BlockBefore

Seminole County, Florida

53 topographic sheets cover 87 settlements here, and 19 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

19 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Florida within the United States
Seminole County within Florida

What the record shows

  • 1,215 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 19 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 13 buildings and 6 districts.
  • 1 of the 19 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 87 populated places in this county; 87 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

19

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Bradlee-McIntyre Housebuilding199172000352
Browne-King Housebuilding200101001023
Estes, R.W. Celery Company Precooler Historic Districtdistrict200101001022
First Methodist Church of Oviedobuilding200707000743
Georgetown Historic Districtdistrict2020100005670
Hopper Academybuilding201515000209
Lake Mary Chamber of Commerce Buildingbuilding200404000022
Longwood Historic Districtdistrict199090001480
Longwood Hotelbuilding198484000963
Nelson and Company Historic Districtdistrict200101001010
Nils M. and Beverly Schweizer Housebuilding2024100010495
Old Fernald-Laughton Memorial Hospitalbuilding198787000805
Ritz Theaterbuilding200100001130
Sanford Commercial Districtdistrict197676000606
Sanford Grammar Schoolbuilding198484000253
Sanford Residential Historic Districtdistrict198989002119
Seminole County Homebuilding199999000696
St. James A. M. E. Churchbuilding199292000352
Wheeler-Evans Housebuilding200101001024

Photographs from libraries nationwide

3 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 3 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

Florida's fairyland, Sanlando Springs, near Orlando, Boston Public Library - undated
Florida's fairyland, Sanlando Springs, near Orlando. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Florida's fairyland, Sanlando Springs, near Orlando, Boston Public Library - undated
Florida's fairyland, Sanlando Springs, near Orlando. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Airport obstruction chart, OC 917, Central Florida Regional Airport, Sanford, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Airport obstruction chart, OC 917, Central Florida Regional Airport, Sanford, Florida. United States. National Ocean Service, Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

33 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 1,126 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 33 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1949-11-27, scale 1:60000
1949-11-27, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1949-11-27, scale 1:60000
1949-11-27, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-17, scale 1:23600
1952-03-17, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-17, scale 1:23600
1952-03-17, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-17, scale 1:23600
1952-03-17, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-03-17, scale 1:23600
1952-03-17, scale 1:23600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-10-11, scale 1:17000
1957-10-11, scale 1:17000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-10-11, scale 1:17000
1957-10-11, scale 1:17000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-10-11, scale 1:17000
1957-10-11, scale 1:17000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1957-10-11, scale 1:17000
1957-10-11, scale 1:17000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:124594
1969-10-14, scale 1:124594. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1949-11-27, scale 1:60000
1949-11-27, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1949-11-27, scale 1:60000
1949-11-27, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-12-19, scale 1:60000
1950-12-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-12-19, scale 1:60000
1950-12-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-12-19, scale 1:60000
1950-12-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1950-12-19, scale 1:60000
1950-12-19, scale 1:60000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-14, scale 1:18000
1958-02-14, scale 1:18000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-14, scale 1:18000
1958-02-14, scale 1:18000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-14, scale 1:18000
1958-02-14, scale 1:18000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1958-02-14, scale 1:18000
1958-02-14, scale 1:18000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1959-03-26, scale 1:24000
1959-03-26, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:65696
1969-10-14, scale 1:65696. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:67299
1969-10-14, scale 1:67299. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-10-14, scale 1:67299
1969-10-14, scale 1:67299. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-11-26, scale 1:80000
1977-11-26, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-11-27, scale 1:80000
1977-11-27, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-11-27, scale 1:80000
1977-11-27, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1977-11-27, scale 1:80000
1977-11-27, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2002-06-04, scale 1:15000
2002-06-04, scale 1:15000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2002-06-04, scale 1:15000
2002-06-04, scale 1:15000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2002-06-04, scale 1:15000
2002-06-04, scale 1:15000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 2002-06-04, scale 1:15000
2002-06-04, scale 1:15000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

