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Tampa, Florida

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"Tampa" redirects here. For other uses, see Tampa (disambiguation).

Tampa, Florida

Flag Seal

Nickname: "Cigar City", " The Big Guava", "T-Town"

Location in Hillsborough County and the state of Florida.

Coordinates: 27°58′15″N, 82°27′6.72″W

Country United States

State Florida

County Hillsborough

Mayor Pam Iorio

Area

- City 170.6 mi² - 441.9 km²

- Land 112.1 mi² - 290.3 km²

- Water 58.5 mi² - 151.6 km²

Elevation 6 m

Population

- City (2005) 326,519

- Density 1,045.4/km²

- Metro 2.7 million

Time zone EST (UTC-5)

- Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)

Website: http://www.tampagov.net/

Franklin Street, looking North, Tampa c. 1910s-1920sTampa is a United States city in Hillsborough County, on the west coast of Florida. It serves as the county seat of Hillsborough County.GR6. The population within the city limits in 2005, according to the Census was 326,519 and over one million in its metro area;[1] it is the third-largest city in Florida, behind Jacksonville and Miami.

Tampa is a part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metropolitan area, most commonly referred to as the "Tampa Bay area". The four-county area is composed of roughly 2.7 million residents, making it the second largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the state behind Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, the third largest in the Southeastern United States, and the twelfth largest DMA Market in the United States.

Contents

1 History

2 Geography

3 Weather and climate

4 Landmarks

5 Population and demographics

6 Economy

7 Municipal Government

8 Education

8.1 Colleges and Universities

8.2 Schools

9 Attractions and points of interest

9.1 Artist Collectives and Local Artists

9.2 Cinemas

9.3 Live theatre

9.4 Galleries and museums

9.5 Shopping centers

9.6 Sports

9.7 Zoological gardens and aquaria

10 Local media

10.1 Newspapers

10.1.1 Daily

10.1.2 Weekly

10.2 Online

10.3 Television

10.4 Radio

10.4.1 FM

11 Annual events

12 MacDill Air Force Base

13 Transportation

13.1 Airports

13.2 Train stations

13.3 Seaports

13.4 Mass transit

13.5 Major roads

14 Tampa in television and films/Novels/Popular Culture

15 Sister cities

16 See also

17 References

18 Books

19 External links

History

Main article: History of Tampa, Florida

The word "Tampa" is a Native American word used to refer to the area when the first European explorers arrived in Florida. Its meaning, if any, has been lost to the ages, though it is sometimes claimed to mean "sticks of fire" in the language of the Calusa, a Native American tribe. Other historians claim the name refers to "The place to gather sticks". "Sticks of fire" may also relate to the high concentration of lightning strikes that Tampa Bay receives every year during the hot and wet summer months. Toponymist George R. Stewart writes that the name was the result of a miscommunication between the Spanish and the Indians, the Indian word being "itimpi", meaning simply "near it" (Stewart, pg. 231).

The name first appears in the "Memoir" of Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda (1575), the author of which had spent 17 years as a Calusa captive. He calls it "Tanpa" and describes it as an important Calusa town. While "Tanpa" is the apparent basis for the modern name "Tampa", archaeologist Jerald Milanich places the Calusa village of Tanpa at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor, the original "Bay of Tanpa". Later Spanish explorers, having failed to locate Charlotte Harbor, assumed that the large bay they did find was the Bay of Tanpa, and the name stuck with the current Tampa Bay.[2]

Spanish conquistador Pánfilo de Narváez was the first European known to have visited the Tampa area, on April 8, 1528. Hernando de Soto arrived a year later to rescue the only remaining living member of de Narváez's expedition. A peace treaty was conducted with the local Indians and a short-lived Spanish outpost was established, but this was abandoned when it became clear that there was no gold in the area, and that the local Indians were not interested in converting to Catholicism and were too skilled as warriors to easily conquer.

When England acquired Florida in 1763, the bay was named Hillsborough Bay, after Lord Hillsborough, Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Spain transferred Florida to the United States in 1821 (see Adams-Onis Treaty). An Indian reservation was established in what is now north Tampa. As part of efforts to firmly establish United States control over southern Florida, then a vast swampy wilderness with sparse Seminole Indian population, a military outpost ("Cantonment Brooke") was established at what is now the Tampa Convention Center in downtown Tampa in 1823 by Colonels George Mercer Brooke and James Gadsden. In 1824, the post was renamed Fort Brooke. It was a vital military asset in the Seminole Wars. The village of Tampa began to grow up around the fort, which was decommissioned in 1883. Except for two cannons now on the University of Tampa campus, all traces of the fort are gone.

