Tampa Population 2010: 335,709, #55 in U.S., #3 in Florida 1950: 124,681, #85 in U.S. 2010
Metropolitan Area: 2,783,243, #19 in U.S. 1950 Metropolitan Area: 409,143, #46 in U.S. Setting Tampa was incorporated in 1849 on the site where the Hillsborough River enters Tampa Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. The city has a new 2.5-mile Riverwalk. The University of Tampa is on the west side of the river. Tampa is Florida’s largest port. Buildings Tallest buildings: 100 North Tampa (1992), 579 feet List of tallest buildings Stores Tampa has no downtown department stores. Trains The Amtrak Silver Star has two trains a day from Union Station (1912), one going south to Miami and one going north to Orlando, Jacksonville, and New York City. Tampa has a three-mile TECO electric streetcar line (2002) between downtown and the Ybor City district. Museums The Tampa Museum of Art opened in a new downtown building in 2010. The Tampa Bay History Center opened downtown in 2009. The Florida Aquarium (1995) is also downtown. | ![]() Tampa Skyline and Hillsborough River Theaters
The
Tampa Theatre (1926) is a restored movie palace that presents concerts and
independent films. The Straz Center for the Performing Arts hosts the Florida Orchestra, Opera Tampa, and touring musicals from Best of Broadway. Sports The Tampa Tarpons, Single-A Florida State League affiliate of the New York Yankees, play at Steinbrenner Field (1996), northwest of downtown. The NHL Tampa Bay Lightning play at the Amalie Arena (1996) in downtown Tampa. The NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers play at Raymond James Stadium (1998), northwest of downtown. |