Elder Spring is a historic spring site in Seminole County near Sanford that was once associated with the small community of Elder Springs, a locally known settlement that developed during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Historical records describe the area as a spring-fed community centered around churches, homes, and businesses near present-day SR 417 and Ronald Reagan Boulevard. By the early 1900s, water from Elder Spring had become regionally known and was reportedly bottled and distributed locally. Newspaper advertisements promoted the spring water for its purity and supposed health benefits.

Unlike many larger Florida springs, Elder Spring appears to have been heavily modified over time. St. Johns River Water Management District records describe the spring as a shallow seep that was enclosed within a concrete structure and connected to a clay pipe system. When surveyed in 2000, the pipe had reportedly been filled with bricks and no spring flow was observed.

Today, Elder Spring is primarily remembered as a historical spring site tied to the early development of the Sanford area rather than as an active recreational spring destination.

Nearby Springs

• Palm Springs (Seminole County)
• Starbuck Spring
• Sanlando Springs
• Wekiwa Springs
• Rock Springs

More Resources

• St. Johns River Water Management District
• Facebook Post about the spring
• Florida History Blog – nice post about the spring