Ybor City is Tampa's historic cigar district northeast of downtown, founded by Vicente Martinez Ybor in 1886 and designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1990. Its housing mixes restored casitas, lofts in former cigar factories, and new townhomes and apartments, with 7th Avenue and the TECO Line streetcar at its center.
Ybor City was built as a company town for the cigar industry beginning in 1886 and for a time led the world in cigar production. The National Historic Landmark District preserves 956 historic buildings, from brick factories and social clubs to the casitas where workers lived. Today it is Tampa’s most distinctive urban neighborhood, a streetcar ride from downtown.
Shane Vanderson works with buyers and sellers in Ybor City from Engel & Völkers South Tampa, with emphasis on restored casitas and factory lofts.
Living in Ybor City
7th Avenue is the main street, with restaurants, bars, Centro Ybor, and the Columbia Restaurant. The TECO Line streetcar runs from Ybor through the Channel District to downtown and the Riverwalk. The Ybor City Museum State Park, the Italian Club, the Cuban Club, and the J.C. Newman cigar factory anchor the historic fabric, and the Ybor City Saturday Market fills Centennial Park. I-4 and the Selmon Expressway are minutes away, downtown Tampa is five to ten minutes, and Tampa International Airport is typically 15 to 20 minutes.
The Ybor City market
Three housing types trade here. Casitas, the small frame cottages built for cigar workers, line the residential streets north of 7th Avenue, many restored. Lofts and condominiums occupy converted cigar factories and newer buildings near the avenue. Townhomes and apartments have filled infill lots since the 2010s, and large mixed-use projects east and south of the district continue to add supply.
Inside the landmark district, exterior changes go through the Barrio Latino Commission, the city’s architectural review board for Ybor, which reviews additions, windows, porches, and new construction for compatibility. Interior work does not need review. Confirm whether a specific parcel sits inside the district boundary before you plan a project. Buying a historic home in South Tampa explains how local review works in Tampa generally.
Boundaries
Northeast of downtown Tampa. The National Historic Landmark District is bounded roughly by 6th Avenue, 13th Street, 10th Avenue, and 22nd Street, plus East Broadway between 13th and 22nd Streets, in three sections divided by I-4 and Nuccio Parkway. The wider neighborhood extends north toward 21st Avenue and south to Adamo Drive. ZIPs 33605 and 33602.
Homes in Ybor City
Restored and original casitas, the frame cottages built for cigar workers from the 1890s to the 1920s; lofts and condominiums in converted cigar factories and newer mid-rise buildings; and townhomes and apartments on infill lots built since the 2010s. Exterior changes inside the landmark district require Barrio Latino Commission review.
Nearby amenities
7th Avenue restaurants and nightlife; Centro Ybor; the Columbia Restaurant; the TECO Line streetcar to the Channel District and downtown; Ybor City Museum State Park; the Italian Club and the Cuban Club; J.C. Newman Cigar Company; Centennial Park and the Saturday Market; the Channel District and Water Street; Tampa International Airport, typically 15 to 20 minutes.
Loads Google Maps.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ybor City a historic district?
Yes. It was listed on the National Register in 1974 and designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1990, with 956 historic buildings. The City of Tampa’s Barrio Latino Commission reviews exterior changes within the district.
What is a casita?
A small frame cottage, often a shotgun plan with a front porch, built for cigar workers between the 1890s and 1920s. Restored casitas are the neighborhood’s signature single-family homes.
Do I need approval to renovate in Ybor City?
For exterior work inside the landmark district, yes, through the Barrio Latino Commission. Interior renovations do not require review. Confirm whether a specific address is inside the district boundary.
How do you get from Ybor City to downtown Tampa?
The TECO Line streetcar runs through the Channel District to downtown and the Riverwalk and is free to ride. By car, downtown is five to ten minutes.
Where do the Ybor City market figures on this page come from?
The key-facts table is pulled from Stellar MLS and shows the month it was updated. Casitas, factory lofts, and new townhomes behave differently, so rely on a direct valuation for a specific property.