37 stations, 19 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

38 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 59-1Sanford city, comprising parts of Commissioner's Districts 1 and 2: Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by City limits; City limits; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; Mellonville Ave.
  • 59-2Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 excluding Mayfair Inn Bounded by City limits; Mellonville Ave.; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; Locust Ave., Second, San Juan Ave.
  • 59-3Mayfair Inn (In Sanford city, Commissioner's District 1)
  • 59-4Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by City limits; San Juan Ave., Second, Locust Ave.; Fifth; Park Ave.
  • 59-5Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by Fifth; Locust Ave.; Eleventh; Park Ave.
  • 59-6Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by Eleventh; Locust; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; Park Ave.
  • 59-7Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; City limits; Twentieth; Park Ave.
  • 59-8Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by Twentieth; City limits; Twenty-Fifth; Park Ave.
  • 59-9Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 excluding U.S. Naval Air Station (Part) Bounded by Twenty - Fifth; City limits; City limits; Poinsetta Ave.
  • 59-10U.S. Naval Air Station - That part in Sanford city, Commissioner's District 1 (Remainder of U.S. Naval Air Station is in Commissioner's District 1)
  • 59-11Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 1 Bounded by Twenty - Fifth; Poinsetta Ave.; City limits; Orlando Dr.
  • 59-12Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by City limits; Park Ave.; Thirteenth; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad
  • 59-13Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by City limits; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad; Third; City limits
  • 59-14Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District Bounded by Third; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (to Tampa); Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (to Leesburg); City limits
  • 59-15Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (to Leesburg); Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (to Tampa); Thirteenth; City limits
  • 59-16Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Thirteenth; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (to Tampa); City limits; City limits
  • 59-17Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Thirteenth; Park Ave.; Twentieth, City limits; Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (to Tampa)
  • 59-18Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Twentieth; Park Ave.; Twenty - Fourth; City limits
  • 59-19Sanford city - That part in Commissioner's District 2 Bounded by Twenty - Fourth; Park Ave., Orlando Dr.; City limits; City limits
  • 59-20Commissioner's District 1, outside Sanford city: Midway - Canaan, unincorporated: Midway - Canaan, unincorporated - That part Bounded by County Rd.; south of Drainage Canal; Beardsall Ave.; 1/4 mile offset line south of and parallel to State Rd. 46; Sipes Ave.
  • 59-21Midway - Canaan, unincorporated - That part Bounded by County Rd. south of Drainage Canal; Sipes Ave.; Geneva Ave.; Brisson Rd.
  • 59-22Commissioner's District 1 - That part north of State Hwy. 46 and east and south of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, outside Sanford city and the unincorporated place of Midway - Canaan (See separate map for boundaries of Midway - Canaan)
  • 59-23Commissioner's District 1 - That part south of State Hwy. 46 and west and north of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, excluding U.S. Naval Air Station (Part) outside Sanford city and the unincorporated place of Midway - Canaan (See separate map for boundaries of Midway - Canaan)
  • 59-24U.S. Naval Air Station - That part in Commissioner's District 1 (Remainder of U.S. Naval Air Station is in Sanford city) (Remainder of Commissioner's District 1 is in Sanford city)
  • 59-25Commissioner's District 2, outside Sanford city: Commissioner's District 2 - That part north of State Hwy. 46, outside Sanford city
  • 59-26Commissioner's District 2 - That part south of State Hwy. 46 and west of State Hwy. 15
  • 59-27Commissioner's District 2 - That part south of State Hwy. 46 and east of State Hwy. 15, outside Sanford city (Remainder of Commissioner's District 2 is in Sanford city)
  • 59-28Commissioner's District 3: Altamonte Springs town, excluding Altamonte Hotel
  • 59-29Altamonte Hotel (In Altamonte Springs town)
  • 59-30Casselberry town
  • 59-31Longwood town
  • 59-32Commissioner's District 3 - That part east of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and north and east of State Hwy. 434, outside Casselberry and Longwood towns
  • 59-33Commissioner's District 3 - That part west of Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and south and west of State Hwy. 434, outside Altamonte Springs and Longwood towns
  • 59-34Commissioner's District 4: Oviedo town: Oviedo town - That part northwest of State Hwy. 426
  • 59-35Oviedo town - That part southeast of State Hwy. 426
  • 59-36Commissioner's District 4 - That part outside Oviedo town
  • 59-37Commissioner's District 5: Commissioner's District 5 - That part excluding U.S.Naval Air Station Satellite Field No. 1
  • 59-38U.S.Naval Air Station Satellite Field No. 1 (In Commissioner's District 5)

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

478 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 478 of them, burning about 10,701 acres. 190 started naturally and 9 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Natural190
Railroad operations and maintenance138
Missing data/not specified/undetermined77
Debris and open burning27
Equipment and vehicle use16
Arson/incendiarism9
Misuse of fire by a minor9
Recreation and ceremony6
Power generation/transmission/distribution4
Fireworks1
Other causes1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. Two of them were set deliberately.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
18 February 2016Arson/incendiarism3,741 acresFlorida Forest ServiceBRUMLEY FLAG (59)
6 June 1998Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,000 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
6 March 1996Missing data/not specified/undetermined780 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
4 August 1993Equipment and vehicle use260 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
18 February 2016Arson/incendiarism240 acresFlorida Forest ServiceFLAG (59)
22 May 2007Natural200 acresFlorida Forest ServiceBROWN COW (03)
8 May 2004Missing data/not specified/undetermined200 acresFlorida Forest ServiceFREEDOM (O-3)
10 April 1998Railroad operations and maintenance200 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1966 to 2025

