[30] Fort Brooke was established in January 1824 at the mouth of the Hillsborough River on Tampa Bay, in Downtown Tampa. 1 seed, will face Yankees or Blue Jays", "Renfroe slam helps Rays sweep young Blue Jays in 1st round", "MLB playoffs: Rays knock out Yankees with late homer, advance to ALCS – Sports Illustrated", "Tampa Bay Rowdies move on to USL Championship Final", "USL Championship Final Cancelled, Season Concludes with Tampa Bay, Phoenix as Conference Title-Winners", "MLS expansion city profile: Tampa Bay/St. No hurricane has made landfall in the immediate Tampa Bay area since the 1921 Tampa Bay hurricane made landfall near Tarpon Springs and caused extensive damage throughout the region. Tampa is home to several death metal bands, an extreme form of heavy metal music that evolved from thrash metal. [161] Due to the COVID-19 shortened season, 16 teams made the playoffs, so the Rays had to play a best of 3 series against the division rival Toronto Blue Jays in the first round where they swept the visitors in two games at Tropicana Field. [50][51], The era of rampant and open corruption ended in the 1950s, when Estes Kefauver's traveling organized crime hearings came to town and were followed by the sensational misconduct trials of several local officials. Food trucks are popular, and the area holds the record for the world's largest food truck rally. [155][156] They played at Tampa Stadium, which hosted the 1984 USFL Championship Game.[157]. 1925 – E. Stanley Jones, Methodist missionary to India, writes The Christ of the Indian Road The area is served by dozens of FM and AM radio stations including WDAE, which was the first radio station in Florida when it went on the air in 1922. [16][17] Tampa Bay was labeled Bahía de Espíritu Santo (Bay of the Holy Spirit) in the earliest Spanish maps of Florida, but became known as B. Tampa (Bahía Tampa or Tampa Bay) as early as 1576. [138] Ybor also hosts "GaYbor Days", an annual street party in the LGBT-friendly GaYbor district. [57] The only snowfall officially recorded in Tampa occurred on January 19, 1977, with local accumulations ranging between a trace and 0.2 inches (0.5 cm).[66]. For U.S. Census purposes, Tampa is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Tampa Bay area has long been home to nationally competitive amateur baseball and has hosted spring training and minor league teams for over a century. The Tampa Bay Rowdies compete in the United Soccer League Championship after spending their first 6 seasons in the North American Soccer League. Missions should instead focus on fighting evils such as materialism, racial injustice, war and poverty. The indigenous cultures of the Tampa Bay area had collapsed by around 1600, leaving the west coast of Spanish Florida largely depopulated and ignored for more than 200 years. [56] Tampa's geography is marked by the Interbay Peninsula which divides Hillsborough Bay (the eastern) from Old Tampa Bay (the western). The team began play at Tampa's George M. Steinbrenner Field in 2010, then moved to St. Petersburg's Al Lang Field in 2011. A simple monthly donation helps bring education to inner city kids of San Francisco. This location opened in September 2010 and was renamed Glazer Children's Museum in honor of the Glazer Family Foundation that donated $5 million to the construction of the new building.[125]. East Tampa, historically a mostly black community, was the scene of several race riots during and for some time after the period of racial segregation, mainly due to problems between residents and the Tampa Police Department. THPLS operates 25 libraries throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County, including the John F. Germany Public Library in Downtown Tampa. [92], Communities of faith have organized in Tampa from 1846, when a Methodist congregation established the city's first church,[93] to 1939, when a 21-year-old Billy Graham began his career as a spiritual evangelist and preacher on downtown's Franklin Street,[94] and through to today. The median age was 34.7 years old. [172] At the end of the war, MacDill remained as an active military installation, while the auxiliary fields reverted to civilian control. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. “The renovation project created better spacing in our dining rooms, better surfaces for maintaining cleaning, but most important, it created a warm, caring, and compassionate dining experience for all of our guests presently and for many, many years to come.”