Editing Sebring, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
| name               = Sebring, Florida
| settlement_type    = [[City (Florida)|City]]
| nickname           = The City on the Circle<br>[[12 Hours of Sebring|Home of 12 Hour Grand Prix]]
| motto              = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline      = File:Sebring,_FL,_USA_-_panoramio_-_William_%E2%80%9CPatrick%E2%80%9D_Ma%E2%80%A6_(2).jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Sebring Raceway
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = 
| seal_size          = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = Highlands_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Sebring_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250x200px
| map_caption        = Location in [[Highlands County, Florida|Highlands County]] and [[Florida]]
<!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Florida]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = <!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:Highlands County Fl Seal.png|20px]]  -->[[Highlands County, Florida|Highlands]]
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Council-manager government|Council-Manager]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = <nowiki>John Shoop</nowiki>
| leader_title1      = [[City Council]]
| leader_name1       = Roland Bishop,<br>Harrison Havery,<br>Terry Mendel,<br>Josh Stewart, and<br>Lenard Carlisle, Jr.
| leader_title2      = [[City Manager|City Administrator]]
| leader_name2       = Scott Noethlich
| leader_title3      = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name3       = Kathy Haley
| established_title  = [[Settler colonialism|Settled]]
| established_date   = 1912
| established_title2 = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated (city)]]
| established_date3  = 1913
<!-- Area    --------------------->
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 2, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 42.58
| area_land_km2      = 27.42
| area_water_km2     = 15.16
| area_total_sq_mi   = 16.44
| area_land_sq_mi    = 10.59
| area_water_sq_mi   = 5.85
| area_water_percent = 37.8
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 10,729
| population_density_sq_mi = 1013.41
| population_metro   = 
<!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| coordinates        = {{coord|27|29|44|N|81|26|40|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wunderground.com/US/FL/Sebring.html |title=Sebring, Florida (33870) |publisher=[[Weather Underground (weather service)|Weather Underground]] |access-date=July 20, 2007}}</ref>
| elevation_m        = 41
| elevation_ft       = 139
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]s
| postal_code        = 33870-33872, 33875-33876
| area_code          = [[Area code 863|863]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 12-64875<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0290806<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|www.mysebring.com}}
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 2022<ref name="census.gov">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sebringcityflorida/PST045222 |title=QuickFacts – Sebring city, Florida |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 5, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/SEBPOP | title=Resident Population in Sebring, FL (MSA) }}</ref>
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 11,379
| population_density_km2 = 391.30
}}

'''Sebring''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|iː|b|r|ɪ|ŋ}} {{respell|SEE|bring}}{{Citation needed|date=June 2022}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Highlands County, Florida]], United States. It is nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the [[Sebring Downtown Historic District]].<ref name=chamber>{{cite web |url=http://www.sebring.org/ |title=Sebring, Florida History |publisher=Sebring Chamber of Commerce |access-date=August 14, 2007}}</ref><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> It is the principal city of the Sebring, Florida [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].<ref name=OMB_13-01>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf|title=OMB Bulletin No. 13-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas|publisher=United States [[Office of Management and Budget]]|date=February 28, 2013|access-date=April 15, 2013}}</ref> As of 2022 [[United States Census]] estimates, the population is 11,379,<ref name="census.gov"/> up from 10,729 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Sebring%20city,%20Florida |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> The broader Sebring [[Florida statistical areas|metropolitan area]] had a population estimate of 105,618 in 2022; the disparity in population between the city proper and the metropolitan area is due to the relatively small size of the annexed area of the city, with most all of the landmass west of Lake Jackson technically in unincorporated Highlands County.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.florida-backroads-travel.com/sebring-florida.html | title=Sebring, Florida. Early Example of Professional City Planning }}</ref>

Sebring is centered around [[Lake Jackson (Sebring, Florida)|Lake Jackson]], with the Downtown Historic District directly on the waterfront. Due to its [[Florida scrub]] terrain, Lake Jackson has natural white sand beaches, and is a popular boating and swimming destination. Sebring is the home of the [[Sebring International Raceway]], best known as the host of the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], an annual [[WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]] race that attracts fans and teams from around the world. Nearby [[Highlands Hammock State Park]] is a popular attraction, and was the first state park created in Florida.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/history-highlands-hammock | title=History of Highlands Hammock &#124; Florida State Parks }}</ref> The city features a large 1768-acre airfield, the [[Sebring Regional Airport]]. Additionally, Sebring became a popular development and tourist destination of the 1920s, hailed as the "[[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]] of Central Florida".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/823065146 | title=Port Charlotte Sun 31 Dec 2017, page SEA5 }}</ref> Many grandiose [[Mediterranean Revival architecture|Mediterranean]] buildings of that time period still exist within the city, the most notable being the [[Harder Hall]] Hotel and Resort.

== History ==

Sebring was founded in 1912. It was named after George E. Sebring (1859–1927), a pottery manufacturer from [[Ohio]] who developed the city. He had a circular plan as the focal point for the city.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.visitsebring.com/cities/sebring/ | title=Sebring Florida &#124; Find nature, car racing, art and culture | date=July 5, 2017 }}</ref>  It was chartered by the state of Florida in 1913, and was selected as the county seat of Highlands County when the county was created in 1921.<ref name=histsoc>{{cite web |url=http://www.sebringhistoricalsociety.org/ |title=Brief History of Sebring |publisher=Sebring Historical Society |access-date=July 20, 2007}}</ref> The village of [[Sebring, Ohio]], is also named for George E. Sebring and his family.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sebringohio.net/hindex.asp |title=Village of Sebring, Ohio - History |publisher=Village of Sebring, Ohio |access-date=October 1, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031009135140/http://www.sebringohio.net/hindex.asp |archive-date=October 9, 2003 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sebring is known for its collection of historic and historically designated buildings. The [[Sebring station|Sebring Train Station]], [[Central Station (Sebring, Florida)|Sebring Fire Station]], and the [[Highlands County Courthouse]] are all [[National Register of Historic Places]] buildings that are still in service, as well as the entire [[Sebring Downtown Historic District]], consisting of shops, restaurants, offices, businesses and apartments all bordered by the water. [[Harder Hall|Harder Hall Resort]] and the [[Kenilworth Lodge]] are both surviving examples of large, extravagant boom time hotels.

=== 2019 shooting ===
{{main|2019 Sebring shooting}}
On January 23, 2019, 21-year-old Sebring resident Zephen Xaver entered a [[SunTrust Banks|SunTrust]] bank off of [[U.S. Route 27 in Florida|U.S. Route 27]] wearing a [[Bulletproof vest|ballistic vest]] under his sweatshirt and armed with a [[9 mm caliber|9 mm]] handgun. Xaver forced five women inside to lie on the ground before fatally shooting them all. Xaver then had a 2-hour standoff with responding police before eventually agreeing to surrender, after which [[SWAT]] drove an armored vehicle through the front entrance of the bank and arrested him.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 25, 2019 |title=Sheriff's office: 1 employee escaped Florida bank massacre |url=https://apnews.com/article/2a0a9d8c174a41bf9853daf4a0108da4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824031923/https://apnews.com/article/2a0a9d8c174a41bf9853daf4a0108da4 |archive-date=August 24, 2024 |access-date=November 17, 2024 |work=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

A year later, after the bank was demolished, a new park was opened up in its place called Reflection Park. The park features a pentagon shaped plaque with sunbeams from the SunTrust logo emblazoned on it, with each side of the pentagon representing a life lost in the attack.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=McClellan |first1=Matthew |last2=Suarez |first2=Ken |date=January 23, 2020 |title=One year later, site of Sebring bank massacre becomes memorial |url=https://www.fox13news.com/news/one-year-later-site-of-sebring-bank-massacre-becomes-memorial |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200123231959/https://www.fox13news.com/news/one-year-later-site-of-sebring-bank-massacre-becomes-memorial |archive-date=January 23, 2020 |access-date=November 17, 2024 |work=[[WTVT]]}}</ref>

==Culture and attractions==
Sebring has a number of museums and arts facilities, including the
*[[Children's Museum of the Highlands]], located in the heart of downtown featuring interactive activities for children ages 1–12<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.childrensmuseumhighlands.com/|title=Children's Museum of the Highlands|date=September 27, 2021|website=www.childrensmuseumhighlands.com}}</ref>
*Charles F. Weigle House Museum, administered by the Sebring Historical Society and highlighting the history of the city and its notable residents<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sebringhistoricalsociety.info/weigle-house-museum|title=Weigle House Museum|website=Sebring Historical}}</ref>
*[[Civilian Conservation Corps]] Museum at [[Highlands Hammock State Park]], highlighting the history of the CCC, President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]]'s [[New Deal]], and the history of the park
*Highlands Lakeside Theater,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://highlandslakesidetheatre.org/general-information/ | title=Information and Updates }}</ref> a waterfront performing arts center
*[[Highlands Museum of the Arts]], a multi media arts collection
*[[Military Sea Services Museum]], containing artifacts and exhibits relating to the [[U.S. Coast Guard]], [[U.S. Marines]] and [[U.S. Navy]]
*The Sadie Kahn Memorial Park, a small passive park downtown, was designed by renowned architect [[Kenneth Treister]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=157299 | title=Sadie Kahn Memorial Park Historical Marker }}</ref>

