Tampa, Florida

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Tampa, Florida
City flag City seal
City nickname: Cigar City

Location in Hillsborough County, Florida
County Hillsborough County, Florida
Incorporation date 18 January 1849
Area
 - Total
 - Water

441.9 km² (170.6 mi²)
151.6 km² (58.5 mi²) 34.31%
Population
 - Total (2000)
 - Total (2004)

 - Metropolitan
 - Density

303,447
321,772
2.6 million
1,045.4/km²
Time zone Eastern: UTC–5
Location 27° 58′ 15″ N, 82° 27′ 53″ W
Mayor Pam Iorio
City of Tampa Official Website
Franklin Street, looking North, Tampa c. 1910s-1920s
Enlarge
Franklin Street, looking North, Tampa c. 1910s-1920s

Tampa is a major United States city located in Hillsborough County, on the west coast of Florida. It serves as it's county seat6. The population within the city limits in 2004, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, was 321,772; making it the third largest city in the state, following Jacksonville and Miami.

Tampa is a part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area. The four-county area is composed of roughly 2.6 million residents, making it the second largest Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the state behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, and the third largest in the southeast.


Contents

History

The word "Tampa" is an American Indian word used to refer to the area when the first European explorers arrived in Florida. Its meaning, if any, has been lost to the ages, though it is sometimes claimed to mean "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa, a Native American tribe. Other historians claim the name refers to "The place to gather sticks". "Sticks of fire" may also relate to the high concentration of lightning strikes that Tampa Bay receives every year during the hot and wet summer months. The name first appears in the "Memoir" of Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda (1575), the author of which had spent 17 years as a Calusa captive. He calls it "Tanpa" and describes it as an important Calusa town.

Spanish conquistador Pánfilo de Narváez was the first European known to have visited the Tampa area, on April 8, 1528. Hernando DeSoto arrived a year later to rescue the only remaining living member of de Narváez's expedition. A peace treaty was conducted with the local Indians and a short-lived Spanish outpost was established, but this was abandoned when it became clear that there was no gold in the area, and that the local Indians were not interested in converting to Catholicism and were too skilled as warriors to easily conquer.

When England acquired Florida in 1763, the bay was named Hillsborough Bay, after Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Spain transferred Florida to the United States in 1821 (see Adams-Onis Treaty). An Indian reservation was established in what is now north Tampa. As part of efforts to firmly establish United States control over southern Florida, then a vast swampy wilderness with sparse Seminole Indian population, a military outpost ("Cantonment Brooke") was established at what is now the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa in 1823 by Colonels George Mercer Brooke and James Gadsden. In 1824, the post was renamed Fort Brooke. It was a vital military asset in the Seminole Wars. The village of Tampa began to grow up around the fort, which was decommissioned in 1883. Except for two cannons now on the University of Tampa campus, all traces of the fort are gone.

Tampa was incorporated on January 18, 1849 with 185 inhabitants (excluding military personnel stationed at Fort Brooke). The town's first census came in 1850 when Tampa-Fort Brooke accounted for 974 residents. Tampa was reincorporated as a town on December 15, 1855, and Judge Joseph B. Lancaster became the first Mayor in 1856. During the Civil War, Fort Brooke was occupied by Confederate troops, and martial law was declared in Tampa. In 1862, a Union gunboat shelled the city during the Battle of Tampa. Union forces took Fort Brooke in May of 1864, and occupied the town for the next year.

Phosphate was discovered in the area in 1883. Tampa is now one of the world's leading phosphate exporters. Henry B. Plant's railroad reached the town shortly thereafter, enabling the commercial fishing industry to thrive.

In 1885, the Tampa Board of Trade persuaded Vincente M. Ybor to move his cigar manufacturing operations to Tampa from Key West. The Ybor City district was built to accommodate the factories and their workers. Tampa soon became a major cigar production center. Thousands of Italian (the majority coming from Alessandria Della Rocca and Santo Stefano, two small Sicilian towns which Tampa maintains strong ties with) and Cuban immigrants came to Tampa to work at the factories.

Henry Plant built a lavish luxury hotel in the city in 1883, which is now the campus of the University of Tampa.

Tampa was an embarkation center for American troops during the Spanish-American War. Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were part of the 30,000 troops stationed in Tampa for training.

In 1904, local civic association Ye Mystic Krewe "invaded" the city for the first time, establishing the yearly Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Illegal bolita lotteries became very popular among the Tampa working classes, especially in Ybor City, where many gambling parlors sprang up. Profits from the bolita lotteries and Prohibition-era bootlegging led to the development of several organized crime factions in the city. The first boss of Tampa's organized crime world was Charlie Wall, but various power struggles culminated in consolidation of control by Sicilian mafioso Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his faction in the 1950s. After his death in 1954 from cancer, control passed to his son Santo Trafficante, Jr., who established alliances with families in New York and extended his power throughout Florida and into Batista-era Cuba.

