• Early Settlement & Fort Concord: The area’s history dates back to Native American occupation between 800–1500 CE. In 1849, Fort Concord, a blockhouse built on Lake Concord, was constructed during the Seminole Wars to protect settlers. 

• Homesteading Families: From the 1850s onward, pioneers including Stephen J.L. Hooker settled the region; his 1887 Hooker Homestead on Lake Griffin remains the oldest surviving building. 

• Fern Industry Emergence: In the 1920s, Gordon J. Barnett established large-scale fern production around Lake Concord, contributing to the area’s nickname “Fern Park.” 

• Hibbard Casselberry’s Influence: An entrepreneur from Illinois, Hibbard Casselberry began developing land in the late 1920s. In 1926, he became Barnett’s sales agent, then branched out to establish his own fernery and residential subdivisions. On October 10, 1940, Casselberry was incorporated as a “tax‑free town”, largely to attract residents—and remained so until 1976 when property taxes were reinstated. 

• World War II Pivot: Fern cultivation lost prominence during WWII, and Casselberry’s operations converted to manufacturing parachutes, tent liners, and other supplies—even operating a race track and hotel. 

• Post‑war Suburban Growth: Following the Baby Boom era, Casselberry expanded rapidly into a suburban community. In 1965, it officially became the City of Casselberry, added formal governance and utility taxes, and continued developing through the 1970s–80s