2000 there were 1,641 people, 497 households, and 399 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopu ...

was 1,086.5 people per square mile (419.6/km²). There were 634 housing units at an average density of 419.8 per square mile (162.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 65.69%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...

, 3.35%

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.18% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.12%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/ racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 29.07% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...

or Latino of any race were 53.63% of the population. There were 497 households, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...

living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.7% were non-families. 14.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.26 and the average family size was 3.55. In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.3% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 16.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males. The median income for a household in the town was $25,972, and the median income for a family was $27,188. Males had a median income of $18,603 versus $17,292 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the town was $11,397. About 18.7% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 33.2% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.

Media

WZZS-FM (106.9 The Bull)

WZSP-FM (105.3 La Zeta)

References

External links

Town of Zolfo Springs official website

{{authority control Towns in Hardee County, Florida Towns in Florida