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Tampa and North Tampa Area Real Estate
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Tampa, FL Area Guide

Tampa isn’t just the county seat of Hillborough County, it’s the largest city, as well as the third most populated in Florida. Sitting pretty on the west coast, it’s a mere 200 miles northwest of Miami with an economy founded on diversity. Tourism works alongside agriculture, and finance right there with construction. Health care, technology and a shipping industry at the port of Tampa all contribute to the success of the city in business, and in recreational activities.

Downtown Tampa has grown by leaps and bound since the 1960’s. Major banks and corporations occupy more and more office space in areas that overlook the bay. The Tampa Convention overlooks the Hillsborough River, with meeting facilities and spectacular features that include an erupting fire and water sculpture. With so many different venues, it’s no surprise that Tampa has evolved into a multi-cultural business center with exceptional neighborhood communities for its residents. People of all ages, from every background arrive in Tampa to enjoy the weather, the great business atmosphere, wide variety of things to do and the friendly people!
You’ll love Tampa, we’ve got something for everyone, regardless of your interests, so if you’re looking for a place to start your career, or your family, come give us a visit, you’ll love what you see! To learn more about Tampa, visit: http://www.tampagov.net/about_us/index.asp

History

Ponce de Leon first came to Tampa Bay in 1513, but the Spaniards focused their attention on settling eastern Florida and left the western areas alone. Largely unpopulated, it wasn’t until 1824, when the first American settler came, that four companies of the U.S. Army established Fort Brooke to protect Tampa Bay’s strategic harbor. Development of the area began after the territory became part of the United States in 1845 and in spite of the blockade and Federal occupation during the war, the area grew steadily. A railroad extension to the Hillsborough River by Henry B. Plant in 1884 provided access to new areas and Mr. Plant built opulent hotels along his rail line to attract tourists. The military has also been a vital part of Tampa’s development, and was a primary outfitting and embarkation port for U.S. troops bound for Cuba during the Spanish-American war. Today, MacDill Air Force Base is home to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operation Command.

The coming of the automobile usurped the first scheduled commercial airline service with the St. Petersburg-Tampa Airboat Line, but was also responsible for the large number of settlers than came to the area from 1923-1926. Many subdivisions of Tampa were built during this time, one of the most famous was Davis Island, today still some of Tampa’s most beautiful homes. To learn more, visit: Tampa History

Attractions & Activities

So much to see and do in Tampa will leave you with a tough decision – where to start! We’ve listed some of the attractions and exciting things to do below:

American Victory
Busch Gardens & Adventure Island
Florida Aquarium
Glazer Children's Museum
Henry B. Plant Museum
Lowry Park Zoo
Museum of Science & Industry
Tampa Bay History Center
Tampa Museum of Art
Tampa Theatre
Ybor City
David A. Straz, Jr. Center for the Performing Arts

Parks & Recreation

Pick a park, any park! There are 146 parks to choose from in the Tampa area, with grills, playgrounds, pools and more. You’ll find something for every member of the family to enjoy. Tampa Parks & Recreation

Events Calendar

With everything from the Gasparilla Pirate Fest in January to the Conga Caliente in November, there’s always something fun going on around Tampa for residents and visitors to enjoy! Take a look at some of our events here: Tampa Calendar of Events