Ybor, Vicente Martinez, 1818-1896

Factory owner.

Don Vincente Martinez Ybor was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1818. At the age of fourteen he went to Havana, Cuba, and in 1853 founded a cigar factory of his own. In 1869, he moved his plant to Key West, Florida. Although Ybor found certain conditions in Key West to be favorable to his industry, labor unrest was a concern in Key West. A more serious drawback, however, was the lack of a transportation system. In 1885 Ybor negotiated with Tampa, Florida, to establish a trade zone.

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 because they owned their homes and would be a stable work force. He constructed the mass of worker's cottages known as shotgun houses. He is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery in Tampa.

From the description of Will of Don Vicente Martinez Ybor, 1896? (University of Florida). WorldCat record id: 49521591