Sanford tourist information
Sanford, the seat of Seminole County, lies on the south shore of Lake Monroe at the head of navigation on the historic and beautiful St. Johns River.
Experience the charm and ambiance of Sanford's 19th century buildings, pristine waterfront, unique shops and restaurants.
During the 1830's, the area was the site of a U.S. Army post named Camp Monroe. After battle with Seminole Indians the site was named Ft. Mellon in honor of Capt. Charles Mellon who was killed in the engagement. In subsequent years, the community around the fort became known as Mellonville.
Today, Sanford is one of Florida's fastest growing areas with the 4th busiest international airport in Florida, Orlando Sanford International Airport, with more than 1 million passengers each year. Domestic air service onboard Pan Am is also available to the northeast and Midwest on a daily basis. Sanford is also home to the southern most terminal for Amtrak's Auto Train.
In 1661 a lumberman named William Phillips, who owned several mills along the Saco River, purchased a large tract of land from the Indian Chief Fluellin plus another from Chief John Rogomock. That purchase encompassed what is now the town of Sanford plus some area from its surrounding towns. The parcel was called "Phillipstown" and remained uninhabited until 1739.
Once settlement began, the town grew rapidly. An unofficial census in 1752 listed 100 residents, while the first official census taken in 1790 listed 1,799. Residents petitioning for town status finally succeeded in 1768. Maine was then a province of Massachusetts, so the Governor of Massachusetts was responsible for signing the incorporation papers. He exercised his right to choose a name for the town, and selected "Sanford" in honor of Peleg Sanford, stepson of William Phillips and former four-term Governor for the State of Rhode Island.
Although there was some activity with production at twelve sawmills, growth in the early 19th century was slow, as farmers and woodsmen moved in from nearby Maine towns and from Massachusetts. Agriculture predominated until the late 1860's when Thomas Goodall established Goodall Mills. At first the plant made only carriage robes and blankets but later expanded to produce railroad car upholstery, carpets, draperies, auto fabrics, armed service uniforms, and material for men and women's clothing under the "Palm Beach" label. Skilled textile workers were attracted to Sanford from the woolen centers of England, the French-speaking provinces of Canada, and from other foreign countries.
Springvale got its name sometime in the late 1820's when that part of town became the site of a large calico cloth printing plant. The plant was situated on the west bank of the Mousam River near a natural spring which still flows there. In a ceremony to formally launch the new enterprise, Elder Thomas Greenhalgh, one of the new firm's owners, mounted a box and offered a prayer. Someone in the crowd asked what the place should be called. Greenhalgh said "spring ... vale," motioning toward the flowing spring and river valley. The firm was subsequently named Springvale Print Works. It continued in operation until 1853 when the plant and most of its adjacent buildings were destroyed by fire.
In 1954 when the Goodall Mills closed, the Sanford•Springvale Chamber of Commerce was formed to both sustain and expand the community's economy. Today the industrial base in the Town is diversified with forty plus firms producing a vast array of items from woolens to aircraft and their components.
Sanford North Carolina
Sanford is also fortuitously located in the geographic heart of North Carolina, with convenient access to the amenities of the world-renowned Research Triangle to our north, and the equally renowned golf courses and resorts of Pinehurst and Southern Pines in the Sandhills to our south. While our moderate climate and four distinct seasons make life a pleasure year-round, for those who like even more variety, we’re a mere two hours from the sunny shores of the Atlantic and just three hours from the pristine streams and evergreen forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Incorporated in 1768, Sanford is a quiet town, offering a host of year-round activities for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts and performing arts buffs alike.
Built in 1914 by the Goodall family, the Goodall Park is a 784-seat roofed stadium, a treasured historical site.
McDougal Orchards Ski Trails is well known for its pick your own apples in the fall and scenic cross-country skiing in the winter.
Mousam Way Trail offers 3.5 miles of riverside scenery to hikers, runners, cyclists, and cross-country skiers alike.
During warm weather months, water skiing is a popular spectator sport. The Number One Pond /Gowen Park is the where locals and visitors can watch the state and national water ski tournaments. The park is also a site for band concerts.
The Pine Tree Players Community Theatre sponsors local performing arts productions. Meanwhile, Chunky’s Cinema is the place to go to view feature films from the comfort of leather Lincoln Town Car chairs.
Wilderness fans have their choice of pitching a tent at one of several area campgrounds, including Apache Campgrounds, Sand Pond Campground, and Yellowstone Park-ME.
Sanford New York
The Town of Sanford lies in the extreme eastern part of the County. It is bounded on the north by Chenango County, east by Deleware County, south by the Pennsylvania State Lines, and west by the Towns of Colesville and Windsor. The town was formed on April 2, 1821, from the Town of Windsor. Sanford is the largest town in area in the County. Deposit is the only incorporated village; North Sanford and McClure settlements being the largest among the other unincorporated villages of the town.
Sanford aerial map
Please click on any icon on the Sanford aerial tourist map, to find close by places, offering hotels and tourist information. You can zoom in and zoom out our touristical map as well as switch between satelite and map view of Sanford.
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