1912 Sebring Real Estate Company View Map of Sebring, Florida

This is a rare bird's-eye view of Sebring, Florida, issued c. 1917 to promote real estate sales. The view captures the ambitious early days of Sebring before its boom in the 1920s.

A Closer Look

The view looks north on Sebring from an assumed highpoint just southwest of Lake Jackson. It extends north to include Dinner Lake, Basket Lake, Bonnet Lake, and Lake Letta, among others. The view is designed to emphasize the city's famous and novel grid and ray structure - mirroring somewhat Washington D.C. It also emphasizes the arrival of the Atlantic Coast Railroad and the proposed extension leading south, which likely led to this view's production. The city's early development is apparent, with large estates lining Lake Jackson, the distinctive pier (since demolished), and fledgling businesses surrounding The Circle. Around the city, orderly citrus groves underscore the Sebring's economic potential.

Sebring

Sebring, Florida, was founded in 1912 by George E. Sebring (1859 - 1927), an Ohio businessman and pottery manufacturer who saw the potential for development in central Florida's Highlands region. Sebring purchased land in 1911, laying the groundwork for his vision of a well-planned community centered around natural beauty and modern amenities. Likely inspired by Washington D.C., Sebring was developed with a unique circular layout centered around 'The Circle,' which remains a defining feature of the town. Sebring's location on Lake Jackson attracted settlers, and by 1913, the fledgling town was incorporated. In 1921, Sebring became the county seat of the newly established Highlands County, solidifying its status as an administrative and economic hub. Throughout the 1920s, Sebring's economy thrived, bolstered by the Florida Land Boom, which fostered a wave of investment and growth. Citrus farming, tourism, and land speculation helped the town expand, with new buildings, businesses, and residential developments springing up around the Circle and nearby streets. The 1920s also saw the construction of the Sebring Hotel (Harder Hall) and the Highlands County Courthouse, which became key landmarks. However, the Florida land boom collapsed in the late 1920s, and the effects of the Great Depression began to impact Sebring's economy by 1930. Despite these challenges, Sebring was a successful development and thrives to this day, with its center added to the National Historic Register in 1990.

Publication History and Census

This view is undated. It must postdate 1917, when the Atlantic Coast Railroad reached the city, but predate the massive wave of development in the early 1920s. An expert on Sebring may be able to arrive at a more exact date based on other buildings that we cannot recognize. No printer is identified, but there is a faint stamp, in Lake Jackson, associating the map with the Sebring Real Estate Company's representative in Johnston, New York. In any case, this view is rare, and we are aware of no other examples.