Altamonte Springs
Posted by: 
moochie
N 28° 40.052 W 081° 22.911
17R E 462689 N 3171211
Altamonte Springs marker is located in Cranes Roost Park, the multi use area in Uptown Altamonte.
Waymark Code: WM3EC8
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 03/23/2008
Views: 40
In 1880, the South Florida Railroad completed a line from Sanford to Orlando. A flag stop was established at Snowville or Snows Station, where the railroad crosses SR436. By 1886, the line connected New York City to Tampa via Altamonte. The community of Snowville, for tourists reasons, became Altamonte Station and finally Altamonte Springs, when a spring was found on the southwest shore of Lake Adelaide. With the potential for winter tourism, Boston Capitalists chartered the Altamonte Land Hotel and Naavigation Company in 1882 to build a winter "Florida Boston Town". They purchased 1200 acres along the shores of Lakes Adelaide and Orienta and built a hotel on what now is the southwest corner of SR436 and Maitland Ave, dividing a portion of the land near the hotel into building lots. A horsedrawn tram carried visitors between the railroad station and the hotel. The hotel (open only for the winter season) was host to many families and noteable visitors. The hotel burned in 1953. Many of the winter visitors started citrus groves nearby. Pineapple and sugarcane were also grown. Agriculture needed year round labor and black, as well as white workers became permanent residents. The great freezes of 1894-95 wiped out citrus throughout the state. Due to its wealthy tourist base, Altamonte Springs survived while many of the local citrus centers disappeared as people abandoned their properties and moved elsewhere.
During the early part of the 20th century, asparagus, plumosis ferns and oranges were grown here. Altamonte was incorporated as a town in 1921. In 1947, year round residents took control of the city government. Altamonte Springs was reorganized as a city in 1967.
Marker Number: n/a
Date: n/a
County: Seminole
Marker Type: City
Sponsored or placed by: Seminole Clonty
Website: [Web Link]
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