Zolfo Springs, FL

Zolfo Springs sits near the center of Hardee County on the Peace River, where the Florida Cracker Trail and the old railroad route meet. The town’s name comes from the sulfur-smelling springs that Italian and Spanish phosphate dredgers found along the river in the early 1800s. The Florida Southern Railroad opened a depot in 1886, the post office followed that year, and the place became Zolfo Springs in 1909. Pioneer Park keeps the regional history close to the water, with a museum, wildlife refuge, trails, boat ramp, and access to the Peace River. The local shorthand is trail, spring, river, and a town that grew around all four.