[Blue Grass Fever]

Hi,
This is going to be a rather strange inquiry so here it goes. I collect maps, anything and everything to do with maps. I so happen to come across this brochure for Sebring, Florida from the 50's. It is quite funny looking through this brochure advertising suburbia. I have always been curious as to how this perfect-planned surburbia (as the brochure would indicate) has turned out. Is there anyone out there with the scoop of Sebring, Fl.?

If anyone wants me to, i can download a pic of the brochure.

[pslOldTimer]

It's doing very well, thank you. Sebring is a city I enjoy visiting, and I once seriously considered making it my reitrement home, before my daughter and her family settle in Okeechobee (45 miles away from Sebring), and we purchased property next door to hers.

Here is a link to a brief history and a comparison of that history to today's Sebring:
http://www.sebringflchamber.com/history.htm (broken link)

[Jammie]

Yup, just like OldTimer said, it's alive and well. We have family there and are going down for Christmas. It's a nice town and is more then likely the place we'll end up at. It'd be nice if you could post the old pics of it here. There is ONE thing I don't like about Sebring. It seems to be spread out so far. You have to drive quite a ways just to get your errands done.

[kath2210]

I live in Sebring, have been here since 1985. It has grown quite a bit over the years. Population is apx 11,000+ in the summer months and almost doubles in the winter due to the snowbirds. There are 3 towns in Highlands County with Sebring being the largest. The main drag is highway 27 with the majority of stores along it. There's a mall here, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Office Max and Office Depot, etc. Home Depot and Lowes. They're building a strip mall with Ross, Marshalls, Michaels and a couple other stores next year. It's not the same town it was back in the 50's as one post suggested. The school system is fair. Four elementary schools with Sun-N-Lake and Cracker Trail being the better of the 4. Two middle schools and 1 high school. Good place to raise kids because of the small town atmosphere but not much for teenagers to do here. But then we're only about 100 miles from either coast, Tampa and Orlando, for weekend fun. Job market here is not so hot, pay is terrible compared to up north, depending on what your occupation is. Property tax and homeowner's insurance has risen due to the hurricanes but not has bad here as on the coast. Overall, not a bad place to live esp. if you have family.

[paulaevans]

I can only assume you are over 75.

[kath2210]

Not hardly........48. We raised our family here. Have YOU ever been to Highlands County?

[Jammie]

Lake Placid is the best!! For small towns in Fla., it's the prettiest town I've ever seen. I love the artwork on the buildings and it's fun trying to find the hidden pics in it. Unfortunately, I think the job market there may be worse then it is in Sebring.

[Not So Lost]

I grew up in Sebring and live here with my family, we have two small children. It is basically set up for retiree's. If you come with your own money, you'll do fine. But do not expect to make it here. People who have lived her for generations are moving out because the "new comers" do not like the way we do things (yet, isn't that why they moved here?). It is getting crowded, 2000 new homes are planned for the south Sebring area within the next 3 years. Plenty of golf courses and fishing.

[kath2210]

We're also "not for long" here......and I agree, it IS set up for retirees. It was a nice place to raise our kids but they're grown and gone from here and now it's time for us to leave too.

[grammy164]

Are you both just leaving Sebring or are you leaving Florida? Just curious.