===Buildings and locations===

* [[Central Station (Sebring, Florida)|Central Station]]
* [[Sebring Downtown Historic District|Downtown Historic District]]
* [[Edward Hainz House]]
* [[Elizabeth Haines House]]
* [[First National Bank Building (Sebring, Florida)|First National Bank Building]]
* [[Florida Medal of Honor Memorial]]
* [[H. Orvel Sebring House]]
* [[Harder Hall|Harder Hall Hotel]]
* [[Highlands County Courthouse]]
* [[Highlands Hammock State Park]]
* [[Kenilworth Lodge]]
* [[Lakeshore Mall (Florida)|Lakeshore Mall]]
* [[Paul L. Vinson House]]
* [[Santa Rosa Hotel]]
* [[Sebring station|Seaboard Air Line Passenger Station]]
* [[Sebring International Raceway]]
* [[Sebring Regional Airport]]
* [[South Florida State College]]

==Geography and climate==
Sebring is located in northwestern Highlands County at {{Coord|27|29|44|N|81|26|40|W|type:city}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> According to the Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|41.5|km2|order=flip}}, {{convert|25.8|km2|order=flip}} of which are land and {{convert|15.7|km2|order=flip}} of which are water. Water comprises 37.8% of the city's total area.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/1600000US1264875| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Sebring city, Florida| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=April 28, 2017}}{{dead link|bot=medic|date=April 2020}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The city's geography is dominated by {{convert|9212|acre|km2|0|adj=on}} [[Lake Jackson (Sebring, Florida)|Lake Jackson]], but {{convert|420|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} [[Dinner Lake]] and {{convert|137|acre|km2|1|adj=on}} [[Little Lake Jackson]] are also within the city limits. Highlands County has more than 84 lakes,<ref name=lakes>{{cite web|url=http://www.highlandsswcd.org/everything/lake_summaries/Highlands%20County%20Lakes.htm |title=Highlands County Lakes |publisher= Highlands County Soil and Water Conservation District |access-date=July 20, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612203109/http://www.highlandsswcd.org/everything/lake_summaries/Highlands%20County%20Lakes.htm <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 12, 2007}}</ref> most of which are located in unincorporated areas of the county. Sebring lies near the southern end of the [[Lake Wales Ridge]], a chain of ancient islands that is the native habitat for many rare plants and animals.<ref name=lwr>{{cite web |url=http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art16219.html |title=Lake Wales Ridge |publisher=[[The Nature Conservancy]] |access-date=July 20, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070703032523/http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art16219.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = July 3, 2007}}</ref> Most of the area is rural and part of the [[Florida scrub]] ecosystem, with smaller areas of [[hammock (ecology)|hammock]]s and [[Taxodium|cypress]] swamps, similar to those found at [[Highlands Hammock State Park]], {{convert|4|mi|0}} west of Sebring.<ref name=brochure>{{cite press release |url=http://www.floridastateparks.org/highlandshammock/docs/HighlandHammocksBrochure.pdf |title=Highlands Hammock State Park |publisher=Florida Park System |date=January 2005|access-date=July 20, 2007}}</ref>

