Introducing Temple Terrace:
- Located In: Hillsborough County
- Population: 20,918 (Source: U.S. Census 2000)
- Community: Urban fringe
- Size: 6.9 square miles
- Government: City council and mayor/mayor and five council members elected for four-year staggered terms.
- Zip Codes: 33617, 33637, 33687
History of Temple Terrace:
The area’s many pine trees spawned a vibrant turpentine manufacturing industry in the 1880s, and the land that is now Temple Terrace was acquired by the famous Potter Palmer family of Chicago. When the family’s matriarch died in 1918, the property holdings were sold to three developers who formed Temple Terrace Estates Inc., which developed a golf course and residential areas; and Temple Terraces Inc., which developed the orange groves that once surrounded the city.
Things To Do In Temple Terrace:
The city’s Parks and Recreation department maintains several community parks, such as Riverhills Park. This 34-acre park is found east of 56th Street on Riverhills Drive next to Riverhills Elementary School and offers access to the scenic Hillsborough River with a boat ramp and dock. Beneath cypress and oaks, visitors will find picnic areas with tables, grills, gazebo, shelter and a boardwalk that winds along the riverfront.
Dining In Temple Terrace:
- Antonio's Pasta Grille, 11401 56th St.. N., Suite 23
- Bear Creek Coffee, 13312 Telecom Drive
- Cilantro Indian Cuisine, 11009 N 56th St.
- Five Star Pizza, 10926 N. 56th St.
- Lenny's Sub Shop, 8225 Park Edge Drive
- Savvy Jack's, 11401 N. 56th St.
Shopping In Temple Terrace:
- Victorian Village Inc., 6879 E. Fowler Ave.
What Makes Temple Terrace Special:
As far back as the late 1750s, Spanish explorers ventured up the Hillsborough River to what is now Riverhills Park. Today, a historic marker marks the spot, along with a replica of a cross erected to honor St. Theresa.
In 1922, Temple Terraces Inc. developed 5,000 acres of orange groves creating the largest orange grove in the world at that time. The city was named after the kind of oranges grown in the grove, the “Temple.”
The city was incorporated in 1925, just before two consecutive hard freezes wiped out the orange groves in 1927 and 1928. With the onset of the Great Depression in 1929, the city’s population fell to 200, and area would remain dormant until the housing boom following World War II.
Situated on the northeast side of the Tampa Bay area, Temple Terrace is found near three major thoroughfares: I-4, I-75 and I-275. Because of its location, it offers easy access to the Tampa/St. Petersburg area as well as Manatee and Sarasota counties and Orlando.
Also nearby is the University of South Florida, the second largest university in the southeast. USF boasts first-class medical research programs and the largest MBA program in the state among public universities. Several of the area’s key entertainment attractions are only a short drive away, including Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Adventure Island and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Temple Terrace’s charm lies in the fact that though it rests near many of the Tampa Bay area’s busiest metropolitan corridors, the city has retained its natural beauty and continues to preserve its heritage. Recent plans call for a redevelopment of the downtown area that will create a mixed-use, medium density, pedestrian-oriented district in keeping with the city’s history and character.