60 of 363 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 363 reports for this county, causing 17 deaths, 70 injuries and about $343,293,360 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind153
Hail133
Tornado31
Lightning15
Funnel Cloud13
Flash Flood7
Flood7
Heavy Rain3
Wildfire1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
February 1998Tornado (F3)Longwood12 killed, 36 hurt, $30,000,000The Seminole County category F3 tornado was produced by the same supercell that produced the Winter Garden tornado. It initially set down near Longwood and moved northeast at 45 mph. The tornado passed through several neighborhhoods in the southeast portion of Sanford killing 12 people in mobile homes and injuring 70. It continued northeast and crossed into Volusia County 5 miles east of Sanford. The near 200 mph winds of the tornado damaged or destroy 625 structures.
August 2022LightningWinter Spgs1 killed, 2 hurtSeminole County Emergency Management and local broadcast media relayed information about a lightning strike that killed a 42-year-old woman, and injured a 10-year-old girl and 18-year-old woman. The incident occurred near the 1300th block of Park Villa Place in Winter Springs at approximately 1320LST. Bystanders reported that lightning struck a tree just as the three victims were walking nearby. First responders and bystanders performed life saving measures, and all three victims were transported to local hospitals. The 42-year-old woman later died from her injuries, while the 10-year-old and 18-year-old were treated for minor injuries and later released.
September 2003LightningLake Mary1 killed, 2 hurtA 22 year old man was killed by lightning while fishing under a gazebo at the end of a short pier in a lake. Two teen age boys who were also in the gazebo when the lightning struck were injured.
October 2018Thunderstorm WindSanford1 killed, 1 hurtThe large circulation around Hurricane Michael located near the western tip of Cuba combined with high pressure to the north caused quick-moving showers with gusty winds to move west across central Florida from the Atlantic. As these showers moved over inland lakes, wind gusts of 30 to 40 mph occurred. A boat containing two men who were fishing on Lake Monroe capsized due to choppy seas created by the gusty winds. One man, who was wearing a non-secured life vest, drifted away from the boat and was found deceased the following day. The other man retrieved his lift vest while hanging onto the side of the boat and was rescued nearly 24 hours later. He was transported to a local hospital, suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion and was later released.
September 2020LightningForest City1 killedA 58 year old man was struck and killed by a lightning strike while grilling outdoors next to a tree.
September 2001FloodWinter Spgs1 killedno account filed
April 1982Tornado (F2)not stated10 hurt, $250,000no account filed
June 2002LightningSanford Arpt4 hurtFive baggage handlers were struck by lightning while loading an aircraft at Sanford International Airport. Four were hospitalized.
August 1966Tornado (F2)not stated3 hurt, $25,000no account filed
July 1998WildfireCountywide2 hurt, $30,000,000no account filed
August 1999Thunderstorm WindSanford2 hurt, $80,000Thunderstorm winds produced widespread damage along the marina area of Sanford. A hotel, several boats, dock houses, and an office building suffered damage. Two people were injured when their car windows were blown out.
March 1981Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $250,000no account filed
September 1993Thunderstorm WindOviedo1 hurt, $50,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines. One tree severely damaged a house injuring one person.
July 2024LightningForest City1 hurtA 17 year-old male from Altamonte Springs was struck by lightning while outside performing lawn maintenance at his neighbor's home. The victim stated in interviews with local media that rain had just started to fall at the time of the incident. The victim was transported to the hospital and made a full recovery within several days.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindJones Lndg1 hurtColliding sea breeze boundaries created a locally severe thunderstorm whose winds toppled a tree onto a mobile home in the Palm Valley Mobile Home Park in Oviedo. A young boy in the home experienced minor injuries to his arm as a result of the falling tree.
June 2004LightningLake Mary1 hurtA power company worker was injured by a lightning strike while working on power lines.
May 2002LightningGeneva1 hurtA 17 year old boy was struck and injured by lightning while working on a boat ramp.
May 1998HailWinter Spgs1 hurtOne inch hail fell in Maitland injuring a woman. One inch hail also fell in Apopka.
August 1997LightningSanford1 hurtA 41 year old woman was injured by lightning while standing next to a window in a house.
