Local legend says that railroad magnate Henry B. Plant never came to Plant City—true or not, he played a significant role in the development of the area. The original community settlement, known as Shiloh, was north of the current town center; a walk through the historic Shiloh Cemetery is a walk through the history of Plant City, with granite markers dating back as 1841. It wasn't until the mid-1880s that Plant extended his South Florida Railroad through the area, providing a means for growth and prosperity. Plant City was incorporated in 1885, and the rest is Florida history.