The name of the town got its name in the early 1800s, when a crew of miners from Spain and Italy looking for phosphate were sailing along the Peace River and came upon the spring, noting it had a strong sulfuric smell.

Cattle herded from this area and the Florida Heartland was run to the coasts along this route as early as 1850.

[1][8] In 1886, transportation improved through Zolfo when the Florida Southern Railway (later the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad) was built through the town on its way from Bartow to Punta Gorda.

[1] The approximate coordinates for the Town of Zolfo Springs is located at the geographic center of Hardee County, at 27°29′46″N 81°47′49″W / 27.49611°N 81.79694°W / 27.49611; -81.79694 (27.496211, –81.796878).

SR 66 leaves US 17 at the center of Zolfo Springs and leads east 25 miles (40 km) to U.S. Route 27 at the south end of Sebring.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Zolfo Springs has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.5 km2), all of it land.

The Peace River, which flows south to Punta Gorda, forms part of the northern town boundary.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters.