Editing Seffner, Florida

{{Tone|date=December 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
 | official_name            = Seffner, Florida
 | other_name               = 
 | native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
 | nickname                 = 
 | settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
 | motto                    = 
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
 | image_skyline            = SeffnerPostOfficeRedone.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = Post office
 | image_flag               = 
 | flag_size                = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | seal_size                = 
 | image_shield             = 
 | shield_size              = 
 | image_blank_emblem       = 
 | blank_emblem_type        = wordmark
 | blank_emblem_size        = 
 | image_map                = Hillsborough_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Seffner_Highlighted.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250x200px
 | map_caption              = Location in [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             = 
 | image_dot_map            = 
 | dot_mapsize              = 
 | dot_map_caption          = 
 | dot_x                    = 
 | dot_y                    = 
 | pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
 | pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
 | pushpin_map_caption      = 
 | pushpin_mapsize          = 
<!-- 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        = [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough]]
 | subdivision_type3        = 
 | subdivision_name3        = 
 | subdivision_type4        = 
 | subdivision_name4        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
 | government_footnotes     = 
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = 
 | leader_name              = 
 | leader_title1            = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
 | leader_name1             = 
 | leader_title2            = 
 | leader_name2             = 
 | leader_title3            = 
 | leader_name3             = 
 | leader_title4            = 
 | leader_name4             = 
 | established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
 | established_date         = 
 | established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
 | established_date2        = 
 | established_title3       = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
 | established_date3        = 
<!-- 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           = 9.87
 | area_land_km2            = 9.34
 | area_water_km2           = 0.53
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 3.81
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 3.61
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.20
 | area_water_percent       = 
 | area_urban_km2           = 
 | area_urban_sq_mi         = 
 | area_metro_km2           = 
 | area_metro_sq_mi         = 
 | area_blank1_title        = 
 | area_blank1_km2          = 
 | area_blank1_sq_mi        = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_note          = 
 | population_total         = 8362
 | population_density_km2   = 895.12
 | population_density_sq_mi = 2318.27
 | population_metro         = 
 | population_density_metro_km2   = 
 | population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
 | population_urban         = 
 | population_density_urban_km2   = 
 | population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
 | population_blank1_title  = 
 | population_blank1        = 
 | population_density_blank1_km2  = 
 | population_density_blank1_sq_mi= 
<!-- General information  --------------->
 | timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
 | utc_offset               = -5
 | timezone_DST             = EDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = -4
 | coordinates              = {{coord|27|59|32|N|82|16|36|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
 | elevation_m              = 21
 | elevation_ft             = 69
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s
 | postal_code              = 33583-33584
 | area_code                = [[Area code 813|813]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 12-64925<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 0290820<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
 | website                  = 
 | footnotes                = 
 | name                     = 
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
}}

'''Seffner''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Hillsborough County, Florida]], United States. The population at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] was 8,362,<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing (1790-2000)|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2010-07-17}}</ref> up from 7,579 at the 2010 census.

Located approximately {{convert|13|mi}} east of downtown [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]], Seffner is considered a [[suburb]]. Though still characterized by towering [[live oak]] trees, [[strawberry]] farms and lakes, Seffner has been growing rapidly in recent years, with housing subdivisions being added to the once rural landscape.

==History==
Some historians claim that Seffner's streets were originally laid out in 1862, but not recorded as a [[plat]] formally until 1885. Seffner's post office opened in 1884, when a new railroad line in the area had been planned. The community was named for its first postmaster, Frederick P. Seffner. That same year, Seffner's first school and store were opened. Seffner quickly became a prosperous small community with citrus groves, a hotel, one drug store, several [[dry goods]] stores, and a [[Livery yard|livery stable]]. When an epidemic of [[yellow fever]] hit Tampa in the fall of 1887 and in 1888, many Tampa refugees fled to Seffner for temporary shelter in the hotel. However, as refugees and mail arrived in Seffner, they were [[fumigation|fumigated]] as protection from the epidemic. Among the refugees was T.C. Taliaferro of the First National Bank of Tampa, who operated a branch banking business from Seffner during the epidemic.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |last=Robinson |first=Ernest Lauren |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1014&context=regional_ebooks |title=History of Hillsborough County, Florida: narrative and biographical |publisher=The Record Company |year=1928 |isbn= |pages=79}}</ref>

The main thoroughfare leading north and south was Lenna Avenue, and leading east and west was Highway Number 23, renamed Buffalo Avenue, because of its erstwhile use as a buffalo trail, and then renamed again in 1989 to its current name, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard ([[Florida State Road 574|Hwy 574]]). Seffner and neighboring [[Mango, Florida|Mango]] and [[Dover, Florida|Dover]] served as the three primary towns along the [[South Florida Railroad]] right-of-way between [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] and [[Plant City, Florida|Plant City]]. These towns owe their existence and prosperity to the railroad, each becoming an important shipping center.

The cold in the winter of 1894–1895 brought disaster to Seffner. Many citizens left, while others remained to recoup their losses. Seffner survived and eventually regained its affluence. Attractive residential neighborhoods were built to accommodate the influx of desirable residents.<ref name=":1" /> By 1925, Seffner was the fourth-largest town in [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]].