Tampa was incorporated on January 18, 1849 with 185 inhabitants (excluding military personnel stationed at Fort Brooke). The city's first census came in 1850 when Tampa-Fort Brooke accounted for 974 residents. [1] Tampa was reincorporated as a town on December 15, 1855, and Judge Joseph B. Lancaster became the first Mayor in 1856 [2], [3]. During the Civil War, Fort Brooke was occupied by Confederate troops, and martial law was declared in Tampa. In 1862, a Union gunboat shelled the city during the Battle of Tampa. [4], [5] Union forces took Fort Brooke in May of 1864, and occupied the town for the next year.

Phosphate was discovered in the Bone Valley region near Tampa in 1883. Tampa is now one of the world's leading phosphate exporters. Henry B. Plant's railroad reached the town shortly thereafter, enabling the commercial fishing industry to thrive. [6]

In 1885, the Tampa Board of Trade persuaded Vincente M. Ybor to move his cigar manufacturing operations to Tampa from Key West. The Ybor City district was built to accommodate the factories and their workers. Tampa soon became a major cigar production center. Thousands of Italian (the majority coming from Alessandria Della Rocca and Santo Stefano Quisquina, two small Sicilian towns which Tampa maintains strong ties with) and Cuban immigrants came to Tampa to work at the factories.

Henry B. Plant built a lavish luxury hotel called the Tampa Bay Hotel in the city in 1883, which became the foundation of the University of Tampa when it was established in 1933 becoming Tampa's first institute of higher learning. [7]

The Beasley family (of Palma Ceia) has roots here dating back to at least the 1820s, according to courthouse documents. There are even a few streets in Old Tampa that bear the Beasley name, as well as one neighborhood. A descendant, W. Mack Beasley is an accomplished painter (oils and acrylics), sculptor and semi-professional hotrod builder in Tampa and resides in the area now known as Virginia Park.

Tampa was an embarkation center for American troops during the Spanish-American War. Lieutenant Colonel Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders were part of the 30,000 troops stationed in Tampa for training.

In 1904, local civic association Ye Mystic Krewe "invaded" the city for the first time, establishing the yearly Gasparilla Pirate Festival. Before it was incorporated two category 4 hurricanes hit Fort Brooke nearly destroying the whole Fort and town. In 1921 a category 4 hit Tampa.

Illegal bolita lotteries became very popular among the Tampa working classes, especially in Ybor City, where many gambling parlors sprang up. Profits from the bolita lotteries and Prohibition-era bootlegging led to the development of several organized crime factions in the city. The first boss of Tampa's organized crime world was Charlie Wall, but various power struggles culminated in consolidation of control by Sicilian mafioso Santo Trafficante, Sr. and his faction in the 1950s. After his death in 1954 from cancer, control passed to his son Santo Trafficante, Jr., who established alliances with families in New York and extended his power throughout Florida and into Batista-era Cuba. [8], [9]

The University of South Florida was established in 1956, sparking development in northern Tampa and nearby Temple Terrace.

The biggest development of the city was the development of New Tampa that started in 1988 when the city annexed a 24-square mile (mostly rural) area between I-275 and I-75. Today, the district boasts over 22,000 inhabitants.

With the advent of air conditioning, thousands of new residents have arrived in Tampa from the northern United States. The population continues to grow rapidly, and construction is proceeding rapidly on new housing developments around Tampa.

On January 5, 2002, just four months after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, 15-year-old amateur pilot Charles Bishop flew a Cessna plane into the 42-story Bank of America Plaza building in downtown Tampa. Bishop died, but there were no other injuries (because the crash occurred on a Saturday, when few people were in the building). A suicide note found in the wreckage expressed support for Osama bin Laden. Bishop had been taking a prescription medicine for acne called Accutane that may have had the side effect of depression or severe psychosis. His family later sued Hoffman-La Roche, the company that makes Accutane, for $70 million; however, an autopsy found no traces of the drug in the teenager's system.

See also 2002 Tampa plane crash

Geography

Downtown Tampa, and the Hillsborough River in the foreground.Tampa is located on the West coast of Florida at 27°58′15″N, 82°27′53″W (27.970898, -82.464640)GR1. It is bordered by two bodies of water: Old Tampa Bay and Hillsborough Bay, which both flow to form Tampa Bay, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Hillsborough River (Florida) flows out into Tampa bay, passing directly in front of Downtown Tampa and supplying Tampa with its main source of water.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 441.9 km² (170.6 mi²). 290.3 km² (112.1 mi²) of it is land and 151.6 km² (58.5 mi²) of it (34.31%) is water. The highest point in the city is only in the forties.

