Tampa General Overview
Located on the central west coast of Florida,
Tampa today still reflects it's Spanish, Native American and Cuban roots. As early as the 1500's Spanish explorers came to this area in search of gold. The Native American name of "Tanpa" was changed to it's present spelling of "Tampa" by these early explorers then and it has remained since.
What really put Tampa on the map in the late 19th Century were three influential men named Henry B. Plant
the railroad magnet and Peter Demens also a railroad man and cigar maker Don Vicente Ybor. Henry Plant extended his railroad line to Tampa and ran a steamship line to Cuba and back, importing Cuban tobacco. Ybor within a year of Plant's steamship line opening up to Cuba, moved his cigar factory from Key West to Tampa. Here Ybor established a thriving business until the time of Castro's tobacco embargo with the United States. Another important figure connected with the history of Tampa is Tony Jannus who was responsible for air flight travel between Clearwater and Tampa in 1914 paving the way for future air transportation.
Today tourist and residents alike can still see and feel the excitement of Tampa when walking the street of Ybor City and visiting the many Cuban restaurants,bakeries and cigar shops. Nightly and weekend festivals in Ybor attract locals as well as residents.
The Henry B. Plant museum not only tells the history of this extremely influential man but exhibits a style of architecture that is truly unique. So much of Tampa reflects both Spanish and Mediterranean architectural styles.
Residents in the Tampa Bay area enjoy the incredible amount of sunny days per year, the many coastal beaches, a revitalized downtown waterfront, notable museums, a huge sports scene and some of the region's top attractions.
Tampa Housing
The greater Tampa area is both a resort and residential area that includes numerous distinctive communities that reflect the lifestyles of their residents. Throughout Tampa, private dwellings reflects contemporary, Spanish and Mediterranean styles.
There are many high-rise condominiums, gated, golf and master-planned communities in Tampa offering different types of homes such as condominiums, townhomes, attached, single family homes and villas. Waterfront properties that feature private docks are plentiful and are extremely attractive to boaters.
The Tampa area is served by a Real Estate Multiple Listing Service, (MLS) and links to them can be found on this site at: www.housesandhomes.com/real-estate/Tampa
/tuc.listings/html.
Townships Surrounding Tampa
Tampa has several very distinctive areas including
Carrollwood, Dunedin, Palm Harbor, Gulf Beaches, Lutz, New Port Richey, Davis Island, New Tampa, North Tampa, Seminole Heights, Tarpon Springs, Temple Terrace, Ybor City. Within each of these locales are master-planned neighborhoods, golf communites, gated communities as well as subdivisions all with their own individual aura and style. Our towns and villages page accurately describes these areas as well as more specific descriptions on our gated, golf, condominium and new construction pages.
Tampa Climate and Weather
Tampa is located in a semi tropical climate area and enjoys a temperate, winter temperature average of 62.5 degrees
Fahrenheit and an average summer temperature of 81.4
degrees Fahrenheit.
Tampa's annual average rainfall totals 46.7 inches.
Tampa
Attractions
Tampa supplies both tourists and residents alike with fantastic recreation and attractions. There is something for everyone. Ybor City is famous for it's Latin Cuban heritage and today you can still feel the electricity in the air, especially at night! Equally, Ybor City boasts historic buildings complete with wrought iron balconies and old-fashioned street lamps. There are still a few good cigar shops in Ybor!
Of course Tampa is famous for being the home of Bush Gardens, Lowry Park Zoo, Adventure Island, Canoe Escape, Inc, Derby Lane Greyhound Track, Bok Tower Gardens, Celebration Station, and the The Florida Aquarium.
Sports enthusiasts enjoy watching golf tours, Cincinnati Reds
Spring Training, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Tampa Bay Mutiny, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Storm and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Culture abounds in Tampa. There are plenty of museums to visit like the Henry B. Plant Museum and the Tampa Museum of Art, Polk Museum of Art, Salvador Dali Museum, theatres, performances at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, music to listen to by the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and more.
Currently, the Florida International Museum has a permanent exhibit on the Kennedy's and children can really expand their minds have fun at the Children's Museum of Tampa and at the MOSI (Museum of Science
& Industry.
Tampa
Education
Education plays such an important role in our lives. Tampa's public elementary, middle and high schools are part of the Hillsborough County School District.
For some of the best links where you can get detailed information about the school district, statistics and scores, go to http://housesandhomes.com/tampa/tampa_schools.html
For students and families seeking higher educational opportunities there is Hillsborough Community College, University of South Florida, and the University of Tampa. For detailed information, you can link to these schools by going to http://housesandhomes.com/tampa/tampa_schools.html.
Tampa Employment
Within the greater Tampa area, there has been substantial economic growth as well as a population growth since 1990 of approximately 12 percent. There has also been a steady wage-salary growth of 2.9% from 1987 - 1996 which indicates a healthy local economy. Equally impressive is the local Hillsborough County unemployment rate of 4.0%. Helping to attract business to the area are the eleven industrial parks located in Pasco County.
Young professionals are attracted to Hillsborough County and the greater Tampa Bay area not only for it's healthy economic status but also for it's affordable upscale housing, great schools and libraries, and close proximity to attractions.
For a list of the top Hillsborough County employers you can link to this info by going to http://housesandhomes.com/tampa/tampa_employ.html.