The University of South Florida was established in 1956, sparking development in northern Tampa and nearby Temple Terrace.

The biggest development of the city was the development of New Tampa that started in 1988 when the city annexed a 24-square mile (mostly rural) area between I-275 and I-75. Today, the district boasts over 22,000 inhabitants.

With the advent of air conditioning, thousands of new residents have arrived in Tampa from the northern United States. The population continues to grow rapidly, and construction is proceeding rapidly on new housing developments around Tampa.

On January 5, 2002, just four months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 15-year-old amateur pilot Charles Bishop flew a Cessna plane into the 42-story Bank of America Plaza building in downtown Tampa. Bishop died, but there were no other injuries (because the crash occurred on a Saturday, when few people were in the building). A suicide note found in the wreckage expressed support for Osama bin Laden. Bishop had been taking a prescription medicine for acne called Accutane that may have had the side effect of depression or severe psychosis. His family later sued Hoffman-La Roche, the company that makes Accutane, for $70 million; however, an autopsy found no traces of the drug in the teenager's system.

Landmarks

The most famous landmark is the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Being Florida's largest bridge, and being the worlds longest Cable-Strayed Bridge, It is the best-known landmark in Tampa. The Hillsborough County line extends throughout the bay and to the Gulf of Mexico, in which is part of the city's water area. The current bridge replaced a cantilever bridge that fell when a freighter collided into it in 1980.

Geography

Tampa is located on the West coast of Florida at 27°58'15" North, 82°27'53" West (27.970898, -82.464640)1. It is bordered by two bodies of water: Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, which both flow to form Tampa Bay, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 441.9 km² (170.6 mi²). 290.3 km² (112.1 mi²) of it is land and 151.6 km² (58.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 34.31% water.

Population and Demographics

City of Tampa
Population by year [1]
, [2]

1850 - 974 (Z)
1860 - not returned
1870 - 796
1880 - 720
1890 - 5,532
1900 - 15,839
1910 - 37,782
1920 - 51,608
1930 - 101,161
1940 - 108,391
1950 - 124,681
1960 - 274,970
1970 - 277,714
1980 - 271,523
1990 - 280,015
2000 - 303,447
2004 - 321,772 (Est.)
(Z): Population including Fort Brooke.

As of the census2 of 2000, there are 303,447 people, 124,758 households, and 71,236 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,045.4/km² (2,707.8/mi²). There are 135,776 housing units at an average density of 467.8/km² (1,211.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 64.22% White (51.0% White Non-Hispanic), 26.07% Black or African American, 0.38% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.15% Asian, 0.09% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. 19.29% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 124,758 households out of which 27.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% are married couples living together, 16.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% are non-families. 33.7% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.36 and the average family size is 3.07.

In the city the population is spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $34,415, and the median income for a family is $40,517. Males have a median income of $31,452 versus $26,133 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,953. 18.1% of the population and 14.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.


Economy

International Plaza and Bay Street.
Enlarge
International Plaza and Bay Street.
Ybor City is home to many nightclubs, entertainment venues (such as the Muvico Theaters complex), and shopping centers within historic downtown.
Enlarge
Ybor City is home to many nightclubs, entertainment venues (such as the Muvico Theaters complex), and shopping centers within historic downtown.

Like much of Florida, Tampa's economy is heavily based on services and tourism. There is a huge net influx of cash into the area. Many wealthy people have winter houses there, and the upscale Tampa Palms neighborhood is a desirable destination for retired sports athletes. Many corporations, such as large banks and telecommunications companies, maintain regional offices in Tampa, and the city is an extremely popular location for call centers.

Fortune 500 company Publix, a supermarket chain, is headquartered in nearby Lakeland, Florida.


Weather and Climate

Tampa experiences a subtropical to temperate climate. Highs usually stay between 65 and 95 year round °F (18 and 33 °C), and lows rarely go below 32°F (0°C). These rare freezes are an enormous threat to area agriculture and aquaculture. Fog can also be a major problem in the winter and spring. Temperatures are hot June through October. These summer days have highs around 90 °F (32 °C) and high humidity. The summer nighttime temperature drops to only around 75 °F (23 °C). Thunderstorms are a major concern on summer afternoons. High winds, small hail, and torrential rain often accompany these common afternoon thunderstorms which can be severe. Tornadoes are not unheard of. These storms often move out over the Gulf of Mexico at night, where they are easily seen from land as spectacular light shows. Another major concern for Tampa is the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June 1st to November 30th and peaks in September [2]. It has been more than 50 years since Tampa has had a direct hit from a hurricane. Tampa also is synonymous as the "Lighning Capital of the World," due in part to the frequent, dangerous and (on rare occasions) deadly lightning strikes.


