Ybor City in Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

First Citizen

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, August 21, 2023

1. First Citizen Marker

Inscription. The first citizen of Ybor City was Gavino Gutierrez, Spanish civil engineer.

Gutierrez investigated the area in 1884 as a site for a guava processing plant. The guava plant was never erected, but on the strength of Gutierrez recommendations his friends, Vicente Martinez Ybor and Ignacio Haya, brought the clear Havana cigar industry to Tampa. Gutierrez surveyed and platted what is now Ybor City and located his estate of Spanish Park on this spot. In later years it became the site of a restaurant and scene of many fiestas

This bust and plaque were originally located at the Spanish Park Restaurant. When the restaurant was demolished, the bust was moved to the Centro Asturiano Hospital but the original plaque was lost. After the Centro Asturiano hospital was demolished, the bust was relocated to the Centro Asturiano Club. This plaque is a replica of the original plaque.

Erected by Donated by the Gutierrez family.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 27° 57.718′ N, 82° 27.067′ W. Marker

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is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. It is in Ybor City. It is at the intersection of North Nebraska Avenue and East Palm Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North Nebraska Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1913 North Nebraska Avenue, Tampa FL 33602, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Tampa Bay.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: El Centro Asturiano de Tampa (a few steps from this marker); German-American Club (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Greater New Salem Primitive Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Booker T. Washington School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ybor City Historic District

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, August 21, 2023

2. First Citizen Marker

(approx. 0.3 miles away); “Cuba” (approx. 0.3 miles away); George Washington Junior High School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Sociedad La Union Marti-Maceo (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

More about this marker. Another marker used to be on East 7th Avenue with the same text sans the last paragraph..

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Gavino Gutierrez. (Submitted on August 29, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

First Citizen Marker, Bust, and Centro Asturiano de Tampa image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, August 21, 2023

3. First Citizen Marker, Bust, and Centro Asturiano de Tampa

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 29, 2023, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.