Sebring, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sebring
settlement_type = City
nickname = The City on the Circle
motto =

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imagesize = 250x200px
image_caption = Sebring


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seal_size =
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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location in Highlands County and the state of Florida
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Highlands
government_footnotes =
government_type = Mayor-council
leader_title = Mayor
leader_name = George Hensley
established_title = Settled
established_date = 1912
established_title2 =
established_date2 =
established_title3 = Incorporated (city)
established_date3 = 1913
area_magnitude =
unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes = cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=04000US12&-_box_head_nbr=GCT-PH1&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U&-format=ST-7 |title=Florida by Place. Population, Housing, Area, and Density: 2000 |publisher-US Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-07-20]
area_total_km2 = 28.5
area_land_km2 = 13.3
area_water_km2 = 15.2
area_total_sq_mi = 11.01
area_land_sq_mi = 5.13
area_water_sq_mi = 5.88
area_water_percent = 53.4
area_metro_sq_mi =
population_as_of = 1 July 2007
population_footnotes = cite web |url=http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2007-04-12.xls |title=Annual Estimates of the population for the Incorporated Places of Florida |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2008-07-11 |format=XLS]
population_note = Census Bureau estimate
population_total = 10,780
population_density_sq_mi =
population_metro =
timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd = 27 |latm = 29 |lats = 44 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 26 |longs = 40 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes = [cite web |url=http://www.wunderground.com/US/FL/Sebring.html |title=Sebring, Florida (33870) |publisher=Weather Underground |accessdate=2007-07-20]
elevation_m = 41
elevation_ft = 139
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 33870-33872, 33875-33876
area_code = 863
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-64875GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0290806GR|3
website = [http://www.mysebring.com Official site]
footnotes =

Sebring is a city in Highlands County, Florida, United States, nicknamed "The City on the Circle", in reference to Circle Drive, the center of the Sebring Downtown Historic District.cite web |url=http://www.sebringflchamber.com/ |title=Sebring, Florida History |publisher=Sebring Chamber of Commerce |accessdate=2007-08-14] In 2007, the United States Census Bureau estimated a population of 10,780.It is the county seat of Highlands County,GR|6 and is the principal city of the Sebring Micropolitan area.cite web |url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/bulletins/fy2007/b07-01.pdf |title=List 4: Micropolitan areas |page=99 |publisher=Office of Management and Budget |accessdate=2007-07-20 |format=PDF]

Sebring is the home of the Sebring International Raceway, created on a former airbase, first used in 1950. It hosted the 1959 Formula One United States Grand Prix, but is currently best known as the host of the 12 Hours of Sebring, an annually held American Le Mans Series race. Nearby Highlands Hammock State Park is a popular attraction. Additionally, the house where novelist Rex Beach committed suicide is located on one of Sebring's main lakes, Lake Jackson.

History

Sebring was founded in 1912. It was named after George Sebring, a pottery manufacturer from Ohio who developed the city. It was chartered by the state of Florida in 1913, and was selected as the county seat of Highlands County when the county was created in 1921.cite web |url=http://www.sebringhistoricalsociety.org/ |title=Brief History of Sebring |publisher=Sebring Historical Society |accessdate=2007-07-20]

Geography and climate

Sebring is located at coor dms|27|29|44|N|81|26|40|W|city.GR|1 According to the Census Bureau, the city has a total area of convert|11.01|sqmi|km2|0, convert|5.13|sqmi|km2|0 of which is land and convert|5.88|sqmi|km2|0 of which is water. Water comprises 53.4% of the city's total area.

The city's geography is dominated by convert|9212|acre|km2|0|sing=on Lake Jackson, but convert|420|acre|km2|1|sing=on Dinner Lake and convert|137|acre|km2|1|sing=on Little Lake Jackson are also within the city limits. Highlands county has more than 84 lakescite web |url=http://www.highlandsswcd.org/everything/lake_summaries/Highlands%20County%20Lakes.htm |title=Highlands County Lakes |publisher= Highlands County Soil and Water Conservation District |accessdate=2007-07-20] , most of which are located in unincorporated areas of the county. Sebring lies on the southern end of the Lake Wales Ridge, a chain of ancient islands that is the native habitat for many rare plants and animals.cite web |url=http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/florida/preserves/art16219.html |title=Lake Wales Ridge |publisher=The Nature Conservancy |accessdate=2007-07-20] Most of the area is part of the Florida scrub ecosystem, with smaller areas of hammocks and cypress swamps, similar to those found at Highlands Hammock State Park, four miles (6 km) west of Sebring.cite press release |url=http://www.floridastateparks.org/highlandshammock/docs/HighlandHammocksBrochure.pdf |title=Highlands Hammock State Park |publisher=Florida Park System |date=January 2005|accessdate=2007-07-20|format=PDF]