September 2022FloodBear Lake$241,000,000Rainfall totals averaging between 12 to 14 inches, with locally higher amounts of up to 16 inches were reported, resulting in widespread street, urban, and poor drainage flooding. County officials reported significant residential flooding in homes along both the Little and Big Econlockhatchee Rivers near Oviedo, as well as Howell and Gee Creeks in Winter Springs. An on-site survey, combined with county areal photography, confirmed major flooding along the Little Wekiva River, with water entering numerous homes along Little Wekiva Rd. in the Spring Oaks subdivision of Altamonte Springs. See separate entry for details on the significant (flash) flooding event which affected the Spring Oaks subdivision along the Little Wekiva River. ||Widespread inundation occurred along the shores of the St. Johns River and its associated lakes in Seminole County. Lake Harney, where the river crested at a record stage of 12.7 ft. on Oct. 3, flooded numerous structures including the Jolly Gator Fish Camp and homes along Prevatt Rd., Lake Harney Cir., Fort Lane Rd., and Whitcomb Dr. Flooding was reported in communities adjacent to the river near Mullet Lake and north of SR-46 in Geneva. A portion of SR-46, between S. Jungle Rd. and Hatbill Rd., was closed from Oct. 2 - 22. Additional flooding of structures was reported on the south end of Lake Jesup on Lake St. near Overlook Park, as well as in the Black Hammock Community in Oviedo. Further downstream, at Lake Monroe, widespread inundation occurred along the Sanford Waterfront on Seminole Blvd., including residential areas to the east between Mellonville Ave. and Crescent Blvd. More homes were flooded in a community west of the Interstate 4 and US-17 bridges between Missouri Ave. and Canal Dr., as well as along Michigan Ave. near the Black Bear Wilderness Area. The river at Sanford crested at a record stage of 8.96 ft. on Oct. 9th.||A countywide damage assessment indicated 3058 structures affected, 580 with minor damage, 1076 with major damage, and 2 destroyed, mainly due to widespread and historic flooding. The combined effects of Ian led to a total estimated damage of approximately $241M.
October 2024FloodChuluota$27,000,000Seminole County Emergency Management reported significant urban, street, and low-lying flooding as a result of 4 to 8 inches (southeast) 8 to 12 inches (northwest) of rain in association with Hurricane Milton. A period of very heavy rainfall rates associated with the core of the storm led to flash flooding during the overnight period (Oct 9 - 10).||The heavy rain that fell as a result of the storm also led to a long-term river flood event along the St. Johns with the river near Geneva entering major flood on Oct 14, peaking at 10.15 feet on Oct 15. At Deland, the river rapidly rose to major flood stage on Oct 11, peaking at 5.49 ft on Oct. 14.
March 2025Tornado (EF2)Forest City$3,900,000The circulation touched down at approximately 9:35 AM EDT near the southeastern edge of Wekiwa Springs State Park where it produced mainly vegetative damage in the form of downed oak and pine trees, with peak winds of 80 to 90 mph. The tornado continued on a northeast trajectory where it crossed a wooded area of the state park and into the Wingfield Reserve subdivision of Longwood. Here, more trees were downed in the vicinity of Alvarado Ct and Wingfield Dr due to winds of 80 to 85 mph.||More substantial damage was noted in the Whispering Winds subdivision where a significant number of oak trees were downed and snapped by EF-1 winds of up to 100 mph. Several residential structures within the subdivision near the intersection of Misty |Morn Pl and Blue Iris Pl experienced significant damage, including numerous blown out windows, damage to garage doors, as well as the loss of part of their roofs and awnings. The tornado likely peaked in this area, where a two-story wood framed home on Blue Iris Pl collapsed due to peak winds estimated up to 120 mph (EF-2 intensity).||The circulation weakened some while moving quickly toward the northeast across Markham Wood Rd and then towards Interstate 4, where mainly tree damage was noted. The tornado impacted a local news station on Skyline Dr before dissipating shortly thereafter at approximately 9:41 AM EDT.
January 1978Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
November 2006Tornado (F1)Oviedo$1,400,000An F1 tornado touched down in southern Seminole County just north of Aloma Avenue and moved northeast, crossing the 417 Beltway and lifting along West Chapman Road. The tornado severly damaged four homes. Eight homes had moderate damage and 32 homes and mobile homes had minor damage.
January 2019Tornado (EF0)Lake Monroe$1,380,000A NWS damage survey confirmed an EF-0 tornado occurred in Sanford. The tornado developed from a thunderstorm within a broken squall line which advanced rapidly across the central Florida peninsula during the morning. Peak winds were estimated between 75 and 85 mph, along a path of nearly one half mile, with a width of 175 yards. The tornado moved generally northeast beginning near the intersection of Church Street and Monroe Road in Sanford, crossing a lumber yard, SunRail tracks and dissipating within the Central Florida Zoo. Numerous structures in the lumber yard were damaged or destroyed, two (empty) railway cars were overturned, and several trees were uprooted or snapped along the tornado path.
June 2009LightningOviedo$700,000A 5000 square foot home was destroyed after being hit by lightning during a strong thunderstorm.
