Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a very popular city amongst the citizens of Florida, especially the younger generations. The city has been classified as the best outdoor city and is considered most suitable for youngsters who are looking for some fun and entertainment.

The city's commercial potential has been steadily increasing since the redevelopment of the suburbs and it is just a question of time before the development of the downtown attracts new investments and ventures to the city. The presence of top class universities in and around the city means that demand for labor graduating from the city of Tampa is always in demand.

Tampa started out as a village before developing into a full-fledged city. It still retains its old-world charm and is a preferred destination for middle-aged and elderly individuals as well. Growth is expected, from business potential to the quality of entertainment available in the city.

Tampa is a city that never ceases to amaze its visitors. Those who expect to see a tourist town end up seeing a commercial town that is bursting beyond its seams. Those who come expecting a business town find people having the time of their lives and enjoying a culturally enriched life.

Tampa History

Tampa is located in Hillsborough County on the west coast of the State of Florida. Florida became a state in the year 1845 and Tampa was formally recognized as village in the year 1849. The city was in the hands of the confederates during the Civil War and was even the location of the Battle of Tampa. The Battle of Fort Brooke was far more decisive and the battle ended in favor of the Union. Tampa was occupied by the Union after the war ended but the army saw no reason to continue its occupation. The city was stripped of its resources and food and was vacated.

Tampa had always been affected by the twin problems of lack of connectivity and the threat of yellow fever. These two problems meant that the city never had a population big enough to expand further. The existence of the city itself was threatened when Fort Brooke was dismantled by the army. However, the discovery of minerals in and around the region sparked a revival. Connectivity improved in the year 1884 when the railroad finally arrived.

The best economic opportunity arrived in the form of a cigar manufacturing operation. Cuban tobacco could be easily imported and this sowed the seeds of the economic revolution. As new factories grew, the demand for facilities and workers also grew.

The current University of Tampa was first built in the form of The Tampa Bay Hotel, a room with more than 500 rooms for all the visitors to the growing town. The city was again involved in a war when Tampa served as the embarkation point for the Army.

The city increased in size drastically in the 1950s and the city started decaying by the 70s and industries started moving out simply because there was no infrastructure. There were attempts to merge the city with the Hillsborough county but the decision was rejected four times in a span of five years. Growth continued to remain slow until the urban reconstruction program finally took off.

The IT revolution combined with improved communication and transportation facilities meant that the city regained its old vigor and energy to reach its current position.

About Tampa, Florida

Tampa is a cosmopolitan city with a blend of many faiths, religions, communities and businesses. This is the reason why Tampa has progressed despite the numerous disadvantages that it faced in the past.

Tampa suffered from lack of connectivity in the early stages of its development. This problem was finally overcome when it was connected to the rest of the country through railroads. Today, it is the financial nerve center of Florida and has a sizable impact on the functioning of the national economy as well.

The diverse culture of Tampa is evident from the nature and type of its architecture, events, sporting teams and setup of educational infrastructure. Tampa is represented in the three major sporting leagues in America as well as soccer and hockey. The importance attached to sports is evident from the seriousness with which sports are pursued in the colleges in Tampa.

The culture and lifestyle of Tampa ranges from ultra-modern and hip to the traditional and conservative approach. With half a dozen religions being practiced in the city and many other sects or movements included, it is not surprising that a sizable percentage of the population is conservative and spiritual in its outlook.

Diametrically opposite is the youth of the city that appreciates the city's shopping malls better than the landmark and heritage religious structures in the city.

Major events include Fiesta Day, which is a unique celebration of all the major ethnic and religious constituents of the city, and MacDill Air Base has the largest military show in the country.

There are other cities that enjoy such a cosmopolitan atmosphere but very few go ahead and embrace the LGBT community as well; for example, the city of Tampa has an International Film Festival dedicated solely to Gay and Lesbian movies. Tampa is an inclusive society and this is evident from the lengths which the city goes to keep its population together.

All these aspects may distract attention from the biggest attraction of the city - its beaches. From family picnics on the beach during weekends to parties celebrating youth at its zenith, numerous aspects of the cultural life of the city is dominated by the beach.

The presence of the beaches combined with good facilities has made the city a popular destination among tourists. The local government has also established ties with neighboring cities to help promote the whole area.

The city has a rich history of participation in the armed forces as well. The air force base near the city has served as a strategic and tactical base for better protection of the defense of the country.

About Hillsborough County, Florida

Tampa is a city situated in Hillsborough County in Florida. This county is different from other counties that incorporate a major city as its major constituent. For starters, there are just three places in the county that have been incorporated as cities. This affects the level of control that the county administration directly exerts on governing the area. An unincorporated place is under the direct control of the county administration.

The county seat is Tampa. This means that Tampa hosts two governments at once. The first is the local government consisting of the Mayor and other city officials in charge of running the city. The second is the county seat from which other unincorporated parts of the county are governed. Tampa has two separate police agencies as well. The Tampa Police Department maintains law and order within the city, while the Hillsborough County Sheriff's office covers the unincorporated parts.

The county is connected to other parts of the State and the country through three Interstate freeways, three US routes and four state surface roads. The duty of maintenance of the state and local roads is distributed between the county government and the government in charge of each city in the county.

The division of responsibilities has not significantly affected the development of the county. The county has three main airports, all situated in the city or nearby areas of Tampa.