Sebring's climate is a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), with hot, humid summers and cool, dry winters. Unlike most places with a similar climate classification, Sebring's rainfall is clearly seasonal, with approximately 57 percent of the total rainfall occurring in the June–September summer period. However, the variation between the wettest and driest months does not reach the threshold required for climate classification Cwa, which requires the wettest month to have ten times the precipitation of the driest month.cite web |url=http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/faoinfo/sustdev/EIdirect/climate/EIsp0066.htm |title=Brief Guide to Koeppen Climate Classification System |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |accessdate=2007-08-27]

Infobox Weather
single_line= Yes
location = Sebring, Florida
Jan_Hi_°F =73 |Jan_REC_Hi_°F =90
Feb_Hi_°F =75 |Feb_REC_Hi_°F =94
Mar_Hi_°F =79 |Mar_REC_Hi_°F =94
Apr_Hi_°F =83 |Apr_REC_Hi_°F =98
May_Hi_°F =88 |May_REC_Hi_°F =102
Jun_Hi_°F =90 |Jun_REC_Hi_°F =103
Jul_Hi_°F =91 |Jul_REC_Hi_°F =103
Aug_Hi_°F =90 |Aug_REC_Hi_°F =102
Sep_Hi_°F =89 |Sep_REC_Hi_°F =101
Oct_Hi_°F =84 |Oct_REC_Hi_°F =98
Nov_Hi_°F =79 |Nov_REC_Hi_°F =92
Dec_Hi_°F =74 |Dec_REC_Hi_°F =90
Year_Hi_°F = |Year_REC_Hi_°F = 103
Jan_Lo_°F =48 |Jan_REC_Lo_°F =18
Feb_Lo_°F =50 |Feb_REC_Lo_°F =23
Mar_Lo_°F =55 |Mar_REC_Lo_°F =23
Apr_Lo_°F =59 |Apr_REC_Lo_°F =34
May_Lo_°F =65 |May_REC_Lo_°F =44
Jun_Lo_°F =70 |Jun_REC_Lo_°F =50
Jul_Lo_°F =72 |Jul_REC_Lo_°F =60
Aug_Lo_°F =72 |Aug_REC_Lo_°F =59
Sep_Lo_°F =71 |Sep_REC_Lo_°F =58
Oct_Lo_°F =64 |Oct_REC_Lo_°F =40
Nov_Lo_°F =58 |Nov_REC_Lo_°F =29
Dec_Lo_°F =51 |Dec_REC_Lo_°F =20
Year_Lo_°F = |Year_REC_Lo_°F = 18
Jan_Precip_inch = 2.48
Feb_Precip_inch = 2.41
Mar_Precip_inch = 3.02
Apr_Precip_inch = 2.17
May_Precip_inch = 3.63
Jun_Precip_inch = 8.25
Jul_Precip_inch = 6.81
Aug_Precip_inch = 7.18
Sep_Precip_inch = 5.98
Oct_Precip_inch = 3.02
Nov_Precip_inch = 2.27
Dec_Precip_inch = 1.87
Year_Precip_inch =49.09
source =The Weather Channel cite web
url=http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/USFL0451 |title=Monthly Averages for Sebring, FL| accessdate=2007-07-28 | publisher =The Weather Channel]
accessdate = 2007-07-28

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 9,667 people, 3,969 households, and 2,305 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,883.7/mi² (727.6/km²). There were 5,024 housing units at an average density of 979.0/mi² (378.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.81% White, 15.69% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 5.06% from other races, and 2.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.00% of the population.

There were 3,969 households out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 27.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,555, and the median income for a family was $29,915. Males had a median income of $21,799 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,125. About 17.4% of families and 23.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.0% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2000, speakers of English as a first language accounted for 89.39% of residents. Other languages in the city included Spanish, spoken by 10.18% of the city's residents, and French, spoken by 0.42%. [cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&zip=&place_id=64875&cty_id=&ll=top&a=n&ea=n&order=r |title=MLA Data Center Results for Sebring, Florida |publisher=Modern Language Association |accessdate=2007-10-14]

