In the early 1880’s, Tampa was considered to be an isolated village.However, because it had a good harbor, an excellent climate, as well as the newly installed Henry Plant railroad, Cuban cigar magnate Vincent Martinez Ybor saw its attractiveness as an ideal location for his expanding empire. By 1885, Ybor had purchased 40 acres in northeast Tampa to locate his new base of operations. He then began to gobble up additional surrounding lands.
This visionary entrepreneur knew that It would be necessary to have a large influx of employees to make the quantity of cigars he needed for his customers. In order to attract immigrant workers to his factories, Ybor built hundreds of small houses. Thus, Ybor City was born.
Florida’s first industrial town was annexed by Tampa in 1887 - two years after Ybor founded it. Ybor is unique among American Southern Towns in that it was entirely populated and owned by immigrants.
This Tampa neighborhood flourished until the Great Depression of the 1930’s, when demand for cigars diminished and industrial mechanization cut into employment. By the 1970’s, large portions of Ybor City had been abandoned. A decade later, an influx of artists began to revitalize the town, renovating many of the old cigar factories into studios, night clubs and restaurants. Eventually, Ybor City was designated a National Historic Landmark and it’s main commercial thoroughfare, 7th Avenue, was labeled one of the “...10 Great Streets in America.”
This visionary entrepreneur knew that It would be necessary to have a large influx of employees to make the quantity of cigars he needed for his customers. In order to attract immigrant workers to his factories, Ybor built hundreds of small houses. Thus, Ybor City was born.
Florida’s first industrial town was annexed by Tampa in 1887 - two years after Ybor founded it. Ybor is unique among American Southern Towns in that it was entirely populated and owned by immigrants.
This Tampa neighborhood flourished until the Great Depression of the 1930’s, when demand for cigars diminished and industrial mechanization cut into employment. By the 1970’s, large portions of Ybor City had been abandoned. A decade later, an influx of artists began to revitalize the town, renovating many of the old cigar factories into studios, night clubs and restaurants. Eventually, Ybor City was designated a National Historic Landmark and it’s main commercial thoroughfare, 7th Avenue, was labeled one of the “...10 Great Streets in America.”
Ybor City is only three miles from downtown Tampa, but, by far, the best way to get there is by trolly....
...and this mode of transportation is free!
The City, which is really considered a neighborhood of Tampa, welcomes visitors with open arms.
Ybor’s main attraction is 7th Avenue’s commercial district...
...and one of the oldest occupants is the Columbia Restaurant.
Its very colorful ceramic tile exterior indicates that this restaurant has been run by six generations of the Hernandez family since 1905.
Cigar magnate Vincent Martinez Ybor knew he had to bring in large numbers of workers to keep his business growing. So he built hundreds of small affordable housing to attract immigrants.
Several of these homes have been preserved for their historical significance.
A number of Ybor cigar stores still make their products by hand....
...and are willing to instruct tourists on the process of making cigars.
The arriving immigrants that helped to develop Ybor City also brought chickens with them. It is estimated that approximately 300 feral chickens now live in the city and are direct descendants of the earliest residents from over 100 years ago. In order to protect these birds, a city ordinance specifies that it is illegal to feed or tamper with them or their eggs. There is a city employee whose job is to care for them.
In the heart of Ybor City is Centennial Park, which honors those who helped to create the city. On Saturdays, this is the site of Ybor’s Farmers Market...
...a very popular weekend pastime for locals and tourists alike.
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