Tampa - City of Tampa

• Located In: Hillsborough County
• Population: 342,100(Source: City of Tampa, 2007)
• Community Type: Urban
• Size: 170.6 square miles
• Government: Mayor-Council: Mayor elected for a four-year term; seven council members elected, four districts and three at-large, for four-year terms
• Zip Codes: 33601-33626, 33629-33631, 33633-33637, 33646-33647, 33650-33651, 33655, 33660-33664, 33672-33675, 33677, 33679-33682, 33684-33690, 33694

Ponce de Leon first arrived in the Tampa Bay area in 1513. It was not until 1824 when American settlers arrived in the area and the U.S. Army established Fort Brooke to protect the harbor at Tampa Bay.

Henry Plant brought the railroad to the area in 1884 and built lavish resorts such as the Tampa Bay Hotel which now serves as the University of Tampa. The discovery of phosphates in the 1880s resulted in an era of growth and the expansion of the port of Tampa.

Key dates in the history of Tampa include:

• Initial incorporation: Dec. 15, 1855
• Second incorporation: July 15, 1887
• Adoption of original charter: Dec. 15, 1855

Tampa is home to a wealth of cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities such as:

• Busch Gardens, a 335-acre African-themed, family entertainment park with plenty of roller-coasters.
• Adventure Island, a 36-acre water park.
• Florida Aquarium, a three-story, glass domed aquarium featuring exhibits related to Florida's ecosystem.
• Lowry Park Zoo, home to more than 350 exotic animals from around the world.
• Tampa Theatre, a restored 1926 movie palace which today showcases foreign, independent and documentary films and hosts other events.

• Bern’s Steak House, 1208 S. Howard Ave.
• Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, 2109 Bayshore Blvd.
• Colonnade, 3401 Bayshore Blvd.
• Donatello, 232 N. Dale Mabry Highway
• Kojak’s House of Ribs, 2808 W. Gandy Blvd.
• La Teresita Restaurant, 3246 W. Columbus Drive
• Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road
• Sukhothai Restaurant, 8201 N. Dale Mabry Highway
• Tha Thani Restaurant, 615 Channelside Drive
• Valencia Garden Restaurant, 811 W. Kennedy Blvd.

Tampa ranks as the largest city in the Tampa Bay area and the third most populous city in Florida. Its economy is based on a blend of tourism, agriculture, construction, finance, health care, government, technology and the port of Tampa.

Popular attractions include Busch Gardens, home of adrenaline-pumping thrill rides; Adventure Island, a water park that makes a perfect getaway on sizzling summer days; the Florida Aquarium, exhibiting marine life from the Gulf of Mexico; and Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, where visitors can view endangered species in their natural habitats.

For the culturally inclined, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center boasts four theaters and presents Broadway shows, plays and concerts. Tampa Theatre, a restored 1926 movie palace, screens foreign, independent and documentary films and plays host to a variety of performers.

The Tampa Museum of Art has in its collection more than 7,000 pieces of art and welcomes almost 45,000 visitors annually. Other Tampa museums include the USF Contemporary Art Museum and the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts.

Tampa’s Department of Parks and Recreation manages, maintains and operates all the park and recreational facilities of the city and implements programs for culture and recreational activities. The department oversees:

• 3,543 total acres of parkland
• 178 parks
• 96 ball fields
• 85 multipurpose courts
• 79 playgrounds
• 108 tennis/racquetball
• 30 football/soccer fields
• 23 community centers
• 18 boat ramp lanes
• 14 pools
• 8 fishing piers
• 7 gymnasiums
• 5 art studios
• 4 cemeteries
• 3 activity centers
• 2 marinas
• 2 skate parks
• 60 miles of multi-purpose trails
• Joe Abrahams Fitness & Wellness Center

For those pursing higher education, Tampa is home to the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa

Tampa, with its tropical setting, beautiful waterways, bustling centers of commerce and wealth of recreational opportunities, is the gateway to all that the Tampa Bay area has to offer.