Education

According to the 2000 American Community Survey (conducted by the US Census Bureau), 13.8% of all adults over the age of 25 in Sebring have obtained a bachelor's degree, as compared to a national average of 24.4% of adults over 25, and 67.6% of Sebring residents over the age of 25 have earned a high school diploma, as compared to the national average of 80.4%. [cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=sebring&_cityTown=sebring&_state=04000US12&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y |title=Sebring city, Florida – Fact Sheet |publisher=US Census Bureau |accessdate=2007-09-13] The School Board of Highlands County operates eight public schools drawing from the city of Sebring with a combined enrollment of approximately 6200 students; one kindergarten center, four elementary schools (1st through 5th grades), two middle schools (6th through 8th grades), and one high school (Sebring High School). [cite web |url=http://www.highlands.k12.fl.us/schools.html |title= Sebring Area Schools |publisher=School Board of Highlands County |accessdate=2007-09-13] Three of the elementary schools and one of the middle schools received "A" grades under Florida's A+ school grading plan, [cite web |url=http://schoolgrades.fldoe.org/pdf/0607/School_Grades_07_PressPack1-2.pdf |title=Grading Florida Public Schools 2007-2007 |publisher=Florida Department of Education |accessdate=2007-09-13 |format=PDF] based on pupil results on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test; none of the schools received a "D" or "F" grade. [cite web |url=http://www.highlands.k12.fl.us/grade.html |title=Highlands County School Grades |publisher=School Board of Highlands County |accessdate=2007-09-13] The county's graduation rate of 69.6% is below the state average, and the dropout rate of 5.7% is above the state average of 3.5%. [cite web |url=http://www.fldoe.org/eias/eiaspubs/2006grad.asp |title=http://www.fldoe.org/eias/eiaspubs/2006grad.asp |publisher=Florida Department of Education |accessdate=2007-09-13]

There is one community college in Highlands County, South Florida Community College; its main campus is located just north of Sebring in neighboring Avon Park. There are no four-year colleges in Sebring or in the county.

Transportation

Sebring has no interstate highways or other limited access roads. U.S. Route 27 (cosigned with U.S. Route 98 in Sebring) is the major artery providing access to the rest of the state. State Road 17 begins in Sebring and heads north to its terminus in Haines City. State Road 64 (to the north) and State Road 66 (to the south) are important secondary roads. Several of Sebring's streets are named after automobile manufacturers or their models, as is evident in Porsche Avenue, Vantage Terrace, Corvette Avenue, and Thunderbird Road, to name a few.

Sebring Regional Airport is located a few miles southeast of the city and provides general aviation facilities for Sebring. The airport is also the home of the Sebring International Raceway, the host of the 12 Hours of Sebring American Le Mans Series automobile race, held annually in March. The nearest regularly scheduled passenger service is provided at Orlando International Airport, convert|70|mi|km|-1 to the north.

The city is served by Amtrak, with daily service aboard the Silver Meteor and Silver Star heading south to Miami and north to Tampa, Orlando and New York City. CSX Transportation owns the track over which Amtrak operates. The South Central Florida Express railroad connects to the CSX line in Sebring, allowing transportation of sugar from Clewiston to the rest of the country.

Media

Television

Sebring is located in a fringe viewing area; its television stations originate in distant cities. Local television services offer signals from WFTV, the ABC affiliate in Orlando; WINK, the CBS affiliate in Fort Myers/Naples; WFLA, the Tampa Bay area NBC affiliate; and WTVT, the Tampa Bay area Fox affiliate.

Radio

Sebring is the largest city in the Sebring radio market, which is ranked as the 288th largest in the United States by Arbitron.cite web |url=http://www.radioandrecords.com/RRRatings/DetailsPage.aspx?MID=297&RY=2007&RQ=2&MP=0&OTHER=2&MN=Sebring&MS=FL&MR=288&12P=84400&UP=8/1/2007%2012:00:00%20AM&SU=S&BPER=8.6&HPER=12.6&OPER=&NSD=&CE=0
title=Ratings–Sebring Market |publisher=Arbitron |accessdate=2007-08-13] Radio stations broadcasting from Sebring include WGSE (95.7FM/Religious), WWLL (105.7FM/Adult Contemporary), WITS (1340AM/Standards), and WJCM (1050AM/Oldies).

Newspapers

Local print media include the "News-Sun", a newspaper published on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and "Highlands Today", a daily local supplement to "The Tampa Tribune" that covers newsworthy events in Highlands County. The weekly "Lake Placid Journal", printed in nearby Lake Placid, is also available.

Famous people from Sebring

- Tom Gordon, Major League Baseball player
- Gabe White, Major League Baseball player
- Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient and America's second-highest-scoring fighter ace, with 38 aerial victories in World War II.

References

External links

* [http://www.sebringflchamber.com/ Sebring Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.highlands.k12.fl.us/~shs/ Sebring High School]
* [http://www.myhlc.org/spl/ Sebring Public Library]
* [http://www.newssun.com/ News-Sun]
* [http://www.highlandstoday.com/ Highlands Today]
*wikitravel|Sebring