Education

Institutions of Higher Learning

The seal of the University of South Florida
Enlarge
The seal of the University of South Florida

High schools

Middle schools

  • Adams
  • Benito
  • Ben Hill
  • Booker T. Washington
  • Buchanan
  • Coleman
  • Davidsen
  • Dowdell
  • Eisenhower
  • Farnell
  • Ferrell
  • Franklin
  • Greco
  • Hill
  • Liberty
  • Madison
  • Monroe
  • McLane
  • Memorial
  • Orange Grove
  • Pierce
  • Progress Village
  • Roland Park
  • Sligh
  • Stewart
  • Van Buren
  • Walker
  • Webb
  • Williams
  • Wilson
  • Young

Attractions and points of interest

Cinemas

  • Tampa Theatre is a historic movie palace that shows a wide range of independent, foreign and classic films in addition to an occasional live show. It also is the home of several film festivals that occur throughout the year.
  • Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) has an IMAX dome theater
  • The Fun-Lan Drive-In is the only drive-in theater left in Tampa. Fun-Lan has four screens each showing first-run movies. There is also a flea market in the morning five days per week.


Live theatre

Museums

Shopping centers

Sports teams

Tampa is home to four major professional sports teams and a number of minor league teams.

Zoological gardens and aquaria

Local media

Newspapers

Daily

Weekly

Television

Yearly events

MacDill Air Force Base

MacDill Air Force Base, located in south Tampa, is home to CENTCOM, the Central Command of the United States military; and SOCOM, the Special Operations Command. The base is run by the 6th Air Mobility Wing, and includes both the 310th Airlift Squadron, flying the C-37, and the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, flying the KC-135.

The base flightline was closed in the 1991 round of base closings under the Base Realignment and Closure committee discussions; at the time, the base was used for F-16 training and the air traffic in the Tampa area was considered detrimental to training; the noise produced was also considered inappropriate in a densely settled area. However, despite committee recommendations, the base remained open to house and support CENTCOM and SOCOM. The flightline was reopened in 1993 for NOAA operations, and in 1996 the air refueling squadron moved to the base from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.

Approximately 14,000 people work at MacDill Air Force Base. It is a significant contributor to Tampa's economy, and the city is very supportive of the military community. In 2003 and 2004, the Tampa Bay area was awarded the Abilene Trophy, which annually honors the most supportive Air Force city in the country.

Transportation

HARTline logo
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HARTline logo
A TECO streetcar picking up passengers in Ybor City.
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A TECO streetcar picking up passengers in Ybor City.


Airports

Tampa International Airport is the city's main airport. In March 2003, Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked the airport #1 in the US and #3 in the world. There is also a smaller general aviation terminal called Peter O. Knight Airport which is located on Davis Island near downtown. Saint Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is across the bay and offers another option for air travelers.

Train stations

Amtrak services Tampa via the Tampa Union Station which is near downtown.

Seaports

Several cruise ships make use of the Port of Tampa, located in the Channel District.

Mass transit

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HARTline) operates the streetcars as well as the bus system. HARTline has signed transit deals with both the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa, allowing HARTline buses to transfer students and faculty from the two campuses to other areas of Tampa free of charge as long as proof of affiliation with the school is presented.

The TECO Line Streetcar System, which links Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa, began operating on Saturday, October 19, 2002. Although quite limited in the scope of areas that it services, and its slow speed (about 10-15 mph), the air-conditioned cars do offer a comfortable and nostalgic method of getting around. The line is similar to the streetcar network in Tampa in the early 20th century.

Famous Tampa natives

Prominent individuals born in Tampa:

Sister cities

Tampa is a sister city with Agrigento, Italy, Barranquilla, Colombia, Córdoba, Argentina, Granada, Nicaragua, Izmir, Turkey, Le Havre, France, Oviedo, Spain and Camarines Sur, Philippines.

See also

External links

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Cities and communities of Hillsborough County, Florida
County seat Tampa
Incorporated places Plant City | Tampa | Temple Terrace
Unincorporated Census Designated Places Apollo Beach | Bloomingdale | Boyette | Brandon | Cheval | Citrus Park | Dover | East Lake-Orient Park | Egypt Lake-Leto | Fish Hawk | Gibsonton | Greater Carrollwood | Greater Northdale | Greater Sun Center | Keystone | Lake Magdalene | Lutz | Mango | Palm River-Clair Mel | Pebble Creek | Progress Village | Riverview | Ruskin | Seffner | Thonotosassa | Town 'n' Country | University | Valrico | Westchase | Wimauma
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