Sanford is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Seminole County. As of the 2018 census, the city had a population of 60,035.
Known as the “Historic Waterfront Gateway City,” Sanford sits on the southern shore of Lake Monroe at the head of navigation on the St. Johns River. Native Americans first settled in the area thousands of years before the city was formed. The Seminoles would arrive in the area in the 18th century. During the Second Seminole War in 1836, the United States Army established Camp Monroe and built a road that is currently known as Mellonville Avenue. The city sits approximately 20 miles (32Â km) northeast of Orlando.
Sanford is located in northern Seminole County. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.5 square miles (68.63Â km2), 22.96 square miles (59.47Â km2) of which is land and 3.54 square miles (9.17Â km2) of which is water. Sanford is bordered by Lake Mary to the southwest and to the north by Lake Monroe and DeBary.
Sanford Demographic Profile
| Statistic | Sanford | Florida | National |
| Population | 60,035 | 19,934,451 | 318,558,162 |
| Population Density (Sq mi) | 2,450 | 410 | 91 |
| Median age | 34.8 | 41.6 | 37.7 |
| Male/Female ratio | 0.9:1 | 1.0:1 | 1.0:1 |
| Married (15 yrs & older) | 44% | 54% | 55% |
| Families with kids under 18 | 47% | 38% | 43% |
| Speak English | 75% | 72% | 79% |
| Speak Spanish | 20% | 21% | 13% |
Sanford Population Breakdown by Race
| Race | Sanford | Florida | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 63.55% | 75.90% | 73.35% |
| Black or African American | 26.36% | 16.14% | 12.63% |
| Asian | 3.20% | 2.61% | 5.22% |
| American Indian | 0.33% | 0.27% | 0.82% |
| Native Hawaiian | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.18% |
| Mixed Race | 4.41% | 2.48% | 3.06% |
| Other Race | 2.14% | 2.54% | 4.75% |