Weather and climate

Tampa's climate is subtropical, with a threat of frost about once every 2-3 years. Highs usually stay between 65 and 95 °F (18 and 35 °C) year round, and lows rarely go below 32 °F (0 °C). These seldom freezes are an enormous threat to area agriculture and aquaculture. Likewise, summer temperatures are predictable, and have never risen above 100 °F (38 °C). The all-time record high temperature in downtown was 99 °F (37 °C), recorded on June 5, 1985. [10] The lowest temperature ever recorded in Tampa was 18 °F (-7.8 °C) in 1962. [11]

Fog can also be an occasional problem in the winter and spring. Temperatures are hot from May through October, which coincides with the rainy season. These summer days have highs around 90 °F (32 °C) and high humidity. The summer nighttime temperature drops to only around 75 °F (23 °C).[12] Other times of the year, the temperatures are moderate and sunshine is abundant.

Thunderstorms are a major concern on summer afternoons. High winds, small hail, and torrential rain often accompany these common afternoon thunderstorms which can be severe. Tornadoes are not unheard of. These storms often move out over the Gulf of Mexico at night, where they are easily seen from land as spectacular light shows. Tampa has a pronounced wet season, averaging 20.6 inches (524 mm) between July and September, but only 6.2 inches (157 mm) between November and January. The wettest month is August, which averages 7.6 inches (193 mm); November is the driest month, averaging only 1.6 inches (41 mm). Yearly precipitation averages 44.8 inches (1137 mm).[13]

Another major concern for Tampa is the Atlantic hurricane season which runs from June 1st to November 30th and peaks in September. Tampa feels the effects of tropical systems, on average, every two to three years, but the city has not had a direct hit by a hurricane since the 1930s. If a category four or five hit the area, Tampa would see a storm surge of 25-30 ft. This surge, coupled with the fact that most of the downtown area is within five feet of sea level, means that Tampa would see greater destruction than Hurricane Katrina, the worst disaster in american history.[citation needed] Tampa also is popularly known as the "Lightning Capital of the United States", (Rwanda maintains the World title) due in part to the frequent, dangerous and (on rare occasions) deadly lightning strikes.

Landmarks

Sulphur Springs Water Tower is a highly visible but somewhat mysterious landmark.

Babe Zaharias Golf Course in the Forest Hills area of Tampa has been designated a Historical Lankmark. It was bought in 1949 by the famous 'Babe' who had a residence nearby and closed at her death. In 1974 the City of Tampa opened the golf course as a public facility for the enjoyment of golfers. It has received the designation of a Historical Landmark.

The Story of Tampa, a public painting by Lynn Ash is a 4' x 8' oil on masonite mural that weaves together many of the notable aspects of Tampa's unique character and identity. It was commission in 2003 by the City of Tampa's Public Art Program and can be found in the lobby of the Tampa Municipal Office Building.

The Tampa Riverwalk is a project in the works, designed to open the Hillsborough River, which winds through the city, to the people.

The city of Tampa is proposing building a more recognizable landmark in the downtown area - and one idea that has been proposed is a Space Needle building similar to that of Seattle's. Another plan calls for four large fabric "gates" to be placed at four areas leading into the downtown area that would be illuminated at night and would be recognizable to outside visitors welcoming them into the downtown area. Also their is also the Trump Tower building in planning. Also their is a chance for a minny wall street.

Population and demographics

City of Tampa

Population by year [14], [15]

1850 - 974 (Z)

1860 - not returned

1870 - 796

1880 - 720

1890 - 5,532

1900 - 15,839

1910 - 37,782

1920 - 51,608

1930 - 101,161

1940 - 108,391

1950 - 124,681

1960 - 274,970

1970 - 277,714

1980 - 271,523

1990 - 280,015

2000 - 303,447

2004 - 321,772 (Est.)

2005 - 326,519 (Est.)

(Z): Population including Fort Brooke.

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 303,447 people, 124,758 households, and 71,236 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,045.4/km² (2,707.8/mi²). There were 135,776 housing units at an average density of 467.8/km² (1,211.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 64.22% White (51.0% White Non-Hispanic), 26.07% Black or African American, 0.38% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.15% Asian, 0.09% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 4.17% from other races, and 2.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.29% of the population, most of them Puerto Ricans. There are significant populations of Cuban, Mexican, Peruvian, and Colombian descents within the city limits as well.