==Geography==
Seffner is located northeast of the center of Hillsborough County and is bordered by [[Thonotosassa, Florida|Thonotosassa]] to the north, [[Mango, Florida|Mango]] to the west, and [[Brandon, Florida|Brandon]] to the south. [[Interstate 4]] is the northern boundary of the CDP, and the southern boundary follows [[Florida State Road 574|State Road 574]] (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard). [[Plant City, Florida|Plant City]] is {{convert|10|mi|0}} to the east.

The Seffner CDP has a total area of {{convert|9.8|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|9.3|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.5|km2|order=flip|1}}, or 5.34%, are water, according to the [[United States Census Bureau]].<ref name="Census 2020"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1990= 5371
|2000= 5467
|2010= 7579
|2020= 8362
|footnote=source:<ref name="Census 2020"/>
}}
As of the [[census]] of 2000,<ref name="GR2" /> there were 5,467 people, 2,075 households, and 1,520 families residing in the community. The population density was {{convert|1,512.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,168 housing units at an average density of {{convert|599.7|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the community was 91.35% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.26% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.29% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.02% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.71% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.37% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanics]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latinos]] of any race were 8.21% of the population.

There were 2,075 households, out of which 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the community the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $42,614, and the median income for a family was $49,152. Males had a median income of $32,266 versus $26,328 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the community was $19,888. About 3.2% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
===Public library===
The [[Seffner-Mango Branch Library]] is located in Seffner.

== Parks and recreation ==
There are six public parks in Seffner: Seffner-Mango Park, Evans Recreation Center, E.L. Bing Park, Higginbotham Park, Mango Dog Park, and Lakewood Park.

Lake Weeks is a lake located on the southeast side of Seffner. It has a surface area of 57.73 acres and is known for its fishing and [[Spanish moss]].

Three recreation centers are located in Seffner. The Evans Recreation Center offers special programs for children ages 6–17 and it features a basketball court, playground equipment, a hockey court, a softball field, a football field, and a soccer field.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icarol.info/ResultDetails.aspx?org=2129&agencynum=253234|title=Unknown title|work=www.icarol.info}}{{dead link|date=August 2023}}</ref> The Mango Recreation Center has a large park with two basketball courts, two softball fields, a playground, and a 5-acre dog park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/locations/mango-recreation-center|title = Mango Recreation Center}}</ref> The Seffner Civic Center is a historical land site with a basketball court, picnic tables, a playground, and a large open field.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/locations/seffner-civic-center|title = Seffner Civic Center}}</ref>

The Rodney Colson Sports Complex is a park with an open field, biking trail, and walking trail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/locations/rodney-colson-park|title=Rodney Colson Park|website=www.hillsboroughcounty.org}}</ref>

===Wildlife conservation===
The Life Fellowship Bird Sanctuary located in Seffner, affiliated with a local church. Birds and reptiles are kept there, and the facility is noted for its success in breeding [[Cyclura|rock iguanas]] in captivity.<ref>"International Zoo Yearbook", vol 28, 1988.</ref>

==Education==
===Public schools===
[[Hillsborough County Public Schools]] serves Seffner.

====Elementary schools====
*Colson Elementary
*Lopez Elementary
*McDonald Elementary
*Seffner Elementary
Pruner elementary

====Middle schools====
*Gordon Burnett Middle School
*Jennings Middle School

====High schools====
*[[Armwood High School]]<ref name=":0">Hobson, Will, Laura C. Morel and Jodie Tillman. "Seffner Sinkhole 911 Call: 'Bedroom Floor Just Collapsed.'"  ''Tampa Bay Times'', March 1, 2013.</ref>

===Private schools===
*Hillsborough Baptist
*Impact Academy
*Legacy Christian Academy
*Livingstone Academy
*[[Seffner Christian Academy]]

==Notable people==
*[[Matt Joyce (baseball)|Matt Joyce]], professional baseball outfielder, raised in Seffner<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tewksbury |first=Jeff |date=2020-06-05 |title=Matt Joyce is a hometown hit with clean-up power |url=https://www.fox13news.com/sports/matt-joyce-is-a-hometown-hit-with-clean-up-power |access-date=2022-07-19 |website=FOX 13 News |language=en-US}}</ref>
*[[Andrew W.K.]], musician, lived in Seffner in 1999<ref name= popmusic>{{cite news |title= Pop Music: Play It Loud and Proud: Party rocker Andrew W.K. doesn't bother with pretense. 'Why would I whisper when I can scream?' he asks. |last= Carpenter |first= Susan |work= Los Angeles Times |date= March 24, 2002 |page= F13 |url= https://www.proquest.com/docview/421887620/ }}{{Subscription or libraries}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Mango-Seffner, Florida]], a single census area recorded during the [[1980 United States census|1980 census]]
{{Portal|Florida}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://seffnerchamber.com Greater Seffner Area Chamber of Commerce]

{{Hillsborough County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Hillsborough County, Florida]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Florida]]
[[Category:1884 establishments in Florida]]