Sebring's climate is a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] Cfa), with hot, humid summers and mild, dry winters. Unlike most places with a similar climate classification, Sebring's rainfall is clearly seasonal, with approximately 57 percent of the total rainfall occurring in the June–September summer period. However, the variation between the wettest and driest months does not reach the threshold required for climate classification Cwa, which requires the wettest month to have ten times the precipitation of the driest month.<ref name=FAO>{{cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/faoinfo/sustdev/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0066.htm |title=Brief Guide to Koeppen Climate Classification System |publisher=[[Food and Agriculture Organization]] of the [[United Nations]] |access-date=August 27, 2007}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Sebring, Florida
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 90
|Feb record high F = 94
|Mar record high F = 94
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 102
|Jun record high F = 103
|Jul record high F = 103
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 92
|Dec record high F = 90
|year record high F = 103
|Jan high F = 73
|Feb high F = 75
|Mar high F = 79
|Apr high F = 83
|May high F = 88
|Jun high F = 90
|Jul high F = 91
|Aug high F = 90
|Sep high F = 89
|Oct high F = 84
|Nov high F = 79
|Dec high F = 74
|Jan low F = 48
|Feb low F = 50
|Mar low F = 55
|Apr low F = 59
|May low F = 65
|Jun low F = 70
|Jul low F = 72
|Aug low F = 72
|Sep low F = 71
|Oct low F = 64
|Nov low F = 58
|Dec low F = 51
|Jan record low F = 18
|Feb record low F = 23
|Mar record low F = 23
|Apr record low F = 34
|May record low F = 44
|Jun record low F = 50
|Jul record low F = 60
|Aug record low F = 59
|Sep record low F = 58
|Oct record low F = 40
|Nov record low F = 29
|Dec record low F = 20
|year record low F = 18
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.48
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.41
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.02
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.17
|May precipitation inch = 3.63
|Jun precipitation inch = 8.25
|Jul precipitation inch = 6.81
|Aug precipitation inch = 7.18
|Sep precipitation inch = 5.98
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.02
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.27
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.87
|year precipitation inch = 49.09
|source 1 = The Weather Channel <ref name=TheWeatherChannel>{{cite web
|url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/USFL0451 |title=Monthly Averages for Sebring, FL| access-date=July 28, 2007 | publisher =[[The Weather Channel]]}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}
{{See also|Basket Lake}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1920 = 812
| 1930 = 2912
| 1940 = 3155
| 1950 = 5006
| 1960 = 6939
| 1970 = 7223
| 1980 = 8736
| 1990 = 8900
| 2000 = 9667
| 2010 = 10491
| 2020 = 10729
| estyear = 2022
| estimate = 11379
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Census 2010"/><ref name="Census 2020">[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/sebringcityflorida/PST045219 "U.S 2020 Census: QuickFacts, Sebring City, Florida."] ''U.S. Census Bureau''. Retrieved September 13th, 2021.</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Sebring racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebring city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebring+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Sebring city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebring+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|6,802
|5,848
|64.84%
|54.51%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|1,466
|1,572
|13.97%
|14.65%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|57
|30
|0.54%
|0.28%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|141
|157
|1.34%
|1.46%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|2
|11
|0.02%
|0.10%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|6
|49
|0.06%
|0.46%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|172
|347
|1.64%
|3.23%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,845
|2,715
|17.59%
|25.31%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''10,491'''
|'''10,729'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 10,729 people, 3,699 households, and 2,122 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Sebring city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebring+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 10,491 people, 4,430 households, and 2,362 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Sebring city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Sebring+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 9,668 people, 3,969 households, and 2,305 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,883.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,024 housing units at an average density of {{convert|979.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 75.81% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 15.69% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.57% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.74% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.10% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 5.06% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.02% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] residents of any race were 11.00% of the population.

In 2000, there were 3,969 households, out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.

In 2000, in the city, 22.1% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.9% was from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city is $32,607, and the average income for the city is $56,732.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.point2homes.com/US/Neighborhood/FL/Highlands-County/Sebring-Demographics.html|title=Sebring, FL Household Income, Population & Demographics &#124; Point2}}</ref>

As of 2000, those who spoke [[English language|English]] only at home accounted for 89.39% of residents. Other home languages included [[Spanish language|Spanish]], spoken by 10.18% of the city's residents, and [[French language|French]], spoken by 0.42%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=64875&cty_id=&ll=top&a=n&ea=n&order=r |title=MLA Data Center Results for Sebring, Florida |publisher=[[Modern Language Association]] |access-date=October 14, 2007}}</ref>

==Education==
The School Board of Highlands County operates eight public schools drawing from the city of Sebring with a combined enrollment of approximately 6200 students; one kindergarten center, four elementary schools (Woodlawn Elementary, Fred Wild Elementary, Cracker Trail Elementary, and Sun 'n Lake Elementary, serving students in 1st through 5th grades), two middle schools (Sebring Middle School and Hill-Gustat Middle School, serving students in 6th through 8th grades), and one high school ([[Sebring High School]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highlands.k12.fl.us/schools.html |title=Schools |publisher=School Board of Highlands County |access-date=April 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801130106/http://www.highlands.k12.fl.us/schools.html |archive-date=August 1, 2009  }}</ref>
In 2023 grades released by the Florida Department of Education, three of the elementary schools (Cracker Trail Elementary School, Woodlawn Elementary School, and Sun 'n Lake Elementary School) received "B" grades; Fred Wild Elementary School received a "C" grade. In the same report, Sebring Middle School received a "C", and [[Sebring High School]], home of the county's sole [[International Baccalaureate]] program, received a "C" grade.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fldoe.org/accountability/accountability-reporting/school-grades | title=Florida Informational Baseline School Grades – 2023 | date=November 22, 2022 |publisher=Florida Department of Education |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