There were 124,758 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the city the 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. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,415, and the median income for a family was $40,517. Males had a median income of $31,452 versus $26,133 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,953. 18.1% of the population and 14.0% of families were below the poverty line. 26.8% of those under the age of 18 and 15.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty level.

A person from Tampa is referred to either as a Tampan[3], Tampeño[citation needed], or a Tampanian[citation needed].

Economy

International Plaza and Bay Street.Like much of Florida, Tampa's economy is heavily based on services and tourism. There is a huge net influx of cash into the area. Many wealthy people have winter houses here, and the upscale Tampa Palms neighborhood is a desirable destination for retired professional athletes. Many corporations, such as large banks and telecommunications companies, maintain regional offices in Tampa.

The downtown area is also undergoing a large transformation to be mostly completed in time for the hosting of the Super Bowl in 2009 with over 43 condo, hotel, and mixed-use developments proposed/approved/under construction as of October 2005. An earlier list by the city of Tampa includes large developments that have been approved and/or are under construction. A large portion of these projects have multiple towers to compensate for the high land values in Downtown Tampa. The next tower currently under construction in the central business district is the Trump Tower Tampa, the largest residential tower on the Gulf Coast according to The Tampa Bay Business Journal.

Tampa's port is now the seventh largest in the nation and Florida’s largest tonnage port, handling nearly half of all seaborne commerce that passes through the state, which makes it a fairly large terrorist target. Here the cruise industry thrives.[4]

Fortune 500 company Publix, a supermarket chain, is headquartered in nearby Lakeland, Florida.

Municipal Government

Tampa is governed under the strong mayor form of government. The Mayor of Tampa is the chief executive officer of city government. The City Council is a legislative body. Pam Iorio is the current mayor of Tampa.

The city's web site has won awards for excellence.

Education

Colleges and Universities

The seal of the University of South FloridaFlorida Metropolitan University (FMU)

Hillsborough Community College has several campuses around the Tampa Bay area.

Southwest Florida College, located east of the city near U.S. Highway 301.

Stetson University Law School's Tampa center makes this law school the only one to have classes in an actual courthouse.

Strayer University,which has two campuses in the area.

Troy University, located in the Tampa Bay Westshore business district and caters to the adult learner.

University of South Florida (USF) is located in northern end of the city, near Busch Gardens and Temple Terrace.

University of Tampa (UT) is a privately-funded institution located just west of downtown Tampa, near the Hillsborough River (Florida).

Schools

Tampa's public schools are operated by Hillsborough County Public Schools.

American TESOL, a nationwide program to teach English abroad, is headquartered in Tampa.

Private schools include:

Academy of the Holy Names - Website

Berkeley Preparatory School - Website

Jesuit High School of Tampa - Website

Tampa Catholic High School - Website

Tampa Preparatory School - Website

Tampa Baptist Academy - Website

Charter schools in Tampa and surrounding Hillsborough County include:

Trinity School for Children - Website

Attractions and points of interest

Florida Aquarium

Centro Ybor complex with a TECO Line car passing in front

Street festival in Ybor Historic DistrictTampa Bay Performing Arts Center at http://tbpac.org is the largest performing arts complex in the Southeast, presenting high quality performing arts programming from major Broadway tours to grand opera, dance, cabaret, comedy and concerts to the region. TBPAC is also home to the Patel Conservatory, which opened in 2004.

Historic Hyde Park is a historical district in South Tampa with many fine archetectual exampes.

The Skatepark of Tampa is a world-famous skatepark, with many professional skateboarders flocking to it in January for the Tampa Am, and in March, for the Tampa Pro.

Tampa Union Station is an historic train station between downtown and Ybor City.

Park Tower, once called the Lykes Building, was the tallest skyscraper in the Tampa skyline when it was first built in 1973.

Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark District near downtown. It is a hotspot at night (especially on the weekends due to the many nightclubs, bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues in the area). Ybor City and Tampa in general were an integral part of the Florida death metal scene.

West Tampa south of Raymond James Stadium, includes many Cuban and Spanish businesses, along Columbus Drive. Columbus Drive is also known as Boliche Boulevard after a famous Cuban dish. La Teresita, La Ideal, Lincoln Restaurant, The Italian American Club, and the Letter Carriers Hall are some of the well known local gathering places in Tampa. The "Brothers to the Rescue" Corner monument is in West Tampa at Dale Mabry Highway and Columbus Drive.

