Ybor City History

Ybor City is one of only three National Historic Landmark Districts located in the State of Florida.  Cobblestone streets and huge old cigar factory buildings make up this historic and legendary town.  Founded in 1886 by Vicente Martinez Ybor, Ybor City became "the cigar capital of the world" by 1900.  The factories were worked by mostly Cuban cigar makers, and to a lesser degree by Italians and Spaniards.  By the early 1950's the cigar factories were gone.

Ybor was revitalized in the late 1990's and now attracts large numbers of visitors due to the wide variety of shops, restaurants, clubs,  and galleries.

YBOR CITY’S GROWTH OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS...

• The total private and public investment in the district during the last ten years has been approximately $200 million, with $124 million development resulting from RFP's on public land.

• Most historic buildings have been rehabilitated and occupied, and most vacant land has been developed.

• Approximately 200 new business and a total of 375 business licenses in district

• Over 2500 new employees

• About 1 million square feet of renovated space

• Annual number of visitors to the district is over 2 million per year with 15 annual special events per year