In 2021, the county's high school graduation rate was 84.4%, reflecting an increase every year over the previous 11 years<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flhealthcharts.gov/ChartsDashboards/rdPage.aspx?rdReport=NonVitalIndGrpExtn.Dataviewer | title=High School Graduation Rate }}</ref>

During segregation time, [[E. O. Douglas High School]], Home of the Mighty Tigers, was located in this city for Black people throughout Highlands County. The last graduating class from this school was in 1967. After desegregation, students from E. O. Douglas transferred to schools which were formerly whites-only. The E. O. Douglas campus now houses the headquarters of the School Board of Highlands County.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://highlandstoday.com/hi/local-news/name-recognition-414025 |title=Name recognition |publisher=Highlands Today |access-date=April 15, 2014}}</ref>

==Corporations and Employment==

The top private employers in Sebring include [[AdventHealth]], [[Publix]], The Results Company, Highlands Regional Medical Center (HCA),  Alan Jay Automotive Network, Costa Farms, and Bowman Steel.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.highlandsbusiness.com/Sites-Data/Top-Employers | title=Top Employers }}</ref>

Sebring serves as the North, South and Central American sales and distribution center for airplane manufacturer [[Tecnam]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tecnam.com/tecnam-us-inc-established-at-sebring-airport-florida/ | title=Tecnam Us Inc. Established at Sebring Airport, Florida | date=April 2014 }}</ref>

French propeller manufacturer [[Duc Hélices]] has its North American headquarters located in Sebring.

==Transportation==
[[File:Sebring Train Station from NW.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Sebring station]], served by [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Silver Meteor]]'' and ''[[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]]'' trains]]
[[U.S. Route 27 in Florida|U.S. Route 27]] (cosigned with [[U.S. Route 98 in Florida|U.S. Route 98]] in Sebring) is the major artery providing access to the rest of the state. [[Florida State Road 17|State Road 17]] begins in Sebring and heads north to its terminus in [[Haines City, Florida|Haines City]]. [[Florida State Road 64|State Road 64]] (to the north) and [[Florida State Road 66|State Road 66]] (to the south) are important secondary roads. Sebring is the largest populated area in the country to not be serviced by an Interstate Highway.

Like many Florida communities, Sebring contains subdivisions containing streets with thematic continuity. In Sebring Country Estates, many thoroughfares are named after automobile manufacturers or their models, as is evident in [[Peugeot]] Street, [[Ferrari]] Drive,  [[Porsche]] Avenue, [[Aston Martin Vantage|Vantage]] Terrace, [[Chevrolet Corvette|Corvette]] Avenue, and [[Ford Thunderbird|Thunderbird]] Road. In Sebring Hills, many streets bear names with an ornithological bent, including [[Egret]] Street, [[Ibis]] Avenue, and [[Woodpecker]] Boulevard. The [https://www.snldistrict.org/ Sun 'n Lake Sebring] development is plotted with streets bearing the same names as those in the city of [[Coral Gables, Florida|Coral Gables]].

[[Sebring Regional Airport]] is located a few miles southeast of the city and provides general aviation facilities for Sebring. The airport is also the home of the [[Sebring International Raceway]], the host of the [[12 Hours of Sebring]], second round of [[WeatherTech SportsCar Championship]] automobile race series, held annually in March. The airport has also hosted the annual US Sport Aviation Expo for eight years. The nearest regularly scheduled passenger service is provided at [[Orlando International Airport]], {{convert|86|mi}} by road to the north.

The city is served by [[Amtrak]] from the [[Sebring station]], a depot built in 1924 by the [[Seaboard Air Line]] and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]. Amtrak's daily service to Sebring consists of two trains each from the ''[[Silver Meteor]]'' and ''[[Silver Star (Amtrak train)|Silver Star]]'', heading south to [[Miami]] and north to [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] and [[New York City]]. [[CSX Transportation]] owns the track over which Amtrak operates. The [[South Central Florida Express]] railroad connects to the CSX line in Sebring, allowing transportation of sugar from [[Clewiston, Florida|Clewiston]] to the rest of the country.

