Editing Zolfo Springs, Florida

{{Short description| Town in the state of Florida, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Zolfo Springs, Florida
|official_name            = Town of Zolfo Springs
|settlement_type          = [[Town (Florida)|Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
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|image_caption            = Zolfo Springs Town Hall
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|image_map                = Hardee_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Zolfo_Springs_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Florida}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{noflag|[[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee]]}}
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Council-manager government|Commission–Manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Rodney "Rod" Cannon
|leader_title1            = [[Vice Mayor]]
|leader_name1             = Dierdre "Didi" White
|leader_title2            = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
|leader_name2             = Martina Zuniga,<br>Sara Schofield, and<br>Guadalupe "Lupe" DeLeon
|leader_title3            = [[City Manager|Town Manager]]
|leader_name3             = Linda Roberson
|leader_title4            = [[City Clerk|Town Clerk]]
|leader_name4             = Susan Williamson
|established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled (Zolfo)]]
|established_date         = {{circa|1877–1886|lk=yes}}<ref name="ZolHis">{{Cite web|title=History: Where We've Come From...|url=https://www.townofzolfo.com/visitors/page/history|website=www.townofzolfo.com}}</ref>
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated<br>(Town of Zolfo)]]
|established_date2        = October 18, 1904<ref name="ZolHis"/>
|established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated<br>(Town of Zolfo Springs)]]
|established_date3        = September 13, 1909<ref name="ZolHis"/>
<!-- Area    --------------------->
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|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           = 4.50
|area_land_km2            = 4.50
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|area_land_sq_mi          = 1.74
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_water_percent       = 
<!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 1737
|pop_est_as_of            = 
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|population_density_km2   = 385.60
|population_density_sq_mi = 998.85
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
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|coordinates              = {{coord|27|29|46|N|81|47|49|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 20
|elevation_ft             = 66
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 33890
|area_code                = [[Area code 863|863]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-79250<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              = 0293628<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.townofzolfo.com}}
}}

'''Zolfo Springs''' is a town in [[Hardee County, Florida|Hardee County]], [[Florida]], United States. It is part of the [[Florida Heartland]] region. The population was 1,737 at the 2020 census.

==Etymology==
The name of the town got its name in the early 1800s, when a crew of [[miner]]s from [[Spaniards|Spain]] and [[Italians|Italy]] looking for [[phosphate]] were sailing along the [[Peace River (Florida)|Peace River]] and came upon the spring, noting it had a strong sulfuric smell. Because of this, the Italians decided to call the area "''zolfo''", which means "''[[sulfur]]''" in the [[Italian language]].<ref name="ZolHis"/><ref>{{Cite web|title=Cash-Strapped Zolfo Springs Finds Services Hard to Provide|url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2006/06/03/cash-strapped-zolfo-springs-finds-services-hard-to-provide/25855181007/|website=[[The Ledger]]}}</ref><ref name=ZolfoName>{{Cite web|title=Why do they call it that? Zolfo Springs and Port Tampa City|url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/home/why-do-they-call-it-that-zolfo-springs-and-port-tampa-city/67-390538553|website=www.wtsp.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Unique History of Zolfo Springs Florida|url=https://wanderflorida.net/history-of-zolfo-springs/|website=wanderflorida.net}}</ref>

==History==
Early prosperity in the area (where the settlement was known as "'''''Zolfo'''''") was due to its location along the [[Florida Cracker Trail]], a cattle trail from [[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]] to [[Fort Pierce, Florida|Fort Pierce]].  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 [[Florida State Road 64|State Road 64]] and [[Florida State Road 66|State Road 66]] through Zolfo Springs.<ref name="ZolHis"/><ref name="Zolfo">{{cite web|title=Zolfo Springs Downtown Vision Plan|url=http://www.cfrpc.org/zolfospringsvisioning/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2014/05/Zolfo_Springs_Downtown_Vision_Plan_Draft_05-20-14.pdf?x52169|website=Central Florida Regional Planning Council|access-date=May 6, 2018}}</ref>

