Historic Ybor

The District is named for cigar factory owner Vincente M. Ybor, as it was built to house his factories and their workers. His factory moved from Key West to present day Ybor City in 1886. Other manufacturers of hand-rolled cigars soon followed, and by the end of the 19th century Ybor City and Tampa were the worlds largest producer. In the late 1800's and early 1900's, Ybor City was home to many Cuban, Spanish and Italian immigrants, most of whom came to work in the area's numerous cigar factories. With the advent of mechanization, the cigar factories closed.

Ybor City is Tampa's National Historic Landmark District. Also known as Florida's Latin Quarter, Ybor City visitors and residents experience an environment rich with culture and history, due to its wrought iron balconies, globe streetlights, brick-lined walkways and architecture of cigar factories, social clubs and other unique buildings. Today, Ybor City is a shopping, dining and entertainment district where the art of premium hand-rolled cigar continues and the nightlife is as colorful as the Spanish Flamenco dancers.