==Sports==
*The major sporting event in Sebring is the annual [[12 Hours of Sebring]] race, although the [[Sebring International Raceway]] hosts races of all types year round.
*The famed [[Newark Bears (International League)|Newark Bears]] played their [[Spring Training]] games in Sebring in the 1930s and 1940s. The Bears, a [[New York Yankees]] [[minor league]] affiliate, began their stint in town shortly after [[Jacob Ruppert]] purchased the Yankees. The team's 1937 season in Sebring is covered in the book ''The 1937 Newark Bears: A Baseball Legend'' by Ronald A. Mayer<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vZfgW4HGCa0C |title=The 1937 Newark Bears: A Baseball Legend |isbn=9780813521534 |last1=Mayer |first1=Ronald A. |year=1994 |publisher=Rutgers University Press}}</ref>
*Sebring is known for its [[golf]], with its many courses comprising the Citrus Golf Trail.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://visitsebring.com/citrus-golf-trail/ |title=Citrus Golf Trail - Play 10 Great Golf Courses|date=October 26, 2017 }}</ref> Courses include [[Sun 'n Lake of Sebring, Florida|Sun 'N Lake Golf Club]] (two courses), the Country Club of Sebring,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://visitsebring.com/partners/country-club-of-sebring/ |title=Country Club of Sebring - Visit Sebring Florida}}</ref> Golf Hammock Country Club,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://golfhammockgcc.com/home/|title=Golf Hammock Country Club &#124; Sebring Golf Courses &#124; Sebring Public Golf|website=Golf Hammock Country Club}}</ref> Sebring International Golf Resort <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.siresort.com/|title=Sebring International Golf Resort – Be Our Guest}}</ref> and the Sebring Municipal Golf Course <ref>{{cite web |url=https://visitsebring.com/partners/sebring-municipal-golf-course/ |title=Sebring Municipal Golf Course - Visit Sebring Florida}}</ref>
*Lake Jackson hosts an annual stop on the [[Liqui Moly]] Pro [[Watercross]] Tour. In 2023, the race became the season kickoff<ref>{{cite web |url=https://powersportsbusiness.com/top-stories/2023/05/04/liqui-moly-usa-renews-pwc-series-race-sponsorships/ |title=LIQUI MOLY USA renews PWC series race sponsorships |date=May 4, 2023}}</ref>
*The Sebring [[Gran Fondo]] is an annual 95 mile endurance professional [[cycling]] race, billed as Florida's longest and toughest<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.endurancesportswire.com/gfny-florida-sebring-a-hattrick-and-an-attempted-escape-from-usada/|title=GFNY Florida Sebring|date=October 25, 2022|website=Endurance Sportswire}}</ref>
*Starting in 2021, [[Spartan Race]] and [[Tough Mudder]] joined for a combined series of events now held annually in the city <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://race.spartan.com/en/race/detail/7957/overview|title=Spartan Race &#124; 2023 C. Florida Obstacle Course Races|website=race.spartan.com}}</ref>
*The Highlands County Multisports Complex is a 52-acre, five field facility used for [[soccer]], [[baseball]], [[softball]], and [[American football|football]] games, events and traveling tournaments<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.highlandsfl.gov/departments/parks_and_facilities/multi_sport_complex/index.php|title=Welcome to Highlands County, FL|website=www.highlandsfl.gov}}</ref>
*The Sebring Recreation Club is a [[shuffleboard]] complex in downtown Sebring, featuring both covered and open air courts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sebringrecreationclub.home.blog/|title=Sebring Recreation Club|date=December 29, 2018|publisher=Sebring Recreation Club}}</ref> The club has hosted a number of tournaments, including the Florida State Masters<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.midfloridanewspapers.com/highlands_news-sun/sebring-to-host-shuffleboard-masters-tournament/article_23e159b0-8e48-11eb-85ba-d36eef7358a4.html|title=Sebring to host shuffleboard Masters tournament|author=Staff Report|date=March 28, 2021|website=Mid Florida Newspapers}}</ref>
*The Highlands County [[Horseshoes (game)|Horseshoe]] Club features 18 blue clay courts just one block off the "Circle" in Downtown Sebring<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hilandshc.mysite.com/|title=Horseshoe Club|website=hilandshc.mysite.com}}</ref>
*[[Boating]] and [[swimming]] are primary activities in and on [[Lake Jackson (Sebring, Florida)|Lake Jackson]], with 3 public beaches and a public boat ramp
*[[Fishing]] is popular throughout the town, with a number of tournaments regularly held. Popular fishing destinations include Lake Jackson and [[Lake Istokpoga]]

==Media==

===Television===
{{See also|List of television stations in Florida}}
Sebring is located in a fringe viewing area of the [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]-[[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]] television market (DMA). In addition to the primary Tampa-market television signals, local services offer signals from [[WFTV]], the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate in [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] and [[WINK-TV|WINK]], the [[CBS]] affiliate in [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]]/[[Naples, Florida|Naples]].

