History

Don Vincente Martinez Ybor: Tampa's First Industrial Baron

Vincente Martinez Ybor

Vincente Martinez Ybor was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1818. At the age of fourteen he went to Havana and in 1853 founded a cigar factory of his own. In 1869, he moved his plant to Key West. Although Ybor found certain conditions in Key West to be favorable to his industry, he also discovered some problems. Just as there had been labor unrest in Cuba, there were also such concerns in Key West. A more serious drawback, however, was the lack of a transportation system.

In 1885 Ybor entered into negotiations with the Tampa Board of Trade. He was particularly interested in Tampa because the year before, in 1884, Henry Bradley Plant had completed construction of a railroad line into Tampa. The citizens of Tampa extended favorable financial terms and Ybor, with several of his fellow factory owners such as Serafin Sanchez and Ignacio Haya, built factories in Tampa.

Although there were a number of owners in Tampa, Ybor himself was the one who was responsible for developing Ybor City. It was he who constructed the mass of worker's cottages known as shotgun houses.

Ybor was not unique in providing housing for his workers. However, what set his project apart from other "company towns" was that he enabled the workers to purchase their houses rather than just renting them. These employees were more likely to stay in Tampa because they owned their homes and therefore would be a more stable work force. Their ability to own their homes gave these people a special sense of independence and self-respect that was invaluable to them.

Martinez Ybor died in 1896 and was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery.

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