Zephyrhills is a city in Pasco County, Florida, United States. The population was estimated at 14,381 in the 2014 census. It is a suburb of the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area. Zephyrhills is also known as the headquarters of the Zephyrhills bottled water company and is a member of Tree City USA.
The community was founded in 1910 by Captain Harold B. Jeffries as Abbot Station. Jeffries planned on making the community a home for Civil War veterans. A Founders Day celebration is held annually in March.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,833 people and 2,986 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,728.2 inhabitants per square mile (667.1/km²). There were 6,167 housing units at an average density of 983.8 per square mile (379.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 92.63% White, 2.79% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.60% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.03% of the population.
There were 4,944 households out of which 20.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them. 46.5% were married couples living with others, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.63.
In the city, the population was spread out with 18.1% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 44.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city in 2005 was $33,100, and the median income for a family was $33,502. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $21,648 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,047. About 9.3% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transport
Major roads
- U.S. Route 301 (Fort King Highway/Gall Boulevard) is the main road through Zephyrhills running north and south through the city.
- State Road 39 (Paul S. Buchman Highway/Gall Boulevard) runs northwest and southeast from Plant City into US 301 in Zephyrhills, and joins US 301 as a "hidden state road."
- County Road 41 (Fort King Highway/Fort King Road) is an extension of SR 41, which is a hidden state road along US 301 from the Hillsborough County Line.
- State Road 54 (Fifth Avenue) is the main east-west road that runs through southern Pasco County, from US 19 near Holiday to US 301 in Zephyrhills. A County extension (CR 54/Eiland Boulevard) from the intersection of SR 54 and CR 579 to U.S. Route 98 in Branchborough also exists, and a western extension to CR 577 in Wesley Chapel is planned for construction.
- State Road 56 is a 2002-built road between SR 54 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, that is planned to be extended to US 301 south of Zephyrhills.
- County Road 579 (Morris Bridge Road/Eiland Boulevard/Handcart Road) is a bi-county extension of State Road 579 that runs from northern Tampa, through the western edge of the city, to west of Dade City. County Road 54 overlaps CR 579 north of SR 54 until it branches off to the east.
- County Road 535 (Chancey Road/Old Lakeland Highway) runs along the southern and eastern edge of the city and north into County Road 35 Alternate in Vitis.
Public transportation
Zephyrhills is served by Pasco County Public Transportation on routes #30, #33, and #54.
Airport
The city is served by Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. It was also once served by the 1927-built Zephyrhills Depot on the Atlantic Coast Line, which is now the Zephyrhills Depot Museum at a city park near the airport.
Public Library
The Zephyrhills Public Library was founded in 1912. According to the city's website, "The Library provides open and equal access to the resources and services of the library. The Library seeks to encourage reading and the use of technology for life-long learning and the enhancement of the community's quality of life." Library personnel also staff the City‟s Depot Museum. The library is managed by a Library Advisory Board and is a member of the Pasco County Library Cooperative. A new library was built in 2014 just north of the old library.
The Zephyrhills Depot Museum originated with the 1989 purchase of the 1927 Atlantic Coast Line Depot from CSX Railroad by the City of Zephyrhills. The original depot was relocated 200 feet west of its original location. Restoration of the 2,700 square foot building began in 1997 with a Grant from the State Department of Transportation. The Historical Preservation Committee and the Zephyrhills Historical Association assisted in many ways to bring this restoration to reality. The Zephyrhills Depot Museum opened October 20, 1998 under the department of library for community’s enjoyment. The museum emphasizes the history of trains and Zephyrhills Four exhibit wing has been developed; the Abbott Station Room; the Community Room; the Zephyrhills Alumni Room. The freight area Houses a gift shop, displays and a model train layout.
Public safety
The city is policed by the Zephyrhills Police Department, a force of about 35 sworn officers. The current chief of police is David W. Shears. The Zephyrhills Fire Department serves the community and consists of career and volunteer firefighters.
Notable people
- Domonic Brown, baseball player
- Sederrik Cunningham, football player
- Dave Eiland, former major league pitcher
- Prince Iaukea, pro wrestler (born Michael Hayner)
- Ramiele Malubay, American Idol finalist (attended Zephyrhills High School until 2002)
- Jessica Meuse, American Idol finalist, briefly lived in Zephyrhills
- Tracy Negoshian, fashion designer
- Ryan Pickett, defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers, graduated from Zephyrhills High School in 1998
- Buzzie Reutimann, race car driver
- David Reutimann, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver
- Carl Tanzler (aka Carl von Cosel), famous for stealing and preserving the corpse of Elena Milagro Hoyos
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and warm, generally dry winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Zephyrhills has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
References
Further reading
- Harrison, Benjamin (1997). Undying Love - The Shocking True Story of a Passion That Defied Death. St. Martin's. ISBNÂ 0-312-97802-2.Â
- Trottman, Rosemary W. (1978). The History of Zephyrhills, 1821-1921. Vantage Press. ISBNÂ 0-533-02882-5.Â
- Wise, Madonna Jervis (2008). Tapestry-Zephyrhills: An Anthology of Its History Through Education. BookSurge Publishing. ISBNÂ 978-1-4196-9640-4.Â
- Wise, Madonna Jervis (2010). Zephyrhills (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBNÂ 978-0-7385-6676-4.Â
External links
- City of Zephyrhills official website
- History of Zephyrhills