===Radio===
{{See also|List of radio stations in Florida}}
Sebring is the largest city in the Sebring radio market, which is ranked as the 288th largest in the United States by [[Arbitron]].<ref name=radio>{{cite web |url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRatings/DetailsPage.aspx?MID=297&RY=2007&RQ=2&MP=0&OTHER=2&MN=Sebring&MS=FL&MR=288&12P=84400&UP=8/1/2007%2012:00:00%20AM&SU=S&BPER=8.6&HPER=12.6&OPER=&NSD=&CE=0 |title=Ratings–Sebring Market |publisher=[[Arbitron]] |access-date=August 13, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408071352/http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRatings/DetailsPage.aspx?MID=297&RY=2007&RQ=2&MP=0&OTHER=2&MN=Sebring&MS=FL&MR=288&12P=84400&UP=8%2F1%2F2007%2012%3A00%3A00%20AM&SU=S&BPER=8.6&HPER=12.6&OPER=&NSD=&CE=0 |archive-date=April 8, 2008  }}</ref> Radio stations broadcasting from Sebring include [[WAVP]] (1390AM), [[WWLL]] (105.7FM/Adult Contemporary), [[WITS-AM|WITS]] (1340AM/Religion ), and [[WJCM]] (1050AM/ESPN).
The latter three are co-owned with WWOJ (99.1FM/Country), licensed to neighboring Avon Park and WWTK (730AM/News-Talk), licensed to Lake Placid, to the south. The five stations together operate from studios in Sebring on Highway 27 near the town's northern city limit.

== Notable people ==
{{div col}}
* [[Peter Argetsinger]] (1950–2020) – race car driver and instructor
* [[Walt Bashore]] (1909–1984) – [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) player
* [[Rex Beach]] (1877–1949) – [[1904 Summer Olympics|1904 Olympic]] [[water polo]] player, novelist, and playwright
* [[Bob Beaumont]] (1932–2011) – founder of Sebring-Vanguard
* [[Storyville Slayer#Russel Ellwood|Russell Ellwood]] (–2014) – convicted murderer
* [[Jacque Fresco]] (1916–2017) – [[futurist]] and self-described [[Social engineering (political science)|social engineer]]
* [[Janice Gilbert]] (1920–1992) – actress and [[Contract bridge|bridge]] player
* [[Elton Gissendanner]] (1927–2023) – [[Florida House of Representatives]] member
* [[Tom Gordon]] (b. 1967) – MLB player
* [[Bennie Gutierrez]] (1935–2024) – [[polo]] player and [[Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame]] inductee
* [[Gene Harris (baseball)|Gene Harris]] (b. 1964) – MLB player
* [[H. Harrison Haskell]] (1939–1990) – [[Pennsylvania House of Representatives]] member
* [[Fred Hawkins (golfer)|Fred Hawkins]] (1923–2014) – [[professional golfer]]
* [[Willie Hernández]] (1954–2023) – MLB player
* [[Clifton F. Hodge]] (1859–1949) – [[Physiology|physiologist]] and educator
* [[Sabrina Jackintell]] (1940–2012) – [[Gliding|glider pilot]]
* [[Douglas Wilson Johnson|Douglas W. Johnson]] (1878–1944) – [[geographer]] and [[Geomorphology|geomorphologist]]
* [[Ronnie Lippett]] (b. 1960) – [[National Football League]] (NFL) player
* [[Howard G. Livingston]] (1907–1975) – Florida House of Representatives member
* [[Patrick Mason (economist)|Patrick Mason]] – [[Economics|economist]] and educator
* [[Parker Lee McDonald|Parker L. McDonald]] (1924–2017) – [[Supreme Court of Florida|Florida Supreme Court]] justice<ref>'Former Justice Parker Lee McDonald dies at 93,' '''Tallahassee Democrat,''' Craig Walters, June 24, 2017</ref>
* [[Ralph McGill (American football)|Ralph McGill]] (1950–2015) – NFL player
* [[Thomas McGuire]] (1920–1945) – [[United States Army Air Forces|U.S. Army Air Force]] fighter ace during [[World War II]] and a [[Medal of Honor]] recipient<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cmohs.org/recipients/tmcguire_citation.htm |title=Thomas McGuire: Full Medal of Honor citation |publisher=Congressional Medal of Honor Society |access-date=October 24, 2008}}</ref>
* [[John Michaels]] (1907–1996) – MLB player
* [[Tonya R. Moore]] – writer, editor, and poet
* [[Leslie Moser]] (1894–1969) – [[college football]] player and coach
* [[Frankie Neal]] (b. 1965) – NFL player<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/N/NealFr20.htm |title=Frankie Neal |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=November 9, 2010}}</ref>
* [[John Noppenberg]] (1917–2006) – NFL player
* [[José Pagán]] (1935–2011) –&nbsp;MLB player and coach
* [[Marjorie Rambeau]] (1889–1970) – film and stage actress
* [[Joshua Ramos]] (b. 2000) – professional soccer player
* [[Henry Cushier Raven|Henry C. Raven]] (1889–1944) – [[Natural history|naturalist]]
* [[Suicide of Rebecca Sedwick|Rebecca Sedwick]] (2000–2013) – suicide victim
* [[Michael J. Seiler]] – [[Real estate economics|real estate economist]] and educator
* [[Larry Scott (American football)|Larry Scott]] (b. 1977) – college football player and coach
* [[Amanda Smith]] (1837–1915) – [[Methodism|Methodist]] preacher and former slave
* [[Ginger Stanley]] (1931–2023) – model, actress, and stunt woman
* [[Eliot Teltscher]] (b. 1959) – professional tennis player
* [[Kaylee Tuck]] (b. 1994) – Florida House of Representatives member
* [[Cornelia Wallace]] (1939–2009) – [[First lady|First Lady]] of [[Alabama]]
* [[Charles Welner]] (1935–2017) – college football coach
* [[Gabe White]] (b. 1971) – MLB player<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/team/player.jsp?player_id=124171 |title=Player File:Gabe White |publisher=[[Major League Baseball]]}}</ref>
* [[D. J. Williams (running back)|D. J. Williams]] (b. 1999) – NFL player
* [[2019 Sebring shooting#Perpetrator|Zephen Xaver]] – perpetrator of the 2019 Sebring shooting
{{div col end}}