June 2007LightningWinter Spgs$600,000Lightning caused a fire that destroyed a home in Winter Springs.
May 2025LightningPaola$550,000Emergency manager reported that a lightning caused fire destroyed a home on Northumbria Dr in Sanford. The house was a total loss.
March 2011Thunderstorm WindWinter Spgs$500,000Twelve homes damaged from severe thunderstorm winds. Three homes sustained severe damage, with the remainder experiencing moderate damage.
June 2010LightningForest City$500,000Lightning associated with a strong thunderstorm struck a large estate home in the Sweetwater Club subdivision of Longwood. The home became fully engulfed in flames and officials declared it a total loss.
November 1990Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
December 1986Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
January 1978Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
June 2012LightningLongwood$200,000Lightning sparked a house fire on Rangeline Woods Cove, east of Interstate 4 and north of State Road 434 in Longwood. The house suffered extensive damage and one firefighter was injured while fighting the fire.
February 1998Tornado (F0)Sanford$200,000A small F-0 tornado touched down in Sanford destroying the roof on a log cabin house.
April 2005Thunderstorm WindOviedo$150,000Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and produced minor roof damage on five homes near Pine Lake Road. Minor wind damage was also reported at Oviedo Highschool and to a service station awning. A warehouse in the area received major roof damage.
June 2005LightningLake Mary$150,000Two homes and a sport utility vehicle were heavily damaged by fire caused by lightning in lame Mary.
May 2009Tornado (EF0)Casselberry$100,000A EF0 tornado touched down briefly and removed the roofs from a single family home and mobile home. Portions of the roofs and other debris were carried downstream, with large metal pieces deposited in trees. Another 8 homes sustained minor damage.
July 2003LightningAltamonte Spgs$100,000Lightning started a fire in an apartment complex that heavily damaged 8 units.
July 2000Thunderstorm WindLake Mary$100,000Thunderstorm winds damaged 4 houses and blew down trees in the Lake Mary area.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindLongwood$65,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines, overturned 7 tractor trailer trucks and damaged the doors on a large warehouse near Longwood.
August 2002Flash FloodSanford$60,000Three inches of rapid rainfall flooded streets and six homes in Sanford.
January 1999Thunderstorm WindSanford$50,000Thunderstorm winds blew down trees in the Sanford area. The fallen trees damaged two mobile homes and a house.
August 1997Thunderstorm WindSanford$45,000Thunderstorm winds blew a large tree on to a house causing extensive damage.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindLongwood$40,000Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged the roof of a high school in Longwood.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindOviedo$40,000Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree and damaged a school in Oviedo.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindLongwood$40,000Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and damaged the roof of a high school in Longwood.
April 1997Thunderstorm WindOviedo$40,000Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree and damaged a school in Oviedo.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindCasselberry$40,000Severe thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees damaging cars and taking down power lines in Casselberry. Electrical power was knocked out in 7000 homes.
January 1999Thunderstorm WindGeneva$30,000Thunderstorm winds overturned a mobile home near Geneva.
July 1983Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
September 1977Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 1976Tornado (F0)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1972Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
February 1972Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
June 1967Tornadonot stated$25,000no account filed
June 2012Thunderstorm WindLongwood$20,000Two trees were knocked down in Longwood off of Orlando Avenue producing property damage to a car and house. Photos were obtained.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindCasselberry$20,000Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous trees in the Casselberry area damaging a fast food store.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindGeneva$20,000Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees on a house in Geneva.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindForest City$15,000A SKYWARN spotter reported a balcony on an apartment complex being damaged by downed trees a quarter mile south of city hall in Altamonte Springs. Several other trees were also downed in the area. A photo was obtained.

Mines and quarries

12 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 12 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 7 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand11
Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Every populated place in the county

87

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.