Channelside located next to the Garrison Channel, it contains many arcades,shops,resturants and bars, and an Imax theatre

Horse Racing at Tampa Bay Downs, near Oldsmar, first opened in 1926. The Tampa Bay Downs live racing season is from December to May with simulcasting year round. They also have a card room offering poker games.

Greyhound Racing at Tampa Greyhound Track, in Tampa, first opened in 1933. They have live racing from June to December, with simulcasts year round. They also have a card room offering poker games.

Artist Collectives and Local Artists

Experimental Skeleton is an artist collective that programs Flight 19, A gallery located in the Union Train Station located at 601 North Nebraska Ave.

for more infromation go to www.experimentalskeleton.com

Cinemas

Tampa Theatre is a historic movie palace that shows a wide range of independent, foreign and classic films in addition to an occasional live show. It also is the home of several film festivals that occur throughout the year.

Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) has an IMAX dome theater

The Fun-Lan Drive-In is the only drive-in theater left in Tampa. Fun-Lan has four screens each showing first-run movies. There is also a flea market in the morning five days per week. (The Ruskin area just south of the city is home to the Ruskin Drive-In, one of America's oldest.)

Live theatre

Friday Morning Musicale The building, originally built in 1926, now serves as a community center and theatre. It is in Hyde Park area of Tampa.

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is located in downtown on the Hillsborough River and hosts a variety of live shows and concerts

Tampa Theatre shows classic and art house films. It occasionally hosts live performances.

Jobsite Theater is downtown's 8-year old regional theater company, and resident theater company of the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

Galleries and museums

A list of upcoming and ongoing art events in Tampa can be found at the website Tampa Bay and Beyond.

African Art Gallery

American Victory Museum

Artists Unlimited located in the Channelside district.

Cigar Museum And Visitor Center is in Ybor City.

Covivant Gallery is on North Florida av. heading downtown.

Graphicstudio is a world famous print studio located at USF.

Henry B. Plant Museum is located at the University of Tampa across the Hillsborough River from downtown.

Kid City Kid City

Mirta's Art Gallery and Coffee Shop is located near the University of Tampa and used to be called Matthews Art Gallery.

Museum Of Science and Industry (MOSI)

Saunders Planetarium is part of MOSI.

SS American Victory The American Victory Mariners Memorial & Museum Ship is a unique and innovative maritime attraction aboard the World War II era merchant ship SS American Victory.

Tampa Bay History Center displays artifacts, memorabilia, maps, military uniforms and photographs depicting life in the Tampa Bay regions from 12,000 years ago to the present. Changing exhibits also are featured. It is located at the corner of Franklin and Platt Streets.

Tampa Museum of Art is in downtown on the Hillsborough River.

Tampa Police Museum preserves historically important record and equipment and promotes enthusium for a career in police work.

Ybor City Museum State Park is near downtown Tampa in Ybor City.

Shopping centers

International Plaza and Bay Street, located in the Westshore business district, is home to many upscale stores: (with Nordstrom, Dillard's, Robb & Stucky Interiors and Neiman Marcus as anchors) as well as the Renaissance Hotel, which was recently built on the premises. International Plaza is located next to Tampa International Airport.

WestShore Plaza is an upper-middle class shopping center, one mile away from International Plaza and Bay Street. On the middle class end, the mall is anchored by Sears and JCPenney, and on the higher end, anchored by Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue.

University Mall, in the northern part of the city near the University of South Florida, with Sears, Macy's, Dillard's, Steve and Barry's University Sportswear, and Burlington Coat Factory as anchors.

Westfield Shoppingtown Brandon, A fairly large mall located in an eastern suburb, Brandon, with Sears, Dillards, Macy's, and JCPenney as anchors.

Westfield Shoppingtown Citrus Park, A mid-size mall located in the north western part of the county in Citrus Park, located northwest of the city. Like the other Westfield mall in the area, it is anchored by Sears, Dillard's, Macy's and JCPenney.

Old Hyde Park Village, a small collection of specialty boutiques anchored by Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma. It has a pleasant park-like setting. Hyde Park is accessible by trolley from downtown, the Cruise Port and Ybor City.

