12/18/1956 AD founded
USF was the first state university in Florida built during the 20th century.
Former U.S. representative Samuel Gibbons was instrumental in the school's creation when he was a state representative and is considered by many to be the "Father of USF".
Although founded in 1956, the university was not officially named until the following year, and classes did not begin until 1960.
The university was built off Fowler Avenue on the former site of Henderson Air Field, a World War II airstrip. Before Henderson Field, the area was part of a 5,000-acre temple orange grove, the largest citrus grove in the world at the time, which gave the nearby city of Temple Terrace its name.
In 1957, the Florida Cabinet approved the name "University of South Florida".[15] At the time, USF was the southernmost university in the state university system.
Subjects Who or What founded?
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Florida (FL) Nation
Objects To Whom or What was founded?
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University of South Florida (USF) Public research universi...
Timelines (that include this event)
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