Sanford, County seat of Seminole County in Central Florida, United States
Sanford is the county seat of Seminole County in Central Florida, resting on the southern shore of Lake Monroe where the St. Johns River starts its course. The city spreads across several districts, including a historic quarter with shops and restaurants in brick buildings, plus modern residential neighborhoods and commercial zones farther from the water.
The settlement grew from Camp Monroe, a military post established in 1836 during the Second Seminole War, which gradually evolved into a civilian community. Over the following decades, railroad connections drove growth, while agriculture and commerce shaped the local economy and led Sanford to become the administrative center of the newly formed Seminole County.
The city takes its name from Henry Shelton Sanford, a 19th-century diplomat who invested in developing the region and supported its early infrastructure. Today, residents and visitors associate this place with its waterfront access and a historic downtown district shaped by restored buildings from the railroad era.
The Orlando Sanford International Airport lies northeast of downtown, offering connections within the United States and to Europe through several terminals. Visitors exploring the historic downtown can walk along First Street, where shops, galleries and restaurants occupy restored buildings.
The town became known as Celery City during the 1890s after farmers shifted from citrus to large-scale celery farming. This change shaped the local economy for decades and left traces in civic memory that persist today in old advertisements and historic photographs.
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