Sports

Club Sport League Stadium

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Football National Football League (NFL) - NFC Raymond James Stadium

Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey National Hockey League (NHL) - Eastern Conference St. Pete Times Forum

Tampa Bay Devil Rays Baseball Major League Baseball - AL Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg

Tampa Bay Storm Arena Football Arena Football League (AFL) St. Pete Times Forum

University of South Florida Bulls Football College Football NCAA - Big East Conference Raymond James Stadium

University of South Florida Bulls Basketball College Basketball NCAA - Big East Conference USF Sun Dome

Tampa is represented by teams in three major professional sports leagues; the NFL, the NHL, and Major League Baseball. Two of the teams play in Tampa proper, while the Tampa Bay Devil Rays of Major League Baseball play across the bay in St. Petersburg. All of the teams are considered to represent the entire Tampa Bay metropolitan area. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the area's first major franchise in 1976, and brought the area its first major sports championship at the end of the 2002 season, winning Super Bowl XXXVII. The NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning were established in 1992, and currently play their games in the St. Pete Times Forum. The team won their first Stanley Cup championship at the end of the 2003-2004 NHL season. The Devil Rays began play in 1998, but have yet to be a major contender - finishing last in the American League's East Division in eight of the nine seasons they have played. The Tampa Bay Storm play in the lesser-known Arena Football League. Originally playing in Pittsburgh, the team moved to Tampa in 1991. The Storm won their first Arena Bowl championship in 1991, and have won four subsequent championships in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 2003. Since 1997, the team has played its home games in the St. Pete Times Forum, which is located in Tampa.

After the Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in 2004, a mural was commissioned by the Colonial Bank of Tampa, which hangs above its main branch at Park Tower on Kennedy Boulevard.(Many entrance signs in Tampa now read Tampa: City of Champions due to the previous championships of the Buccaneers, Lightning, and Tampa Bay Storm. Recently, adding the New York Yankees to the signs have raised controversy on considering the team since it only holds spring training in Tampa. Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio objected to the idea stating that the Tampa Bay region already has its own baseball team, and that the signs do not name specific teams, they name the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, and Arena Bowl championships.)

Other sports teams include:

The Bay Area Krewe rugby union team who play at Alexander Park

The Tampa Bay Titans rugby union team

Tampa has hosted several franchises of other professional leagues over the years. The first of these was the Tampa Bay Rowdies, started in 1975 as an expansion franchise of the defunct North American Soccer League (NASL). They played their games at Tampa Stadium. The Rowdies won the inaugural Soccer Bowl in 1975, bringing Tampa Bay its first professional sports championship. The NASL folded in 1984, while the Rowdies continued play in other indoor soccer leagues before folding in 1993. The Tampa Bay Bandits of the defunct United States Football League (USFL) began play in 1985, and played three seasons in Tampa Stadium before the league and the team folded. Coached by Steve Spurrier, their crowd-pleasing style of play was known as "banditball". The Tampa Bay Mutiny of Major League Soccer began play at Tampa Stadium in 1996, and continued through 2001 before folding.

The Tampa Bay Area also hosts a number of Major League Baseball teams for spring training, as well as several minor league baseball teams. Playing in the spring training Florida Grapefruit League are:

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg

The New York Yankees of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Legends Field in Tampa

The Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater

The Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball play spring training games at Knology Park in Dunedin

And playing in the Minor League Baseball Florida State League (Single-A baseball) are:

The Tampa Yankees: Legends Field in Tampa

The Clearwater Threshers: Bright House Networks Field in Clearwater

The Dunedin Blue Jays: Knology Park in Dunedin

Sporting Events:

The NCAA football Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium is held in Tampa each January.

Three Super Bowls have been held in Tampa; who will also be hosting the Super Bowl in 2009.

Zoological gardens and aquaria

Big Cat Rescue is a non-profit sanctuary for large cats. The facility is in the Citrus Park area and is open to the public.

Busch Gardens is a popular theme park with rides, shows and animals. The newest roller coaster, Sheikra, is the only vertical drop roller coaster in North America.

Florida Aquarium is located in the Channel District near downtown.

Lowry Park Zoo is rated one of the nation's top mid-sized zoos.

Suncoast Primate Sanctuary.

University of South Florida Botanical Gardens.

Local media

Newspapers

Daily

St. Petersburg Times

The Tampa Tribune

Tampa Bay Times (*tbt): A free information and entertainment tabloid published by the St. Petersburg Times

The Florida Sentinel (A predominantly African-American newspaper in the Tampa area)

The Oracle The independent daily student newspaper of the University of South Florida

Weekly

La Gaceta: The nation's only trilingual newspaper, written in English, Spanish and Italian

Orange Magazine: A free tabloid-style newspaper focusing on nightlife, arts and culture, published by Florida Communications Group. Launch date is scheduled for mid-September 2006.

Creative Loafing: A free "alternative" tabloid, formerly published as Weekly Planet.

