The History of Tampa, FloridaThe city of Tampa is located in Hillsborough County, on the west coast of Florida, 85 miles southwest of Orlando. Although there is some debate, the name of the city is thought to be derived from a Native Calusa word meaning “sticks of fire,” which may be in reference to the volume of lightning strikes that occur in the area during the summer months. Throughout its many years of history, the area of Tampa has passed through many hands—from the Calusa to the Spanish to the British, to the Spanish again, and finally to the United States through the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819. One of the first acts of the U.S. government in the area was to build a series of forts and trading posts that would help in gaining control of the wilderness along the Gulf Coast and other parts of the state. Fort Brooke, which was located at the site of the current Tampa Convention Center, was built in 1824 and served to protect the area’s first settlers from Seminole Indians in the Second Seminole War. Once the fighting ceased, and the Seminoles were forced to flee the Tampa region, Tampa’s population began to grow steadily and by 1855, the settlement was incorporated as a town of over 1,000 residents. Tampa’s early economy boomed in the late 19th century with the discovery of phosphate (essential in the production of fertilizers) and the arrival of Henry B. Plant’s railroad line, which supported the commercial fishing industry and jumpstarted the region’s tourism. Also, in 1885, Vicente Martinez Ybor moved his cigar manufacturing center from Key West to Tampa, and the industry not only boosted Tampa’s economy, but boosted its population as well; many Cuban and Spanish cigar workers, and Jewish and Italian immigrants made their living in and around Ybor City. Ybor City—now a lively Latin quarter that attracts many visitors and residents to its exciting shopping centers, theaters, and nightlife—remains as one of Tampa’s most important historical neighborhoods.
© 2008 Reliance Relocation Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contributed by:  | More Local Area InformationTampa, Florida provides its residents with one of the most sought-after lifestyles in the nation. It’s easy to see why Tampa natives love livin... Read moreTampa, Florida started to become a real city in the 1880’s with the arrival of Henry B. Plant’s railroad and Vincente Ybor’s cigar making prowess... Read moreIncredibly diverse in its makeup, South Tampa is a mixture of all the right ingredients that combine to create a wonderful community in which t... Read moreTampa, Florida is home to over 330,000 residents and the Tampa Bay metropolitan area has a population of over 2.7 million, making it the secon... Read moreTemple Terrace is an incorporated city in Hillsborough County, Florida located northeast of Tampa. The city is predominantly a residential communit... Read moreOrange Park is located to the south of Jacksonville on the west side of the St. Johns Rivers. Fleming Island, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs... Read moreBeautiful and historic Palmetto, Florida, is located in Manatee County, just north of the Manatee River and nestled along the Gulf of Mexico. Tw... Read moreThe Lakeland Chamber of Commerce is well known throughout Florida The population of Lakeland proper is 93,000 plus. George Jenkins was the founder o... Read moreLocated along the shores of the Manatee River, the town of Ellenton is set directly between Sarasota and St. Petersburg. It is an ideal location fo... Read moreThe northernmost in the chain of barrier islands off the southwest coast of Florida, Anna Maria Island, FL. is home to three separate villages – Ann... Read moreNestled just to the south of Tampa Bay, Bradenton is a quickly growing area with a rich history. Taking advantage of the wonderful location, man... Read moreThe town of Bradenton Beach, Florida is incomparable to any other in the U.S. Because of its exclusive location on the southern end of Anna Mari... Read moreLongboat Key and its sister islands St. Armand’s, Lido & Bird Keys, serve as the northern barrier islands for the Sarasota area. Bordered to the wes... Read moreThe jewel of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota is a vibrant and dynamic area known for its rich history, culture and award-winning beaches. From al... Read moreWhen people choose Florida as a vacation destination, the reason is almost always traceable to the state’s warm, year-round, sunny climate; it... Read moreWhitfield Estates, Florida, also known as a “dream city” to local residents, was officially established in 1926, though extravagant plan... Read moreFormerly a pineapple plantation, Ballentine Manor Estates was named after Frederick Ballentine, a prominent real estate broker from New Jersey. I... Read moreSiesta Key, a barrier island the runs parallel from mid-town to southern Sarasota, is one of the most popular places to live or visit on Florida’... Read more |