==In popular culture==
*Celebrity hair stylist "[[Jay Sebring]]" was the professional name used by Thomas John Kummer. He chose his surname based on the city and its famous race. Sebring was murdered by members of the [[Manson Family]] along with his ex-girlfriend [[Sharon Tate]], and is depicted in the film ''[[Once Upon a Time in Hollywood]]'' (2019).
*The 1975 film ''[[The Great Waldo Pepper]]'' starring [[Robert Redford]] includes aerial scenes filmed at the Sebring Regional Airport
*The popular electric car [[Citicar]] was designed and produced in Sebring throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
*Multiple major car models are named after the city and its storied legacy of automobile racing, including the [[Chrysler Sebring]] and the [[Plymouth Satellite|Plymouth Satellite Sebring]]
*[[TaylorMade]] golf has released a number of versions of the "Sebring" putter under their Ghost Tour line. Other models, including Daytona, Maranello, Fontana, Corza and Monte Carlo, are all named after famous race locations<ref>{{cite web |url=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2013/09/22/taylormade-ghost-tour-putters/ |title=TaylorMade Ghost Tour putters |date=September 22, 2013}}</ref>
*[[Lehigh Acres]] has a street named after the town, "Sebring Circle". Band [[Of Mice & Men (band)|Of Mice & Men]] released a song titled "Second & Sebring" named after the road; in March 2021, the [[RIAA]] certified the song Gold, the band's first certification<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.songfacts.com/facts/of-mice-men/second-sebring|title=Second & Sebring by Of Mice & Men - Songfacts}}</ref>
*[[Netflix]] series ''[[Fastest Car]]'' features scenes shot at the Sebring International Raceway
*Season 3 of [[HGTV]]'s ''[[Home Town (TV_series)#Home Town Takeover|Home Town Takeover]]'' features Sebring, making over 6 residences, several businesses and sprucing up each wedge of Sebring Circle, along with beautifying the Sebring Circle Park.

== References ==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sebring, Florida}}
* [http://www.mysebring.com/ City of Sebring official website]
* [https://visitsebring.com/ Visit Sebring official website]
* [http://www.sebring.org/ Sebring Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://myhlc.org/libraries/sebring/ Sebring Public Library]
* [http://www.newssun.com/ ''News-Sun'']
* [http://www.highlandstoday.com/ ''Highlands Today'']
* [http://www.sebringhistoricalsociety.info/ Sebring Historical Society website]
* {{Wikivoyage inline|Sebring}}
* [http://www.municode.com/resources/gateway.asp?pid=11561&sid=9/ Municipal code]
{{Portal bar|North America|United States|Florida|Cities}}
{{Highlands County, Florida}}
{{Florida county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sebring, Florida| ]]
[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Highlands County, Florida]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1912]]
[[Category:1912 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]