. Permanently docked in downtown's Channel District is the SS American Victory, a former World War II Victory ship which is now used as a museum ship. [47], In 1904, a civic association of local businessmen dubbed themselves Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (named after local mythical pirate José Gaspar), and staged an "invasion" of the city followed by a parade. "Downtown Tampa: Its Cultural and Historical Significance". Completed in 1973, it was the tallest skyscraper in Tampa until the completion of One Tampa City Center in 1981. The Bulls established a men's basketball team in 1971 and a football team in 1997 and sponsor 17 teams in total. [59][60], Three major hurricanes have seriously threatened Tampa in the ensuing decades. [98], Tampa's religious community includes a broad representation of Christian denominations, including those above, and Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Christian Science, Church of God, United Church of Christ, Philippine Independent Church, Unitarian Universalist, Metropolitan Community Church, Seventh-day Adventist, Eastern Orthodox (Greek, Coptic, Syrian, and OCA), various Pentecostal movements, Anglicans, the Quakers, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tampa is also a seasonal port for Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, as well as Royal Caribbean International's MS Rhapsody of the Seas and MS Radiance of the Seas. Texas Phoenix Palm Decline (PDF) (Report). They destroyed much of the fort's facilities and confiscated the remaining military supplies other than the canons, which they tossed into the Hillsborough River, then left the "desolate" town after two days.[41]. The Church of Scientology, based in nearby Clearwater, maintains a location for its members in Tampa. [168] It will be the first time an NBA team will call Tampa home, though some exhibition preseason games have been played in Tampa between the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat. [169], The University of Tampa Spartans compete in 20 sports at the NCAA Division II level in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). The Tampa Bay Mutiny were the first MLS Supporters' Shield winner and had much early success beginning in 1996. The Rowdies made the USL Championship Final for the first time in 2020, though it was cancelled due to COVID-19.[165][166]. Providing a safe environment for kids to learn, play, and grow! Often referred to as Tampa's "Mardi Gras", the invasion flotilla led by the pirate ship, Jose Gasparilla, and subsequent parade draw over 400,000 attendees, contributing tens of millions of dollars to the city's economy. The Tampa Bay Titans play in The Basketball League (TBL). [12] It is on the west coast of Florida on Tampa Bay, near the Gulf of Mexico. Please update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. The old Gandy Bridge was completely replaced by new spans during the 1990s, but a span of the old bridge was saved and converted into a pedestrian and biking bridge renamed The Friendship Trail. Interstate 75 runs along the east side of town for much of its route through Hillsborough County until veering to the west to bisect New Tampa. Well-known shopping areas include International Plaza and Bay Street, WestShore Plaza, the SoHo district, and Hyde Park Village. The zoo serves as an economic, cultural, environmental and educational anchor in Tampa. In 2000, the city's population was 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 were 65 years of age or older. [99] There is a Korean Baptist church,[100][101] a Mennonite church, several Haitian churches, and a Vietnamese Baptist Church. Plant's narrow-gauge South Florida Railroad reached Tampa and its port in late 1883, finally connecting the small town to the nation's railroad system after years of efforts by local leaders. The bay's port is the largest in the state, near downtown's Channel District. Petersburg", "How the Toronto Raptors landed in Tampa", "(NCAA Div. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is a 335-acre (1.36 km2) Africa-themed park near the University of South Florida. Males had a median income of $40,461 versus $29,868 for females. [116], The main server farm for Wikipedia and other Wikimedia Foundation projects is in Tampa.