Tampa Bay Business Journal: The region's premier source for local business news subscription tabloid

South Tampa News: Free tabloid community newspaper

Centro Mi Diario: Free Spanish-language newspaper published by The Tampa Tribune

Online

TBO.com Breaking News, weather, sports and the guide for things to do in Tampa Bay

Television

WEDU Ch. 3 (PBS)

WFLA Ch. 8 (NBC)

Bay News 9 24 Hour Bay Area News

WTSP Ch. 10 (CBS)

WTVT Ch. 13 (FOX)

WUSF Ch. 16 (PBS)

WARP Ch. 20 (MTV2)

WCLF Ch. 22 (CTN)

WXAX Ch. 26 (Azteca America)

WFTS Ch. 28 (ABC)

WMOR Ch. 32 (Independent)

WSPF-CA Ch. 35 City of St. Petersburg

W36CO Ch. 36 TBN

WTTA Ch. 38 (The WB)/(My Network TV)

WWSB Ch. 40 (ABC Sarasota)

WTOG Ch. 44 (UPN)/(The CW)

WZRA-CA Ch. 48 (Independent) (Multi-Cultural)

WRMD-LP Ch. 49 Telemundo

WFTT Ch. 50 Telefutura

W56EB Ch. 56 TBN

WVEA Ch. 62 Univision

WXPX CH. 66 i

Radio

WMNF 88.5 FM - Non-commercial listener-supported [16]

WYFE 88.9 FM - Bible Broadcasting Network [17]

WUSF 89.7 FM - "Concert 90 FM" -- University of South Florida (NPR) [18]

WBVM 90.5 FM - "Spirit FM" -- Christian Rock (also 88.3 WLMS) [19]

WKES 91.1 FM - Moody Bible Institute [20]

WLPJ 91.5 FM - "The Joy FM" -- Contemporary Christian (also 88.1 WJIS) [21]

WFTI 91.7 FM - Family Radio Network [22]

WYFO 91.9 FM - Bible Broadcasting Network [23]

WYUU 92.5 FM - "La Nueva 92.5" -- Tropical Spanish [24]

WFLZ 93.3 FM - "93-3 FLZ" -- CHR & Pop [25]

WSJT 94.1 FM - "Smooth Jazz WSJT 94.1" [26]

WWRM 94.9 FM - "Magic 94.9" -- Adult Contemporary [27]

WXCV 95.3 FM - "Citrus 95" -- Adult Contemporary [28]

WBTP 95.7 FM - "The Beat" -- Hip Hop and R&B [29]

WTMP 96.1 FM - "Today's R&B and Classic Soul" [30]

WXOF 96.3 FM - "Fox 96.3" -- Classic Hits [31]

WSUN 97.1 FM - "97-X" -- Alternative Rock [32]

WPCV 97.5 FM - "97 Country" -- Country (Lakeland) [33]

WXTB 97.9 FM - "98 Rock" -- Active Rock [34]

WWRZ 98.3 FM - "Max FM" -- Adult Contemporary (Lakeland) [35]

WLLD 98.7 FM - "Wild 98.7" -- Rhythmic CHR and Top 40 [36]

WQYK 99.5 FM - "Tampa Bay's Country Station" [37]

WMTX 100.7 FM - "Mix 100.7 FM" -- Adult Contemporary [38]

WPOI 101.5 FM - "The Point" -- 80's Music [39]

WHPT 102.5 FM - "The Bone" -- Classic Rock [40]

WFUS 103.5 FM - "U.S. 103.5" -- Country [41]

WRBQ 104.7 FM - "Q105" -- Classic Hits [42]

WDUV 105.5 FM - "The Dove" -- Easy Listening [43]

WJQB 106.3 FM - "The Real Oldies Channel" [44]

WCTQ 106.5 FM - "106-5 CTQ" -- Country [45]

WXGL 107.3 FM - "The Eagle" -- Classic Hits [46]

Annual events

Downtown Tampa during GasparillaOutback Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game held at Raymond James Stadium, normally on New Year's Day (January 1).

Gasparilla Pirate Festival is an annual event consisting of several parades, live entertainment, and fireworks. The event is also known as the Mardi Gras of Tampa. The main parade takes place on the first Saturday of February along Bayshore Blvd, happening the afternoon after a pirate ship (and a flotilla of 300+ private boats) "invades" the city and the mayor surrenders the key to the city at the Convention Center.

Sant'Yago Knight Parade is an illuminated nighttime parade that takes place one Saturday in February in Ybor City.

Florida State Fair lasts over a week in February and features livestock, food, entertainment and midway rides. It takes place at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Guavaween offers daytime events and nighttime parade one Saturday in October in Ybor City.

