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This collection includes items relating to the history of the development of Sun City Center, beginning in 1962. Pictured is Del E. Webb, founder of Sun City Center

Items in the collection not other wise classified

This folder will contain items relating to general South County history, not otherwise classified. Items relating to specific towns will be found in that town's section.

This folder contains photos of general South County history. Photos relating to a specific town will be found in that town's collections.

Written histories and memoirs of South Hillsborough County. (Items related to a specific South Shore Community will be found in that town's collection.)

A collection of historical photographs depicting Sun City Center

Del Webb (who was half owner of the New York Yankees) built the Kings Inn with a luxury restaurant and a 20 unit motel in just 30 days. Businessmen from Tampa and Sarasota would often fly in for lunch and a private place to talk. There was an airstrip across 674 from the Inn. The taxiway is now the Winn Dixie parking lot. During the first years, houses were built on a 45 day schedule; up to five houses were started each day. Sun City Center residents moved into their brand new houses in April 1962. The barbershop, beauty shop, full-sized grocery, and pharmacy were opened and fully stocked before the first residents moved in. At present day, there are over 200 clubs for the residents. There’s never a lack of something to do in this premier 55+ community that was a replica of Del Webb’s housing developments in Arizona and California.

In this collection, both written and oral histories (and memoirs of life in Riverview) will be found. PIcture is a Burgert Brothers Photograph of the construction of the Alafia Bridge (at today's US 310) in Riverview. July 1930.

Historical photographs of Gibsonton. Photos specifically referring to the Carnival Industry are contained in the "Gibtown" collection.

The Alafia River dominates the landscape of Riverview and was crucial to its selection as a settlement site. This collection will highlight items specifically relating to the Alafia River.