Baseball fans will be interested to know that Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Matt Joyce grew up in Seffner. Joyce was born in Tampa in 1984 before his family came to the city. He attended Armwood High School before going on to Florida Southern College, and his major league debut was for the Detroit Tigers before coming to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009.
Seffner was founded in the late 1800s; the exact date is unknown, but street plans may have been laid out as early as 1862 before being formally enacted decades later. The city was named after F. P. Seffner, who ran the first post office when it opened in 1884. Seffner covers 3.7 square miles of land and has a population of 7,579 people. It is located in Hillsborough County and incorporates Lake Hooker to the southeast of town and Lake Weeks to the northeast.
Moving to Seffner
Rental homes in Seffner are easy to come by, with over half of the houses in the area occupied by renters. Most of the housing for rent is detached and fairly modern; rents are also very reasonable considering what's available. If you are hoping to buy a house, there are also great options at relatively low prices. Good places to live are all over town, so do a little hunting and you will quickly find the right rental properties for you.
Prospective residents are also in luck when it comes to apartments for rent. Seffner offers a mix of apartment complexes and individual buildings to suit everyone's needs. The individual buildings tend to be quite small, with only around two apartments per structure. This offers more options when it comes to studio apartments, if you are willing to do a little extra searching. Most apartments in town are occupied by owners, so if you are looking to purchase a place you are in luck. There are good selections at reasonable prices, especially if you are interested in a condo.
Neighborhoods in Seffner
Seffner isn't a big place, but it has a lot of variety and there is a range of neighborhoods to choose from. Your selection really depends on what your needs are. This outline of a few neighborhoods in the city should give you an idea of what to expect.
Lake Weeks: Lake Weeks is a gated subdivision on the northern shore of the lake itself, and many homes offer direct lake access from private docks. Nearby you will find the Seffner-Mango Branch Library, great places to eat like Michelle's Cakes Galore, and retail shops in Mango Plaza. This small community is close to Interstates 4 and 175 and Highways 92 and 574, making it great for commuting or long-distance travel.
Hickory Hill: Hickory Hill is a suburban neighborhood just north of Seffner city center, near Route 92. Most of the residences are houses, but there are a few apartment buildings and condos as well. This area is also close to the library, as well as Darby Lake, and dog owners will be pleased to learn it is less than ten minutes away from the charming Mango Dog Park.
Parsons Pointe: This is a small deed-restricted community in the north west of Seffner, right on Hillsborough Avenue on Route 92 and less than half an hour from Tampa. There are a number of restaurant options in the area, including Carolyns Freaky Tiki Hut for adventurous diners and a Cracker Barrel for those with simpler tastes. If you are looking to burn off some calories, Parsons Pointe is just five minutes from Lake Weeks where you can fish and sail to your heart's content.
Shangri La: Shangri La is a small, pleasant neighborhood with a great deal of houses to choose from. It is a five-minute drive from the center of town, and only a few minutes from Route 92. You will find plenty to do nearby, including shopping in the city center and eating at the Plummer Family Restaurant or Mary's Miracle Restaurant. Shangri La is also close to Darby Lake and less than ten minutes from E.L. Bing Park.
Apartment Communities
Lakewood Pointe Apartments: This complex is located on Lakewood Pointe Drive in west Seffner. Lakewood Pointe offers a range of sizes, from small one bedroom apartments with one bath to places with four bedrooms and three baths. There is quick access to Interstates 4 and 75, and it is only a short distance from Tampa and Brandon by car. Amenities include a 24-hour gym, pool, and access to Wi-Fi. The very reasonable rent covers water and garbage services.
Valley View Garden Homes: Located on Valley View Drive in the west of town, this complex is made up of duplexes with fenced back yards. The properties are bigger than those in Lakewood Pointe, with the smallest option being a two bed and one-and-a-half baths floor plan. Prices are reasonable and include amenities such as on-site dumpsters, carpet cleaning, and 24-hour emergency maintenance. Like Lakewood Pointe, it is conveniently close to Interstates 4 and 75 as well as Tampa and Brandon, and easily accessible from the center of town.
Living in Seffner
Public transportation in Seffner is mainly provided by the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART). There are buses going right through town and across the county. The nearest Amtrak station is ten miles away from the town center in Tampa, so you can get a bus or a cab if you are planning a trip. Driving will make it easier to navigate the city quickly, but the HART service is great and there when you need it.
For a small town, Seffner really knows how to enjoy itself. Nature lovers will enjoy being surrounded by strawberry farms and beautiful lakes. You can go fishing and boating on Lake Weeks and Lake Hooker, or simply take a stroll around to check out the diverse Florida wildlife.
For more urban entertainment, Seffner is full of stores and restaurants. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in the west of town is home to the bustling North Grove Shopping Center and right down the street from the Mango Plaza shopping area. If you want to visit even more stores, spend 10 minutes in the car and you will be in Brandon, home of the large Westfield mall. When it comes to food, Seffner has a lot to offer. Visit the Plummer Family Restaurant for some of their famous home cooking, or go over to County Road 579 to the west of town and visit the quirky Exit 10 Restaurant and Pub. Not only is the food great, it's shaped like an RV.
Seffner and the towns around it love annual events and festivals, so start marking your summer calendar now. Highlights include Brandon's annual Denizens of the Deep Seafood Festival, and Seffner's own Annual Mustang, Shelby, and Ford Roundup. If you love food, head along to Tampa for the annual Pig Jam: Florida State's annual Championship BBQ Competition. Whatever you enjoy doing, you can do it in Seffner.