Tropical Heatwave is a diverse series of concerts sponsored by community radio 88.5 WMNF.

The Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival takes place in October at several local venues including the Tampa Theatre

Bonk Festival of New Music is an annual event to promote public awareness of new music and to foster relationships between musicians. It takes place at a variety of venues around Tampa.

Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival

Tampa International Film Festival

Imagine International Film Festival

MacDill Air Force Base

MacDill Air Force Base, located in south Tampa, is home to CENTCOM, the Central Command of the United States military; and SOCOM, the Special Operations Command. The base is run by the 6th Air Mobility Wing, and includes both the 310th Airlift Squadron, flying the C-37, and the 91st Air Refueling Squadron, flying the KC-135. Like the port it could also, but very minutly, be a targe for terrorism.

The base flightline was closed in the 1991 round of base closings under the Base Realignment and Closure committee discussions; at the time, the base was used for F-16 training and the air traffic in the Tampa area was considered detrimental to training; the noise produced was also considered inappropriate in a densely settled area. However, despite committee recommendations, the base remained open to house and support CENTCOM and SOCOM. The flightline was reopened in 1993 for NOAA operations, and in 1996 the air refueling squadron moved to the base from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.

Approximately 14,000 people work at MacDill Air Force Base. It is a significant contributor to Tampa's economy, and the city is very supportive of the military community. In 2001 and 2003, the Tampa Bay area was awarded the Abilene Trophy, which annually honors the most supportive Air Force city in Air Mobility Command.

MacDill also hosts an annual air show that is enjoyed by thousands of spectators each year. However, there were no shows in 2002 and 2003 due to 9/11. The 2006 show was also cancelled due partly to the war in Iraq.

Transportation

HARTline logo

A TECO streetcar picking up passengers in Ybor City.

Airports

Tampa International Airport is the city's main airport. In March 2003 Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked the airport #1 in the US and #3 in the world.

Peter O. Knight Airport is a small general aviation terminal located on Davis Islands near downtown.

Vandenberg Airport is another option for general aviation fliers.

St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport is across the bay and offers another option for air travelers.

Train stations

Amtrak services Tampa via the Tampa Union Train Station, located in a historic building near downtown.

Seaports

Several cruise ships make use of the Port of Tampa, located in the Channel District.

Mass transit

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) operates streetcars as well as the bus system. HART has signed transit deals with both the University of South Florida and the University of Tampa, allowing HARTline buses to transfer students from the two campuses to other areas of Tampa free of charge as long as proof of affiliation with the school is presented. Starting in December 2005, faculty from both schools now have to pay 25 cents.

The TECO Line Streetcar System, which links Ybor City, the Channel District and downtown Tampa, began operating on Saturday, October 19, 2002. Despite the system's limited reach and comparatively slow speed (about 10-15 mph), the air-conditioned cars do offer a nostalgic method of getting around in far greater comfort than was possible a century ago. The line is intentionally reminiscent of Tampa's extensive early twentieth-century streetcar network, albeit much smaller in scope at present (2006). Expansion, though costly, is generally acknowledged as desirable if it can be done affordably. The line chiefly stops only at popular destinations; extensions might do well to add stops in residential areas, at Union Station and the major local airports (PIE and TPA), and on MacDill AFB.

Major roads

Interstate 75

Interstate 275

Interstate 4

Veterans Expressway

Crosstown Expressway

U.S. Route 41 - Business 41

U.S. Route 92

U.S. Route 301

State Road 60

State Road 580

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard

Dale Mabry Highway

Bayshore Boulevard

Hillsborough Avenue

Tampa in television and films/Novels/Popular Culture

A Time To Kill

Air Force

Beneath The 12 Mile Reef (Tarpon Springs)

Black Like Me

Cigar City Mafia by Scott M. Deitche

Cocoon

Cop and a Half

Coupe de Ville

Edward Scissorhands

A Guy Named Joe

Goodfellas

Hell Harbor

Lethal Weapon III

The Norseman

Orion's Cloud

The Parent Trap II

The Punisher

Second Noah (TV Series)

Strategic Air Command

Summer Rental (Pinellas County)

Tony Hawk's Underground

More from the Tampa Chapter of the FL Motion Picture and Television Assoc. [47]

Sister cities

Tampa is a sister city with

- Agrigento, Italy

- Barranquilla, Colombia;

- Córdoba, Argentina

- Granada, Nicaragua

- Izmir, Turkey

- Le Havre, France

- Oviedo, Spain and

- Camarines Sur, Philippines.