In 1886, transportation improved through Zolfo when the [[Florida Southern Railway]] (later the [[Atlantic Coast Line Railroad]]) was built through the town on its way from [[Bartow, Florida|Bartow]] to [[Punta Gorda, Florida|Punta Gorda]].<ref name="Turner">{{cite book| last =Turner | first =Gregg M. | title =Railroads of Southwest Florida | publisher =Arcadia Publishing | series =Images of America | date =December 1, 1999}}</ref>  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 [[U.S. Route 17 in Florida|US 17]] runs along the former railroad right of way (with Main Street being the original alignment of US 17).<ref name="ZolHis"/><ref name="Zolfo"/>

It was officially incorporated as a municipality on October 18, 1904, as the "'''''Town of Zolfo'''''", but was officially renamed as the "'''Town of Zolfo Springs'''" on September 13, 1909.<ref name="ZolHis"/>

==Geography==
The approximate coordinates for the Town of Zolfo Springs is located at the geographic center of Hardee County, at {{coord|27|29|46|N|81|47|49|W|type:city}} (27.496211, –81.796878).<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>

[[U.S. Route 17]] runs through the center of town, leading north {{convert|4|mi|0}} to [[Wauchula, Florida|Wauchula]], the [[county seat]], and south {{convert|20|mi}} to [[Arcadia, Florida|Arcadia]]. [[Florida State Road 64]] crosses the northern side of town, leading northeast {{convert|18|mi}} to [[Avon Park, Florida|Avon Park]] and west {{convert|50|mi}} to [[Bradenton, Florida|Bradenton]]. [[Florida State Road 66|SR 66]] leaves US 17 at the center of Zolfo Springs and leads east {{convert|25|mi}} to [[U.S. Route 27]] at the south end of [[Sebring, Florida|Sebring]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Zolfo Springs has a total area of {{convert|4.5|km2|order=flip}}, all of it land.

The [[Peace River (Florida)|Peace River]], which flows south to [[Punta Gorda, Florida|Punta Gorda]], forms part of the northern town boundary. [[Pioneer Park Lake]] and Pioneer Park are also inside the town's boundaries.

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the Town of Zolfo Springs has a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''Cfa'').

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 171
|1920= 256
|1930= 272
|1940= 223
|1950= 334
|1960= 838
|1970= 1117
|1980= 1495
|1990= 1219
|2000= 1641
|2010= 1827
|2020= 1737
|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>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Zolfo Springs 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) - Zolfo Springs town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Zolfo+Springs+town;+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) - Zolfo Springs town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Zolfo+Springs+town;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|547
|498
|29.94%
|28.67%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|74
|51
|4.05%
|2.94%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|2
|5
|0.11%
|0.29%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|11
|8
|0.60%
|0.46%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|4
|0
|0.22%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|0
|1
|0.00%
|0.06%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|12
|39
|0.66%
|2.25%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,177
|1,135
|64.42%
|65.34%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''1,827'''
|'''1,737'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 1,737 people, 597 households, and 513 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Zolfo Springs town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Zolfo+Springs+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 1,827 people, 648 households, and 552 families residing in the town.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Zolfo Springs town, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Zolfo+Springs+town;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
[[File:Zolfo Springs Pioneer Park museum01.jpg|thumb|left|Zolfo Springs Pioneer Park Museum]]

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,641 people, 497 households, and 399 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,086.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 634 housing units at an average density of {{convert|419.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 65.69% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.35% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.12% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.12% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 29.07% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 53.63% of the population.

In 2000, there were 497 households, out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] 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 2000, 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.

In 2000, 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]] for the town was $11,397. About 18.7% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.2% of those under age 18 and 18.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Media==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070404040540/http://www.bull.fm/  WZZS-FM (106.9 The Bull)]
* [http://lazeta.fm WZSP-FM (105.3 La Zeta)]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.townofzolfo.com Town of Zolfo Springs official website]
* [http://old-engine.com/zolfo.htm Pioneer Park Days]

{{Hardee County, Florida}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Hardee County, Florida]]
[[Category:Towns in Florida]]