[117]. There are 73 additional schools in the district that are charter, ESE, alternative, etc. Winter in the area is generally dry and mild. The tallest building in the city is 100 North Tampa, formerly the AmSouth Building, which rises 42 floors and 579 feet (176 m) in Downtown Tampa. Several Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in the metropolitan area,[110] including OSI Restaurant Partners, WellCare, TECO Energy, and Raymond James Financial. Tampa has a diverse culinary scene from small cafes and bakeries to bistros and farm-to-table restaurants. [134] Longer sailings include the Panama Canal, the ABC Islands and the Eastern Caribbean. Other companies headquartered in Tampa include Greenway Health, Yellow fever, borne by mosquitoes from nearby swamps, broke out several times during the 1860s and 1870s, causing more residents to leave. The discovery of phosphate, the arrival of Plant's railroad, and the founding of Ybor City and West Tampa—all in the mid-1880s—were crucial to Tampa's development. [17], People from Tampa are generally known as "Tampans" or "Tampanians". Child Sponsorship. November 3, 1996. [29], After purchasing Florida from Spain in 1821, the United States built forts and trading posts in the new territory. [43] The population of "Tampa Town" was about 800 by 1870 and dropped to about 700 by 1880. The project received $17,400 from the Kantzler Foundation to support the cost for new tables and chairs, $15,000 from the Community Initiative Fund at the Bay Area Community Foundation to support the cost of new flooring, $7,000 from the Russell H. & Maxine E. Smith Foundation to support the cost of paint and wall coverings and $5,298 from the Oscar P. & Louise H. Osthelder Advisory Fund at the Bay Area Community Foundation to support the cost of materials for multiple dining service stations. Tampa became the first city in Florida to host a major league team for spring training in 1913, when the Chicago Cubs trained at Plant Field. In 2006, the median income for a household in the city was $39,602, and the median income for a family was $45,823. [71] Several residential and mixed-development high-rises have been constructed. Finance, retail, healthcare, insurance, shipping by air and sea, national defense, professional sports, tourism, and real estate all play vital roles in the area's economy. Perhaps the most well known and anticipated events are those from Tampa's annual celebration of "Gasparilla", particularly the Gasparilla Pirate Festival, a mock pirate invasion held since 1904 in late January or early February. To make this project a reality, the class fundraised, hosted a virtual silent auction and applied for community grants. After a decade of futility on the field, the Devil Rays shortened their nickname to simply Rays in 2008 and promptly won the 2008 American League Pennant, finishing runner up in World Series. Other Tampa landmarks include the Tampa Riverwalk, which is a 2.6-mile-long (4.2 km) open space and pedestrian trail development along the Hillsborough River, and Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park. Masonite International, Sykes Enterprises, Cott Corporation, Checkers and Rally's and The Mosaic Company, Downtown Tampa is undergoing significant development and redevelopment in line with a general national trend toward urban residential development. "Tampa – Florida's Industrial Port City". The Hillsborough River flows into Hillsborough Bay, passing directly in front of Downtown Tampa and supplying Tampa's main source of fresh water. Today, Tampa is part of the metropolitan area most commonly referred to as the "Tampa Bay Area." Public primary and secondary education is operated by Hillsborough County Public Schools, officially known as the School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC). Courtesy of the Leadership Bay County/Good Samaritan Rescue Mission. Performing arts companies and organizations which call Tampa home include the Florida Orchestra, Opera Tampa, Jobsite Theater, the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay, Stageworks Theatre, Spanish Lyric Theater, Tampa Bay Opera, and the Tampa Bay Symphony. Nationally rent had decreased 4%. "table with row headers in column A and column headers in rows 3 through 4 (leading dots indicate sub-parts)", "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Tampa city, Florida", "University of Georgia Libraries, Hargrett Rare Books and Manuscript Library: 1695 Spanish Map", "Description del Destricto Del Avdiencia Dela Espanola Herrera", "What are you called if you live in Tampa? [44], Since Tampa was still a small town at the time (population less than 5,000), Ybor built hundreds of small houses around his factory to accommodate the immediate influx of mainly Cuban and Spanish cigar workers. The project includes a complete redesign of the Mission’s main dining area for women and children and a new men’s dining area with fresh paint, new flooring, tables and chairs, and serving stations. USF has won six NCAA National Championships: softball in 1983 and 1984, women's swimming in 1985, and sailing in 2009, 2016, and 2017. The India International Film Festival (IIFF) of Tampa Bay also takes place in February. This growth spurred expansion of the city's highways and