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

Hugh C. Macfarlane

1851-1935

— Founder of West Tampa —

Hugh C. Macfarlane Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tampapix.com

1. Hugh C. Macfarlane Marker

Image appears courtesy of Tampapix.com

Inscription. His was a life of achievements – a great lawyer, pioneer land developer, public servant and a Tampa booster. Had the honor of serving as State's Attorney, Tampa City Attorney, Port Commissioner, and Supt. of Public Works. In 1892, converted 200 acres of an alligator infested wilderness into the City of West Tampa. Donated lands and buildings to cigar manufacturers, constructed the Fortune St. bridge and a streetcar line. In 1908, donated 40 acres for the creation of Macfarlane Park.

Macfarlane had "the canniness of a Scot, the resourcefulness of an American and the genuine wit and wisdom of a Florida Cracker."

Erected 1985 by the Tampa Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 27° 57.455′ N, 82° 29.599′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is at the intersection of North MacDill Avenue and West Main Street, on the right when traveling south on North MacDill Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1700 North MacDill Avenue, Tampa FL 33607, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George Guida (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Beginning of the Cigar Industry in West Tampa

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(approx. 0.6 miles away); West Tampa Free Public Library (approx. 0.6 miles away); Centro Español de West Tampa (approx. 0.7 miles away); Rough Rider Encampment (approx. 0.7 miles away); The West Tampa Boys Club (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Andres Diaz Building (approx. ¾ mile away); Academy of The Holy Names (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

More about this marker. The marker is capped with the crest of the Tampa Historical Society.

Macfarlane Park, where the marker is erected, is operated by the City of Tampa, and includes recreational facilities and trails, a Senior Citizens Center, and the city's first universally accessible playground.

Regarding Hugh C. Macfarlane. Hugh C. Macfarlane was a native of Scotland who immigrated with his parents to the United States in 1865. He studied law at Boston University and practiced in Boston and New Orleans prior to moving to Tampa in 1884.

Macfarlane came to Tampa in time to witness the birth of Ybor City, the factory boom-town immediately northeast of

Hugh C. Macfarlane Marker after restoration image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 8, 2019

2. Hugh C. Macfarlane Marker after restoration

downtown Tampa. Born from the vision of Spanish immigrant and businessman Vicente Martinez-Ybor, the town lured major cigar producers along with thousands of immigrant factory workers, becoming a major center for cigar manufacturing. Macfarlane admired Ybor's success and made his own plans to develop a similar manufacturing center on Tampa's west side.

Macfarlane owned a large tract of mostly undeveloped land about 1.5 mile west of the city, and from this location in 1892 he offered free land and buildings to cigar manufacturers wishing to set up operations there. He added much needed infrastructure to make the area accessible, including the first bridge to cross the Hillsborough River and a streetcar line connecting the development to Tampa. Like Ybor, Macfarlane's efforts were extremely successful and transformative, such that by 1895, cigar factories and a resident population full of Cuban, Spanish, and Sicilian immigrants were thriving in the newly incorporated City of West Tampa.

Macfarlane donated land to the West Tampa government for the creation of a city park, and when it opened in 1909, it was named in his honor. He also was responsible for appealing to the Carnegie Foundation and convincing philanthropist Andrew Carnegie to build a West Tampa Library, which became the first public library in Hillsborough County.

Macfarlane's vision for West Tampa

Macfarlane Park Archway image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, September 5, 2011

3. Macfarlane Park Archway

Built in 1909, the archway serves as the main entrance to the park, which was created on land donated by Hugh Macfarlane.

was that the city remain independent, unlike Ybor City which was annexed by Tampa in 1887. Several early attempts were made by the City of Tampa to annex West Tampa, but due to opposition led by Macfarlane, these were unsuccessful. West Tampa remained an independent city for the next three decades, and at one point was the fifth-largest city in Florida. By 1925, the two neighboring cities had grown such that a merger seemed appropriate, and West Tampa was annexed into Tampa.

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

Also see . . . "Macfarlane Park" pages at Tampapix.com. Three-pages of recent and historical photos, including a short biography of Hugh Macfarlane. (Submitted on November 18, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 17, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,116 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 17, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 2. submitted on September 21, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 3. submitted on November 17, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.