What's in a name

Seffner

This town was called Lenna City until it was renamed to honor pioneer and postmaster F.P. Seffner.

By MICHELLE JONES, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 14, 2003

Seffner was the fourth largest town in Hillsborough County in 1925. It was called Lenna City until the name was changed to honor F.P. Seffner, the community's first postmaster. Seffner opened the post office in 1884 after the railroad came through. It was one of three principal towns along the South Florida Railroad between Tampa and Plant City.

Seffner was one of the town's leading citizens. Other pioneer families included the Hookers, Wheelers and Mitchells.

Seffner School, now the Seffner Community Center at 1212 S Kingsway Road, was constructed in 1866. Seffner Elementary School, 109 Cactus Road, was built in 1961.

According to historians, Seffner became prosperous with rich people, groves and a hotel. A drugstore, dry goods shops, a livery stable and wooden sidewalks were a draw for the rich. In 1887, a yellow fever epidemic in Tampa caused many people to move to Seffner, where both the refugees and the mail were fumigated.

In 1888, the only Democratic convention staged outside of Tampa was held in a two-story building in Seffner.

A freeze in 1894 and another in 1895 devastated the agricultural community. Many residents left. Today, with a population of 37,000, Seffner is dotted with residential homes and just a few small farms.

Jones can be reached at 661-2431 or e-mailed at jones@sptimes.com.

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