Valrico
Valrico began as a region of cotton plantations known as Long Pond. The arrival of the Florida Central and Peninsular Railroad in 1890 brought many new immigrants from points north. William G. Tousey, a philosophy professor from Tufts College, gave the community its current name, which is derived from a Spanish phrase meaning "valley of gold".
Valrico’s predominant industries were lumber, citrus, and local clay. Two major packing houses Fugazzi and the Florida Citrus Exchange handled most of Valrico’s citrus harvest in the pre-World War II era. Local clay was used in making bricks, and Valrico brick was used in 1916 to construct the area’s bank as well as a large civic building, which is still in use today as the home of the James McCabe Theatre home of the Village Players Theatrical Company.
The original street arrangement and a portion of the groves survive to reflect the historic character of the community. Today, the heart of Valrico is the busy intersection and business district located south of the little triangular park which the community was originally based around. Today, Valrico boasts a population of over 8000 residents.
|
|

Community Links
|