June Community of the Month

Main Street Zephyrhills

Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning Announces Florida Main Street Community of the Month

Secretary of State Kurt S. Browning announced that Main Street Zephyrhills has been designated the Florida Main Street Community of the Month for June 2007. Communities are selected based on their participation in the Florida Main Street Program. Main Street Zephyrhills was designated a Florida Main Street Community in 1994 and has a city population of 12,400.

In 1844, Benton County was formed with an elected government and was later called Hernando County. Hernando County was divided into three counties in 1887, Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco. After the Civil War, Dr. J.M. Abbott and Andrew Jackson Green moved to Pasco County and opened up a sawmill near the present day Zephyr Shopping Center. The town would be known as Abbott until Captain H.B. Jeffries who had served in the War, moved to town and established the Zephyrhills Colony Company, which was "organized to buy, advertise, and sell Zephyrhills land to all veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) throughout the north." The town became known for its pure water and good climate and continued to prosper as veterans moved into the area and built houses. Businesses opened to supply the veterans with needed materials. The railroad came to Zephyrhills in the 1910s and with it the first hotel. Old settlers welcomed new settlers and the town became known as the "Friendly City" which remains the motto of Zephyrhills even today. Zephyrhills is also known as, "The City of Pure Water." In the1930s the water of Lake Zephyr was tested and found to be 99% pure and companies needing pure water moved into the area. Today Zephyrhills water is well known throughout the country.

"Zephyrhills is well known for its water but Main Street Zephyrhills has worked hard to ensure that the city is also known for its hospitality and character," said Secretary Browning. "If you visit Zephyrhills you'll want to enjoy a bottle of their famous water in addition to the downtown shops and friendly atmosphere."

Since its designation in 1994, Main Street Zephyrhills has generated 25 new private construction projects totaling $791,390; five new private rehabilitation projects totaling $473,568; five new public construction projects totaling $455,500; two public rehabilitation projects totaling $365,000; 41 new businesses; 128 new jobs; and 7,382 volunteer hours.

Main Street Zephyrhills hosts several annual events. The largest is the Founder's Day celebration held during three days in March. Thousands of people attend the event, which includes a parade, food, rides, a bed race, and a King and Queen contest. This year an inaugural triathlon was added. Double the number of vendors participated and the event enjoyed a 30% increase in parade participants over the past years. This event has also been recognized by the U.S. Congress for inclusion in the Library of Congress's Local Legacies Project.

In 2006, Main Street Zephyrhills won the Secretary of State Merit Award for Outstanding Florida Main Street Image Campaign or Promotional Material - Program Brochure.

Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program of the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State. The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving Florida's historic resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy for achieving these goals in Florida's historic retail districts. Since 1985, the Bureau has offered manager training, consultant team visits, design and other technical assistance, as well as the benefit of experience gained by other Florida Main Street programs.

To learn more about Main Street Zephyrhills contact Brenda Welcher at 813.780.1414.

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Florida Main Street is a technical assistance program of the Bureau of Historic Preservation, Division of Historical Resources, Florida Department of State. The Bureau conducts statewide programs aimed at identifying, evaluating, and preserving Florida's historic resources. Main Street, with its emphasis on preservation, is an effective strategy for achieving these goals in Florida's historic retail districts. Since 1985, the Bureau has offered manager training, consultant team visits, design and other technical assistance, as well as the benefit of experience gained by other Florida Main Street programs.

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