bridges, bringing thousands into the city and creating opportunities for Tampa business owners, who welcomed the influx of tourists and new residents. Well-known neighborhoods include Ybor City, Forest Hills, Ballast Point, Sulphur Springs, Seminole Heights, Tampa Heights, Palma Ceia, Hyde Park, Davis Islands, Harbour Island, Tampa Palms, College Hill, and non-residential areas of Gary and the Westshore Business District. The station is served by Amtrak's Silver Star, which calls on Tampa twice daily: southbound to Miami and northbound for New York City. The Tampa area is home to a number of museums that cover a wide array of subjects and studies. Beyond the initial invasion, numerous Gasparilla festivities take place each year between January and March, including the Gasparilla Children's Parade, the more adult-oriented Sant'Yago Knight Parade, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, and the Gasparilla International Film Festival, among other pirate themed events. The road has a 6-mile (10 km) continuous sidewalk on the eastern end, the longest in the world. Since the Tampa area is home to a diverse range of freeze-sensitive agriculture and aquaculture, hard freezes, although quite rare, are a major concern. Harrison, Nigel A.; Elliot, Monica L. (June 2013) [2007]. The Rowdies were an immediate success, drawing good crowds and winning Soccer Bowl '75 in their first season to bring Tampa its first professional sports championship. Not returned separately by enumerators in 1860. The city of Tampa is served by Tampa Fire Rescue. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). the highest and lowest temperature readings during an entire month or year) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010. Park Tower (originally the First Financial Bank of Florida) is the first substantial skyscraper in downtown Tampa. The University of Tampa (UT) is a private, four-year liberal arts institution. Along with human health care, there are hundreds of animal medical centers including a Humane Society of America. The success of the Rowdies prompted Major League Soccer (MLS) to award Tampa a charter member of the new league in 1996. Several Major League baseball teams conduct spring training in the area, and most also operate minor league teams in the Class-A Florida State League. Martial law was declared in Tampa in January 1862, and Tampa's city government ceased to operate for the duration of the war. [163] The Rays then faced the Astros, who had defeated them in the divisional round the previous year. Spanning the southern part of Tampa Bay is the massive steel-span Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The major league New York Yankees and the affiliated minor league Tampa Tarpons use George M. Steinbrenner Field across Dale Mabry Highway from Raymond James Stadium. Three of the city's freeways carry the interstate highway designation. Their home games are played at Pasco–Hernando State College. The water is mainly supplied by the Hillsborough River, which in turn arises from the Green Swamp, but several other rivers and desalination plants in the area contribute to the supply. However, the club folded in 2001 when local ownership could not be secured mainly due to a financially poor lease agreement for Raymond James Stadium. [171], Tampa is governed under the strong mayor form of government. The New York Yankees conduct spring training in Tampa, and the Tampa Tarpons play there in the summer. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.07. According to the 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, Tampa is listed as USDA zone 9b north of Kennedy Boulevard away from the bay and 10a near the shorelines and in the interbay peninsula south of Kennedy Boulevard. Phosphate and commercial fishing exports could be sent north by rail,[45] and many new products were brought into the Tampa market, along with the first tourists. Tampa is the birthplace of the Florida version of the deviled crab and the Cuban sandwich, which has been officially designated as the "signature sandwich of the city of Tampa" by the city council. The Tampa Smokers were the city's first minor league team, beginning play as charter members of the new Florida State League in 1919. BAY CITY, MI - A group of local professionals banded together to brighten the lives of those struggling with homelessness. They later won 4 more ArenaBowls (VII, IX, X, and XVII, and also appeared in ArenaBowl I, III, XII, XXIII and XXX), and their five championships is the most in league history. Four members are elected from specific numbered areas designated City Districts, and the other three are "at-large" members (serving citywide).[173].